How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The most suitable car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like turning into the stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease especially if you frequently switch between taxis or trips in hire cars and grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to keep your baby safe, and a good one should have some extra features beyond federal safety standards. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics that help keep them cool in hot cars and side-impact safety.

The ease of installation and use of the seat is an important safety consideration. Ideally, you should be capable of snapping it in place with minimum effort, and with clear signs that it's secure, level, and positioned properly.

Look for features that make it easier to do that, like built-in lock offs and belt guides that can help to align the car seat with the seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that may not have been crash-tested or have been involved in an accident. They could not protect your child. If you must purchase an old car seat, ensure that it is not expired. an expiration and that the seller isn't an individual or a private party who has no evidence of ownership.

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep your baby in the car seat for no more than two hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This is to prevent the spine from becoming strained and ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.

You'll need a seat that can last for a long time as it is a significant investment. Look for one that's designed to adapt to your child's needs that will last through toddlerhood and into the teen years. One product that our testers for parents liked was the Axkid One i-Size that is suitable from birth and is able to be used until 7 years.

Nuna pipa air rx is another option that can be used for a lengthy period of time. It rotates 360 degrees, which means you can switch it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It's also among the lightest rotating car seat available with a weight of less than nine pounds. It's the ideal choice for parents who frequently move their children between vehicles or plan on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays and trips to grandparent's houses.

Comfort

It is essential that your baby feels at ease in their car seat, both in it as well as when you install it. Find straps with padding that are comfortable to wear on their shoulders, and soft fabric that is soft under their stomach, especially if they will be in the seat for long rides.

The best car seat for infants is also easy to use. Some have premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet as well as belt paths that make putting them on without a base more simple than ever before. Other features let you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate that our testers from the past gave 10 out of 10 for its ease of use. It comes with an easy-to-use interface and an easy-to-adjust no-rethread harness and also an indicator for recline and 360-degree rotation. This means that you can change between forward and rear-facing positions as your child grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parent testers loved it for its comfort and simplicity, as well as its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are shaped to support your newborn's head and includes a soft infant cushion to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used in a rear-facing position until your child is at the maximum weight limit or height. Then, it transforms to the position of a stroller.

A good car seat is durable and some have a warranty. Find a seat that has plenty of padding and durable materials to shield your child from any injuries. It should also come with a steel frame to absorb impact energy, and a "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It must also be easy to clean, since spills are commonplace with a child. Look for a car seat with removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleanup a breeze.

Simple to Use

It's important that a car seat be easy to install and use, particularly in the event that it will be used in different vehicles periodically. To make it as easy as possible you should look for features like a quick-release belt, an indicator to show the state of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a user manual that is easy to read.

The best car seats For newborns uk of The Bump winner comes with a number of practical features that our testers for parents were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and a cupholder. It features a reclining function that allows your child to sit in a comfortable position for longer trips. It can also be combined with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is ideal if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.

Our panelists found that this car seat was easy to put in and adjust. It features recline locks and an upgraded connector that comes with a SuperCinch tightener. This made it easy to secure your child. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle without tools.

The recline feature helps you to get your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is especially useful if you have back issues or drive a smaller car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.

The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which could be a real lifesaver if you have a limited space or are suffering from back pain. Our panelists were thrilled by this feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

It's an excellent choice for those who want to transform their car seat into a stroller at an affordable price. Its sleek design and premium fabric will endure the test of time as well. Be sure to wash your cover often, as squashed biscuits, yoghurt spills, and the odd sick toddler accident are sure to leave their marks!

Design

The styles of car seats are as varied as the cars they're placed in. Some parents opt to not use an infant car seats and opt for a convertible model. However, the majority of new mothers are looking for something that can develop with their child as they reach toddlerhood. The most versatile option is an all-in one baby car seat, which allows you to switch between rear-facing and forward-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height restriction and can also be used as a booster when your child is old enough.

The ideal infant car seats cheap car seat for infants is light and easy to lift off the base while your child is inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a few colors, but it has a number of safety features and is also light (8.4 pounds, including seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards best car seat for newborn uk Car Seat Group category, thanks to high-end features like the Dream drape, and a full-coverage canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and seat must be taken into consideration. For example, some car seats have a specific base that is secured to the buckles of the seat belts, while others have steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. Parents have found these to be convenient particularly if their car only had front-facing seatbelts and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats that swivel car seats can be used with regular seatbelts without the base. This is a great feature for parents who travel frequently or travel with their babies. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT that can be used with or without its base and has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it easy to get your child into and out of the seat.

Also, the design of the car seat is crucial. It should fit into your car. (See our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a newborn infant car seat that will expand with your child's growth to become a booster seat make sure you choose a seat that has an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. It's also important to confirm that the infant car seat is iSize compatible and has the right car seat attachment points, as per UK law.