Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing however, an infant car seat is the best choice for babies and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to click into strollers than their larger counterparts.

Kecia Healy Instructor at CPST Kecia Healy liked the recline leg with springs and a bubble indicator at the base of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the user-friendliness. (The more user-friendly the car seat is, the more likely that parents will install it correctly. The model also fits three across in the majority of mid-sized cars.

1. Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

The Canadian manufacturer Clek is renowned for its best-rated convertible car seats and the infant Liing is among the best infant seats. It is fitted with top-of-the-line safety features like a metal load-leg that can be easily installed. It also comes with 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to suit the slope of your vehicle's seat. Additionally, a simple bubble indicator makes it simple to make sure the seat is at the right angle prior to your child's first ride in it.

The base of the Liing is easy to install with the help of LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors of your vehicle, making it easier to fix the seat. The Liing is a great choice for families that intend to frequently switch cars or need a simple and secure method to install car seats for babies. If you prefer, you can also use the included belt-tensioning system to buckle your child.

One of the things that makes the Liing apart from other infant car seat that swivels car seats is its two-piece Newborn Support System. This includes an upper insert that slides over the crotch buckle as well as an attachment for the head that connects to the harness to help keep newborns from slumbering or bending their heads forward when they're in the seat. It's a game changer for small preemies and babies and is among the few rear facing infant car seats that offer this type of support.

Another advantage of the Liing is its crash-testing frame, which reduces the force of a crash by up to 40 percent in comparison to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered by EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body from a crash. The base of the seat is designed with a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and helps diminish the likelihood of crashes, in addition.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is the top-rated infant seat. It is easy to install and use, and it can expand with your child. It can also be used with strollers to create a travel system.

The KeyFit is a fantastic option for parents who want a safe, versatile and user-friendly seat. It scores a top score in crash tests, is lightweight and comfortable to carry and has a good range of weight and height limits. It is also designed with the comfort of babies in mind. The click-in point is made of soft materials around it so your baby seat won't be burned by metal, the newborn insert has a head cover to shield their heads and the seat pad that babies sit on is surrounded by cushions that absorb energy for comfort.

It's also among the easiest infant seats to set up correctly every time. It is essential to install the seat correctly as a wrong installation could increase your child's risk of injury. The KeyFit's premium LATCH connectors that come with a SuperCinch tightener ensure an extremely secure fit with little effort. Plus, the base has a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble level-indicators that help ensure correct vehicle angle and quick installation. For a second installation, using the seat belt of the vehicle, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it simple to set up, install and tighten the seat belt of your car.

It does lose some points in the ease of use category because of the rethread type harness height adjustment, a feature that is common on a lot of Chicco seats (and as well on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must manually re-thread the straps to move them from one level to the next. But this is still an insignificant trade-off to the convenience this seat provides.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The light Joie i-Snug 2 is an infant car seat that meets the highest safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread harness and is compatible with Joie strollers that can accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are built in to aid in aligning the seat. The car seat is comfortable, with plenty of padding. It has a convenient canopy that shields your baby from direct sun's rays.

The i-Snug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure vehicle attachment and can be used in tandem with a stroller that is compatible for an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat provides maximum cervical and head protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest includes an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side impact crashes.

You'll need a new infant car seat once your child reaches the weight and height limits or their first birthday. Then, you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat, which allows children to ride rear-facing longer and is more secure for them.

A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat and has a higher weight and height limit when facing backwards. It's a good idea change to a convertible seat as soon as you can, to prevent your child from growing out of it too quickly. In some cases parents can move their child to an all-in-one seat without needing to purchase an additional infant car seat. It's therefore important to choose the right convertible car seat for your family. Check out our comprehensive guide for all the info you need to make an informed decision.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the top rated infant car seats-rated infant car seats because of its safety, light weight design and its versatility. It can be installed with rigid lower anchors in the outboard seats of most cars, and with the vehicle seat belt that uses Euro Routing (which uses the entire length to ensure the installation is secure). It also comes with an organic GOTS baby insert which is a great option for parents who are environmentally conscious and prioritize organic products for their child.

At only 6 lbs without the canopy and inserts the Pipa Aire RX is among the lightest infant car seats available on the market. This is due to the revolutionary Aeroflex foam that is extremely light but incredibly durable, reducing the forces transferred to your child in a crash. Other safety features include the 5-second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multiposition steel stability leg that has an area of crumple to limit forward rotation to provide greater rearward-facing security.

Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's both light and luxurious with leatherette accents for comfort and a great grip. The magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of from the way when you buckle your child and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base makes it quick, easy loading and the belt's path is open and locks that secure shoulder and lap belts.

Cleaning up after a messy family member shouldn't be a problem. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking as good as new after every use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

Nuna's PIPA air rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. However, the recently launched Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant car seats best car seats is extremely easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert attached. It is user-friendly and luxurious design with features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out the way when buckled in your baby, and a green/red indicator to inform you that the installation is secure. ).

This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without a base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who frequently use taxis or rideshare services for travel, or simply want the ability to transfer their car seat between vehicles faster and more easily.

Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. The green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest, as well as a water-resistant, machine washable cover and body insert.

The main issue with the Pipa Urbn is that it has the rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, so you might need to upgrade to a convertible car seat sooner than other brands. It's still a great choice for most babies. The car seat is compatible with Nuna's travel systems and can be connected to all strollers by using the Ring adapter.