What NOT To Do When It Comes To The Best Car Seat Industry
How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
When looking for a car seat it can be easy to become overwhelmed. The safest car seats are those that fit your child and vehicle, and can be used safely 100 % of the time.
Car seats that are difficult to install or use can make life for parents and kids more difficult. The best car seats are those that have high scores for ease of use, impressive crash test results, and are light.
Safety
When you are looking for a car seat safety features are the primary aspect to think about. No matter if you opt for an infant, convertible, or booster seat, it should meet federal safety standards and have a good track of third-party crash tests. It should also fit in your vehicle and be easy to use.
A good quality seat should have a harness adjustment that is simple to use, as well as the possibility of connecting via LATCH or seatbelt. Flexible or rigid lower anchor connectors that have alligator-like clips that hook directly to the car seat base or vehicle seat belt guides are preferred over flexible straps that move or loosen. The most comfortable seats come with a color-changing indicator that is easy to read and lets you know when the seat has been properly connected.
In addition to these features, the best seats include the top tether, which reduces head injury risk in crashes by restraining the front of the child's head. The harness guides are built into the seats to help parents to thread the belt correctly or tie it properly.
The most important characteristics of a car seat are those that guarantee the seat will be installed and utilized correctly 100% of the time. Unfortunately, many child passenger fatalities result from children being improperly restrained or using the wrong type of seat. Check with a child passenger security technician (CPST) who is located near you, to confirm that your car seat's installation and position is correct.
A good seat can help your child survive a crash. It's worth the extra cost to get one that's constructed and built with a solid frame, top-quality materials and clever features that make everyday use easier. Find seats that are compliant with the R129 safety standards, which are more rigorous than the older ones the majority of seats adhere to.
In the end, it's crucial to recognize that a car seat is only as secure as the adult who is using it. Children should be properly restrained by rear-facing car seats starting at birth and continuing until they reach the height that is required to wear a harness. This is typically around age four or five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat can assist your child in falling asleep or stay asleep for longer. This can be the difference between a happy, well-rested child and a cranky, tired child who resists naptime. Look for the right seat that will accommodate your child's growing size and offers plenty of neck and head support, and is well-fitted to prevent movement in the car.
The best infant car seats have various features that will make your child feel safe and comfy, such as soft materials that offer an incredibly snug fit, plush cushions, and armrests that are cushioned. Some have cup holders, adjustable headrests, and sun shades. Others offer various recline positions. Some have adjustable thigh support and lumbar support to improve posture, and some even have massage features that are activated by a button you press when the child is in the seat.
If your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat, you can move on to a convertible toddler car seat. These seats are designed for children up to 40 pounds. They can be used either front-facing or facing forward. A convertible toddler car seat can also be used as boosters up to 120 pounds. This helps save money and reduces the number of car seats you will require in the future.
Evenflo Chase is one of the top-rated toddler car seat for comfort. It provides excellent crash test results and is easily mounted using LATCH or the seat belt of a vehicle. Its slim shell allows it to accommodate larger babies and newborns than other car seats, and it comes with two crotch buckles to ensure proper shoulder strap positioning. It is also lightweight and slim, making it easier to move around.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is a great option for a car seat that is comfortable for toddlers. Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio says the seat is luxuriously comfortable with plenty of padding and easy-to-read indicators for installation. It's also compact and can be installed with or without the base, which makes it an ideal choice for parents who regularly move their car seat between vehicles.
Easy of Use
Car seats are the only item in a parent's life that get heavy use and a lot of parents want an easy-to-use seat that will fit inside their car and work with other baby equipment. Car seats for infants have smaller weight limits and shorter lifespans than convertible car seats, meaning that they tend to be lighter in body and frame. The most effective infant car seats are equipped with features that make them easier to install and use. These include a recline foot that is spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base for positioning it correctly in your car, and installation guides clearly labeled with clear directions. The car seats have been designed with easy-to-read durable and long-lasting materials that can be washed in the machine as well as a soft padding for your child.
The Clek Liing is the top-rated infant seat we reviewed in the year 2018. It has impressive crash test results and analysis scores as well as an excellent load leg that will assist you in putting the car seat with ease and accuracy. This car seat is one of the most simple to install with either LATCH or the rigid latch connectors with a color-changing indicator of connection on the latches and a no-rethread harness that snaps easily and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top pick. It provides impressive crash test results as well as loading legs to assist you in putting on the car seat. It's also a top choice with parents and experts, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy. She says the seat is designed to provide comfort with the recline foot that is spring loaded and an indicator of bubbles on the base to help position it correctly and tighten it easily. The seat is also reasonably priced and GREENGUARD-certified. It's constructed to last with an aluminum frame, high-density foam and a ventilated seat back that circulates air to keep your child cool.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one seat is popular with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women consider it a "solid" elegant and luxurious seat that's well worth the price for its exquisite feeling, luxurious materials and its easy installation. It comes with a 50-pound rear-facing weight limit and expandable legroom panel, in addition to an all-steel frame that is sturdy and has an anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat also transforms into a forward-facing booster for kids up to 120 pounds, and is small enough to fit three in many midsize vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in the safety of your child Therefore, you must know it will fit well and be simple to use. The location and method in which you install the seat, as well as how often you switch between different car types will affect your final decision. It is difficult to predict what might happen in a crash. However the design of your seat can help to minimize damage and make it simpler to get your child into and out of their car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are an important aspect. Rigid connectors have alligator-like clips that are attached directly to the seat and are more difficult to disconnect during a crash. Flexible connectors come with straps that can be tightened and loosen via a manual mechanism or a device. Most seats feature a level indicator to show the correct installation. This is typically formed as a plastic line on the shell or a sticker on the bottom of the seat that indicates the angle range when the seat is placed against the ground.
best infant seat is the degree to which a chair fits newborns and young infants. This is based on the size of the shell and head rest and the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Some seats also come with a positioning insert that helps smaller bodies fit better in the seat and within the harness. These inserts can be removed as your child grows.
The third crucial aspect is the ease with which it is to adjust the height of the harness. The best seats allow you to adjust the belt of your harness without having to remove your baby. It is as easy as pressing the button or pulling a tab shifting levers. The most comfortable seats also allow you to adjust the strap around your shoulders without having to rethread the belt.
If you're considering an all-in-one car seat, look for one that meets the minimum federal safety standards and is able to perform in third-party crash tests. We like seats that exceed expectations with features like an anti-rebound bar or the use of a foam that absorbs energy that is molded into the shell or the ability to use the seat from birth (with an insert) until your child is 50 pounds in rear-facing mode.