How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
When you are looking for a car seat, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. The safest car seat is one that is a good fit for your child and your vehicle and is safe to use every time.
Car seats that are difficult to install or use can make life for parents and kids more difficult. The best options have impressive crash test results, have high scores for ease of use and are light and slim.
Safety
When shopping for a car seat, safety features are the most important factor to consider. It doesn't matter if select a convertible, a booster or infant seat. All of them must meet federal safety standards, and they should have a proven track record in third-party crash testing. It should fit inside your car and be easy to operate.
A good car seat should include a harness that is easy to use for adjustment, as well as LATCH or seat belt connector options. Lower connectors that are rigid or rigid with an alligator-like clipping that connects directly to the vehicle seat belt guides or seat base are preferable over straps that are flexible. The most comfortable seats have a clear, intuitive color-change indicator to show when the seat is connected properly and provide a tight fit.
In addition to these features, the best seats have top tethers that reduce head injuries during crashes by securing the front of the child's head. The harness guides are also built into the seats to assist parents use the seatbelt or tether correctly.
The most important aspects of a car seat are the ones that ensure that the seat will be in place and utilized correctly 100% of the time. Sadly, many child passenger deaths happen because children are not properly restrained or in the wrong type of seat. It is important to speak with a child passenger safety technician (CPST) near you to ensure the installation and placement of your car seat is right.
A well-designed seat can save your child's lives in case of an accident. It's worth the extra cost for one that is designed and manufactured with a strong frame, top-quality materials, and intelligent features that make daily use easier. It's also wise to look for a seat that is compliant with the more recent R129 safety standards that require more rigorous testing requirements than the earlier regulations that a majority of seats abide by.
In the end, it's crucial to realize that a car seat is only as secure as the adult who is using it. Children should be properly restrained in rear-facing car seats from the time they are born until they reach a height that allows them to be seated forward in a harness, usually at the age of four or five.
Comfort
A car seat that is comfortable will aid your child to fall asleep or remain asleep for a longer period of time. This could mean the difference between a content restful, well-rested child from an exhausted, cranky child who doesn't want to nap. Choose a car seat that is able to accommodate your child's growth and needs, with plenty of support for the back and head, and fits well in the car.
The best infant car seats have various features to help your little one feel secure and comfortable, such as soft materials that offer an ideal fit, plush cushions and armrests that are cushioned. Some of them offer adjustable headrests and reclining positions, as well as cup holders and a sun shade. Others have adjustable thigh supports and lumbar supports that help improve posture, and some even have massage features that can be activated by a button that you press when the child is seated in the seat.
When your child has outgrown an infant car seat, you can move on to a convertible toddler car seat. These seats are designed for children weighing up to 40 pounds. They can be used either in a forward or rear-facing position. Some convertible toddler car seats can be used as boosters up to 120 pounds. This can save money and reduces the number of car seats that you will require in the future.
The most rated toddler car seats for comfort include the Evenflo Chase, which offers great crash test sensor results and is simple to install with either LATCH or a vehicle seat belt. Its narrow shell allows it to fit larger babies and newborns than other carseats, and it features two crotch buckles to ensure proper shoulder strap positioning. It is also light and narrow making it easier to move around.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is a fantastic choice for a comfortable car seat for toddlers. It's a great choice for parents who want an easy toddler car seat. It has cushioned sides and easily-read indicators. It's also small and can be used without or with the base, making it a good option for parents who frequently transfer their car seats between vehicles.
Ease of Use
Car seats are the single thing in the life of a parent that is used frequently and a lot of parents want an easy-to-use car seat that can fit inside their car and work with other baby equipment. Car seats for infants have lower weight limits and shorter lifespans than convertible car seats, so they tend to be lighter in both body and frame. The best infant seats come with features that make them easy to install and use, including a spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicators on the base to help position it correctly in your car. They also come with clearly labeled installation guides, with clear instructions. The car seats are made with durable materials that can be machine-washed and easy to read. They also have soft padding for your child.
The Clek Liing is the top-rated infant seat that we reviewed in 2018. It provides 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 precision. This car seat is among the easiest to install with either LATCH or the latch connectors that are rigid, with a color-changing indication of connection on the latches and a harness with no rethread that snaps easily and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another popular choice. It provides impressive crash test results, as well as loading legs that can help you install the car seat. It's also a top choice with parents and experts, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who claims the seat is well-designed for comfort with a spring-loaded recline foot and an indicator of bubbles on the base to assist you in place it in the right position and tighten it easily. It's also affordable and is GREENGUARD-certified. It's also constructed to last with a steel frame, high-density foam and a ventilated seat back that allows air to circulate to keep your child cool.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one seat is an absolute favorite with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women call it an "solid", luxurious seat that is well worth the price for its exquisite feel, luxurious materials, and ease of installation. It comes with a 50-pound rear-facing weight limit and an expandable legroom panel, along with a sturdy all-steel frame and anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat also converts into a forward-facing booster for children up to 120 pounds, and is small enough to fit three across in many midsize vehicles.
infant car seat in front seat www.pushchairsandprams.uk is an investment in the safety of your child, so you want to ensure that it fits well and be simple to use. The location and method in which you install the seat, as well as the frequency you switch between vehicle types could affect your final choice. While it is impossible to know what could happen in a crash, the design of your seat will reduce the risk of damage and make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are a key factor. Connectors with rigid construction are bonded directly to the seat by alligator clips. They are more difficult to disengage during an accident. Flexible connectors have straps that can be tightened and loosen either manually or through a mechanism. Most seats come with an indicator of level that indicates the correct installation. It's usually formed as a plastic line on the shell or on the bottom of the car seat that displays the angle range when the seat is placed against the ground.
Another crucial aspect is the way a seat can accommodate newborns and infants. This includes the width of the shell and head rest as well as the ability to easily buckle and unbuckle the harness. Some seats also offer 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.
A third important factor is how easy it is to change the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness without removing your child. It is as simple as pressing a button, pulling an tab or shifting levers. Additionally, the most convenient seats to utilize are those that adjust the shoulder strap's position without rethreading the belt.
If you're interested in an all-in-one car seat, ensure it satisfies the minimum federal safety standards and has been able to pass third-party crashes tests. We prefer seats with extra features, such as an energy-absorbing layer that is molded into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.