How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
When searching for a car seat, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. The safest car seats are those that are compatible with your child's vehicle and car and are safe to use 100 percent of the time.
Car seats that are difficult to use or install can make life for parents and kids more difficult. The best options have impressive crash test sensor results, have excellent ease of use scores and are also lightweight and compact.
Safety
When you are looking for car seats safety features are the primary aspect to think about. If you decide to purchase an infant or convertible seat, it must be in compliance with federal safety standards and have a solid track of third-party crash tests. It should also be able to fit in your vehicle and be easy to use.
A good quality seat should include a harness adjuster that is easy to use, as well as the option of connecting using LATCH or seatbelt. Rigid or rigid lower anchor connectors, that are equipped with alligator-like clips that connect directly to the base of the car seat or to the seat belt guides of the vehicle, are preferable to flexible straps that move or loosen. The best seats feature a simple, easy-to-read color change indicator to indicate when the seat is connected correctly and ensure a tight fit.
In addition to these features, best seats include a top tether that reduces head injuries during crashes by securing the front of the child's head. They also come with harness guides to aid parents in securing the seat belt or tether.
The most important car seat features are those that ensure the seat is properly installed and used properly 100% of the time. Unfortunately, many child passenger fatalities are caused by children being improperly restrained or using the wrong type seat. It's important to consult a child passenger safety technician (CPST) near you to ensure the installation and positioning of your car seat are correct.
A good seat can save your child's life in a crash. It's worth spending more to get one that's made with a strong frame, top-quality materials and thoughtful features that make daily use easier. Make sure you choose seats that comply with the R129 safety standards, which are more rigorous than the older standards that most seats adhere to.
Lastly, it's important to understand that car seats are only as safe as the person who uses it. Children should be properly restrained 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 comfortable car seat can help your child fall asleep or sleep for a longer period of time. This can make the difference between a happy, well-rested child and an exhausted, cranky child who doesn't want to nap. Look for a seat that can accommodate your child's growing size, provides plenty of head and neck support, and is well-fitted to stop movement in the car.
The most suitable infant car seat comes with many features that help your child feel safe and comfortable. These include soft materials, cushioned armrests and plush cushions. Some include cup holders, adjustable headrests and sun shades. Others provide a variety of reclining positions. Some have adjustable the lumbar and thigh to improve posture. Some have massage functions activated by pressing a button while the child is sitting in the seat.
When your child has outgrown an infant car seat then you can upgrade to a convertible toddler car seat. These seats are designed for children who weigh up to 40 pounds. They can be used either rear-facing or facing forward. Some convertible toddler car seats can also be used as boosters for children up to 120 pounds, which can save you money and reduce the amount of car seat purchases you'll have to make over time.
Evenflo Chase is one of the top toddler car seats for comfort. It has excellent crash test results and is easily fitted with LATCH or a car seat belts. Its slim shell lets it fit more newborns and average-sized babies than other car seats, and it features two crotch buckles for better shoulder strap positioning. It is also lightweight and narrow, making it easy to move around.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is a fantastic choice for a comfortable car seat for toddlers. The seat is a good option for parents looking for a comfortable toddler car seat. It has cushioned sides and easy-to-read indicators. It's also small and can be used without or with the base, making it a great choice for parents who regularly move their car seat between cars.
Easy of Use
Many parents use their car seats a lot and are looking for seats that are simple to use and fits inside their vehicle. They also want it to be compatible with other baby equipment. Infant car seats are less heavy due to their lower weight limits, and have a shorter life span than a convertible car seats. The best infant car seats come with features that make them easier to install and use, like the recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicators on the base to help to position it properly in your car and clearly labeled installation guides, with clear instructions. The car seats are made with durable materials that can be washed in the machine and easy to read. They also have cushioning that is comfortable for your child.
infant car seats that swivel pushchairsandprams is the top-rated infant seat we reviewed in the year 2018. It provides impressive crash test results and analysis scores, as well as a fantastic load leg that will help you position the car seat with ease and accuracy. 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 the latch's connection and a no-rethread harness that snaps easily and securely.
Another popular option is the Chicco KeyFit 35, which offers impressive crash test analysis scores and load legs to help you place the car seat in your car. Experts and parents appreciate it, such as CPST instructor Kecia H. who says it's designed with a spring-loaded reclining foot and a bubble indicator on the base that helps you to position the seat correctly and tighten it with ease. It's also affordable, GREENGUARD-certified and built to last, with steel frames with high-density foam as well as an air-ventilated seat back that allows air to circulate to keep your child cool.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one seat is popular with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women describe it as an "solid", luxurious seat that's well worth the cost for its luxurious feel, luxurious materials, and ease of installation. It comes with a 50-pound rear-facing weight limit and an expandable legroom panel, as well as an all-steel frame that is sturdy and has an anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat can also be used as a booster seat for children up to 120 pounds. It is compact enough to fit in most mid-sized cars.
Design
You must ensure that the car seat you select is user-friendly and fits well. Your final choice could be influenced by the location and how you intend to install the seat and how often you intend to switch between vehicles. It is difficult to predict what could happen in an accident. However the design of your seat could help to minimize the damage and make it easier to get your child in and out of their car seat.
One important factor is whether the seat has rigid or flexible LATCH connectors. Connectors that are rigid are attached to the seat with alligator clips. They are more difficult to disconnect during 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 of level that indicates the correct installation. This is typically a plastic formed line on the shell side or a sticker stuck to the side of the seat that, when stood up against the ground, displays the car seat is in the right angle.
The capacity of a seat to fit infants and newborns is important. This includes the size of the shell and head rest as well as the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Certain seats have an insert for positioning that helps smaller bodies to fit into the seat and harness. It is important to remember that these inserts are removable as your child develops.
A third important factor is the ease with which it is to change the height of the harness. The most effective seats allow you to move the harness without removing your child. It is as simple as pressing a button, pulling an tab or turning a lever. Additionally, the most convenient seats to utilize are those that adjust the strap's length without having to rethread the belt.
If you're interested in an all-in-one car seat, make sure it meets the minimum federal safety requirements and has a good performance in third-party crash tests. We recommend seats with additional features, such as an energy-absorbing layer built into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.