Top Rated Infant Car SeatsNot all infant car seats are created in the same way. The top seats come with features that improve crash test performance. For instance load legs -- shock-absorbing components that are affixed to the base or seat and help to reduce the movement of the seat during a collision.
Chicco KeyFit is a favorite of CPST instructors. It features an rear-facing weight, a the height limit is high, a bubble-level indicator, and a spring-loaded reclined foot that makes it easy to install.
Graco Mesa Max
The Graco Mesa Max is one of the top-rated infant car seats for user-friendliness. It has great fabrics and a simple design and a handy feature to connect the harness of a child to the headrest, making it easier to tighten. It has a huge canopy that can be tucked away to keep your child sheltered while traveling. It is a bit heavier than the typical stroller, which can be problematic if you intend to transport it around or use it with your award-winning UPPAbaby.
The Mesa Max's impressive results in crash tests reflect its commitment to safety. It received a high score in the frontal impact test and a high score in the side impact test, which means your baby is protected from both sides of a collision.
Another noteworthy safety feature is the Graco's anti-rebound panel, which helps reduce the force of rebound during an accident and safeguards your child's head. This feature is rare in infant car seats and makes the Mesa Max stand out among its rivals.
When used with the included base when used with the base Graco Mesa Max can be installed quickly and safely in your vehicle by using LATCH. The load leg and recline angle adjustment and tightness indicator to ensure a quick, precise installation. The base weighs 12.6 lbs, which is slightly heavier than an average car seat for infants but not enough to cause an issue.
The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 uses the same fabric with the same dual-knit construction as its predecessor. It is free of harmful chemicals that are fire-resistant. It features an infinitely adjustable backrest, as well as an extremely durable insert for infants weighing 4-11 lbs. The fabric is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which ensures low emissions of chemicals and VOCs.
The UPPAbaby Mesa Max may be slightly more expensive than other models, but offers premium features and modern technology for a safe
travel infant car seat experience. The base is included and comes in a range of attractive colors. This adds to the value proposition. Its thoughtful design and strong features provide peace of mind for parents on every trip.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight
The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is a fantastic option for those looking for a car seat that will grow with their child. The rear-facing limit is 40 pounds, which is more than most infant car seats, and it can be used as a forward-facing seat until your child reaches 65 pounds.
Its main selling factor is the ClickTight Installation System, which is the safest and easiest on the market. The seat belt can be tightened by pressing a red release button and pulling the strap. This eliminates the need to loosen and rethread the seat belt. This reduces the chance of incorrectly tightening the seat belt which is the primary cause of car seat failure.
The EZ-Buckle Pad is another safety feature that keeps the buckle in place while you place your child in the car seat. This feature together with beltpath cutouts on the sides of the seat, makes it easy to get your child in and out of the car.
All three ClickTight convertible seat models (Boulevard CT, Marathon CT, Advocate CT) share the identical features. These include the ClickTight Installation System and an impact-absorbing base that has 7 recline positions, a rip-stitch energy-absorbing tether, HUGS harness pads as well as a steel reinforced frame and EPP energy-absorbing foam.
The seat is fairly heavy, but you may want to consider a lighter option if plan to use it for frequent swaps of cars. Additionally, the seat is big, so it may not be suitable for smaller vehicles, especially in the case of rear-facing.
If you want a more budget-friendly option with similar quality take a look at the 4Ever DLX from Graco. It has lower crash test scores than the Boulevard but is an excellent option for your child.
The Graco also has LATCH connectors that can be pushed on which make it much easier to take the seat off. Boulevard's LATCH connectors use an alternative release system that requires you to pull the webbing and press the gray button. This can be difficult if the webbing is tight. This seat comes with a convenient storage compartment for belt straps.
Clek Liing
Clek Liing is the infant car seat to choose If you're looking for everything with style, safety, and comfort. This rear-facing only car seat comes with a great crash test score, an impressive variety of features, and is easy to install within most vehicles.
The Liing is designed to protect babies with features that meet and exceed both US and Canadian safety standards. It's engineered for a simple, secure installation in any seating position - and is loaded with advanced safety features like an energy-absorbing steel load leg as well as a two-piece shell lined with EPP foam for increased side-impact protection. The base features 7 recline positions, as well as a dependable bubble indicator that lets you know when the seat is set at the correct angle for your infant.
The Liing is loved by parents for its modern and sleek design and its unique safety features such as the rigid lower anchors that are easier to attach than standard hook-and-loop connectors. The Liing also has a handy quick release with a single-handed button that makes it easy to take it off the base and to use with a variety of strollers compatible with it. It's also narrow enough to fit three-across in several automobiles, and it is a good fit in many convertible
car seats by age seats as a travel boost.
The Liing infant seat is rated 1st for its unique rigid-LATCH installation method. Lower anchors of the Liing snap right into the vehicle's lower seat belt slots. Additionally, the seat's top tether strap snaps onto the vehicle's headrest to create an incredibly secure, tight fit that eliminates any chance of the child being thrown around in a crash.
The seat is light, with the base weighing 9 pounds and the carrier itself coming in at just 10.5 lbs. Other rear-facing seats are heavier, but the difference isn't evident if you intend to carry the
best car seats infant seat and base around. ).
Parents love the Liing's built-in canopy and 100+spf protection from the sun's rays by a mesh peekaboo. Parents love the merino cover that keeps babies warm and they also love the seat's handle's ability to pivot away from the canopy which makes it easier for them to grab when needed.
Graco Trio Grow SnugLock LX
The Graco Trio SnugLock is a 3-in-1 seat that converts from a rear-facing infant into a forward-facing harness, and then to a highback booster. It features the SnugLock installation system that allows for a simple and smooth installation using either the vehicle seat belt or lower anchors. It also allows you to use the top tether in booster mode (although we recommend using the lower anchors at all times for added security).
We love that this seat does so much for children of different age groups. For babies who are just beginning to crawl it has an infant insert that helps to support their necks and backs. As they grow older, this insert can be removed and the seat used as a regular toddler car seat. It is one of the few car seats that allow the top tether to be used in booster mode. We recommend it.
Its base is quite compact from front to rear and it shouldn't be difficult to find a spot for it in the majority of cars. The headrest has to be raised in order for the lower anchor webbing to pass through. Thankfully, there's a handy headrest adjustment knob to easily do this, and you can view the position of your headrest in the display window.
One of the most impressive features about this seat is the SnugLock installation system, which is a bar that's within the belt path. Installing this car seat with lower anchors is easy, and almost as simple as installing the car's seat belt.
The manual also includes a great illustration of how to properly connect the lower anchor connectors while traversing them along the belt's new path, which can be a bit confusing initially. Keep them away from the chest clip and the crotch loop in order to avoid interfering with the buckle system.
The Graco Trio Grow is part of the Protect Plus Engineered family, which means it has been subjected to some of the most rigorous crash testing in the industry. This includes tests for rear, side, and rollover crashes as well as frontal impacts.
