How to Choose the best car seat for newborn Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, fits in your car, has useful features (like turning into a stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the infant car seat can be inserted into and out of your car easily especially if you frequently change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars or grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A quality car seat comes with extra features that go above and beyond federal safety standards. They include padded inserts for the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool when driving in hot weather.

Easy installation and use of the seat is another important aspect of safety. Ideally, the seat should be easy to install and use, and with clear indicators of its level, position, and security.

Look for features that make it easier to accomplish this, such as built-in lock offs and belt guides that help to align the car seat to the vehicle's seatbelt. Avoid buying used car seats that might not have been crash-tested or been involved in an accident. They may not be safe for your child. If you must buy a used one, make sure it's not expired and isn't being sold by an individual who doesn't have proof of ownership.

Another thing to bear in mind is to keep your child in the car seat for no more than 2 hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child and ensure they are able to breathe regularly.

You'll want a seat to last for a long time, as it is a significant investment. Find one that's designed to grow with your child, which will last through toddlerhood and into the teen years. Our parent testers were very satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for babies from birth, and is able to be used up to age 7.

Nuna pipa air rx is an additional alternative that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees, so you can change it from rear-facing into front-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the most lightweight car seats on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It's a great option for parents who need to move their infant car seat for travel frequently between vehicles or are planning to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

It is essential that your baby feels at ease in their car seat, both in it as well as when you install it. Choose padded straps that are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and look for plush fabric that feels good on their stomachs. This is particularly important in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long time.

The most effective infant car seat is also user-friendly. Some have premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier and tightener. Some also come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths that make installing without a base simpler than ever. Other features will help you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is crucial as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate test, which our parents gave a 10/10 for its ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation and a recline lock indication. It is possible to easily change your child from rear-facing to front-facing as they grow without the need to take off and replace the seat.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its comfort and simplicity, as well as its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are designed to support your baby's head and comes with a soft infant pillow to keep them comfy. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby reaches the maximum weight or height limits and can also be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.

A quality car seat will last, and some will even come with a guarantee. Choose a seat that has plenty of padding and durable materials to safeguard your child from any accidents. It should also include a steel frame to absorb the force of impact and a "crumple area" to prevent crash damage. It is important to keep it clean, as accidents are sure to happen with children. To make cleaning easier, search for a car-seat with removable covers and a machine washable pad.

Easy to Use

It is crucial that a car seat be easy to install and use, especially when it is going to be used in multiple vehicles periodically. To make it as easy as possible, look for features like a quick-release belt as well as an indicator to indicate the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a manual that is easy to read.

The Best of The Bump winner also comes with several useful extras that our parents testers adored, such as a padded harness and headrest, plush fabric and a cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in an ergonomic position during longer journeys. It can also be combined with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is perfect if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.

Suitable from birth, our panelists found this car seat easy to set up and adjust. It features recline locks and an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This made it simple to ensure your child's safety. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle without tools.

The recline feature allows you to carry your child into and out of the vehicle. This is particularly useful if you suffer from back issues or drive a small vehicle. It also has an adjustable cup holder that can be reversible and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.

The seat weighs just nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature for those who are tight on space or suffer from back pain. Our panelists were awed by this feature, which was a finalist in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

It's a great choice for anyone who wants to convert their car seat into a stroller at an affordable price. Its sleek design and high-quality fabric will last for a long time as well. Just don't forget to wash your cover regularly because smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the occasional sick toddler accident is certain to leave a marks!

Design

Car seats come in a variety of designs as the cars they're used in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seat in favor of convertible models. However, the majority of new mothers want something that will develop with their child as they reach toddlerhood. All-in-one car seat are the most flexible that allow you to change from rear-facing to forward-facing. It usually has a higher height and weight limit, and is often used as a booster seat once your child is ready for one.

An ideal infant car seat newborn car seat insert is lightweight, making it easy to lift it from the base and transport your child. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it has a number of safety features and is lightweight (8.4 pounds, including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out as it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to top-of-the-line features like the Dream drape, and a full-coverage canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the seat and base should also be taken into consideration. Certain car seats have a base that locks into the buckles for seat belts. Others have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that slide out of the sides of the base once properly attached. Parents found these convenient especially when their vehicle had only front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Certain infant car seat newborn insert seats are compatible with regular seatbelts without the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who frequently travel or travel with their infants. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a popular choice among our parent testers. It can be used either with or without the base and has an easy swivel that allows you to easily take your baby in and out.

Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat has a flat design, and how it is compatible with your car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat newborn that will grow with your baby into a booster, look for a model with the option of reclining headrests and side impact protection. Make sure the baby car seat you pick is iSize compatible and has the appropriate car seat attachment points, as required by UK law.