How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to get overwhelmed when looking for car safety seats. The most secure car seat is one that is a good fit for your child and your vehicle and can be used correctly every time.
Car seats that are difficult for children or parents to install or use could be a real problem. The best choices have impressive crash test results, come with high ease of use scores and are light and narrow.
Safety
When choosing car seats, safety features are the primary aspect to think about. If you decide to purchase an infant, convertible, or booster seat, it should meet federal safety standards and have a proven track of third-party crash tests. It should also be able to fit in your vehicle and be simple to use.
A high-quality seat must have a harness adjustment that is simple to use, and also the option of connecting using LATCH or seatbelt. Rigid or rigid lower anchor connectors that have alligator-like clips that hook directly to the car seat base or the vehicle seat belt guides, are preferable to flexible straps that move or loosen. lightweight baby car seat have an indicator that changes colors and is easy to understand and indicates whether the seat is properly connected.
In addition to these features, best seats include a top tether that reduces the risk of head injuries in crashes by securing the front of the child's head. They also have built-in harness guides to assist parents in properly threading the belt on their seat or tether.
The most important car seat features are those that guarantee the seat is properly installed and used in a safe and efficient manner all the time. Unfortunately, a lot of child passenger deaths are caused by children being improperly restrained or using the wrong type seat. Consult a child passenger security technician (CPST) who is located near you, to confirm that the installation of your car seat and position is correct.
A quality seat can help your child survive the event of a crash. It's worth paying more for a seat that has been designed and manufactured with a solid frame, top-quality materials and clever features that make everyday use a breeze. It's also wise to look for a seat that complies with the most modern R129 safety standards, which have more rigorous testing than the earlier regulations that a majority of seats abide by.
It's also important to keep in mind that the car is only as safe and secure as the adult using it. Children should be properly secured in rear-facing car seats from birth until they reach a height that allows them to sit forward in a harness, typically around the age of four or five.
Comfort
A car seat that is comfortable can help your child go to sleep or stay asleep longer, and that can mean the difference between a long road trip done in one go and having an exhausted, cranky child who is fighting nap time. Look for a car seat that can accommodate your child's growth and has ample head and back support and is a good fit in the vehicle.
The best infant car seats have various features that will make your child feel safe and comfortable, including soft materials that provide a snug fit, plush cushions, and armrests that are cushioned. Some of them offer adjustable headrests and reclining positions and cup holders and sun shade. Some models have adjustable thigh and lumbar support to improve posture. Other models have massage options activated by pressing a button once the child is sitting in the seat.
When your child grows out of an infant car seat The next step is to get a toddler car seat. These seats generally accommodate children of that weigh 40 pounds or less and can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seats can be used as boosters for children up to 120 pounds, which saves you money and reduces the number of car seat purchases you'll need to make over time.
The top toddler car seats that are comfortable include the Evenflo Chase, which offers excellent crash test sensor results and is simple to put on using LATCH or a car seat belt. Its narrow shell makes it easier to fit larger infants. It also has two different crotch buckles which allow for better positioning of the shoulder straps. It is also light and narrow, making it easy to maneuver.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is a great option for a comfy car seat for toddlers. It is a great choice for parents who want an easy toddler car seat. It has cushioned sides and easily-read indicators. It's also compact and can be used without or with the base, which makes it an ideal choice for parents who often move their car seats between vehicles.
Easy to Use
Many parents use their car seats frequently and are looking for a seat that is simple to use and fits in their vehicle. They also want it to work with other baby equipment. Infant car seats are less heavy due to their less weight restrictions, and a shorter lifespan than convertible car seats. The best infant car seats are equipped with features that make it simpler to install and use. They include recline feet that are spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base to ensure it is placed correctly in your car and installation guides that are clearly labeled with clear instructions. The car seats are made of durable materials that can be machine-washed and easy to read. They also come with comfortable padding for your child.
The Clek Liing is the top-rated infant seat we reviewed in the year 2018. It offers impressive crash test results and analysis scores as well as a fantastic load leg that will help you place the seat in your car with ease and accuracy. The car seat is simple to install with either the rigid latch connectors or the LATCH. The latches change color in order to signal the connection and the harness snaps into place quickly and securely.
Another top pick is the Chicco KeyFit 35, which has impressive crash test analysis scores as well as an extra leg to assist you in putting the car seat in your vehicle. It's also a popular choice for parents and experts including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who says the seat is designed to provide ease of use with an adjustable recline foot with springs and an indicator of bubbles on the base to help you place it in the right position and tighten it up easily. The seat is reasonably priced, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It features an aluminum frame and a ventilated, high-density foam.
The Nuna Exec is an all-in-one seat that's a favorite among LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women consider it a "solid" comfortable seat that's well worth the price for its exquisite feeling, luxurious materials and its easy installation. It features the rear-facing weight limit of 50 pounds, an expandable legroom panel and a sturdy steel frame with anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat can also be used as a booster for children up to 120 pounds. It is small enough to fit into the majority of mid-sized vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in your child's safety, so you want to ensure that it fits well and be simple to use. Your final decision may be influenced by where and how you'll install the seat, as well as how often you plan to change between vehicles. While it is impossible to predict what might happen in the event of a crash the design of your seat can help minimize damage and make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are a major aspect. Connectors that are rigid have clips resembling alligators that are attached directly to the seat and are more difficult to remove in a crash. Flexible connectors come with straps that can be adjusted and tightened via a manual mechanism or a device. Most seats come with an indicator for level that tells the correct installation. This is typically a molded plastic line on the shell or on the bottom of the car seat that shows the range of angles when the seat is placed against the ground.
The ability of a seat to accommodate newborns and infants is also important. This includes the width and height of the shell, the headrest and the ease with which the harness can be buckled and unbuckled. Some seats also offer an insert for positioning that can help smaller bodies fit better in the seat as well as within the harness. These inserts can be removed when your child grows.
Another important aspect is how easy it is to adjust the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats let you move the belt of your harness without having to remove your baby. It is as easy as pushing an button or pulling a tab shifting levers. The most comfortable seats can also be adjusted to the strap on your shoulder without the need to rethread the belt.
If you're considering an all-in-one car seat, ensure it meets federal minimum safety requirements and has performed well in third-party crash tests. We prefer seats with extra features, such as an energy-absorbing layer molded into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.