An infant car seat is a must-have for most everyone, which is why it’s the best place to start your baby gear buying journey.
You’ll need an infant car seat to drive home from the hospital or birthing center. Caveat: If you’ll be walking home from the hospital with your baby, like you might if you live in New York City, you won’t need an infant car seat from day one. But you won’t be able to leave the hospital just by carrying your baby. You will be required to leave with your baby in a stroller with a near-flat seat recline like the BabyJogger City Mini (which you can also use with an infant car seat) or a soft infant carrier.
What’s the best infant Infant car seat prices range from roughly $89 (basic model) to $770 (rotational convertible car seat, suitable for infants) car seat?
That’s what everyone wants to know. The best car seat is one that’s installed correctly, including harnessing your child in the seat correctly, because all car seats sold in the U.S. must meet the same federal government car seat safety standards. The best car seats fit your child’s age, weight, height and is a good fit for your car.
There are three main types of car seats for infants:
- An infant car seat: It’s specifically designed for infants and rear facing only–installed in your car’s back seat, facing the back seat.
- Convertible car seat: At first, you’ll use it rear facing and turn it forward facing when your baby is at least 2 years old maxes out of the seat’s rear facing mode specifications.
- All in one car seat
All of these car seats are suitable for infants and can be used from day one.
Generally, Babyproductsmom reco
mmends buying an infant car seat with a load leg and/or an anti-rebound bar. These added safety features exceed federal government car seat safety standards.
You’ll pay a premium for these souped up seats. If they’re not in your budget, no worries. All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal motor vehicle safety standard 213, providing this baseline level of safety.
The answer: It depends.
But…if you can buy an infant car seat with a load leg and/or anti-rebound bar, BabyProductsMom says it’s worth the splurge.
Final thoughts: There’s no “best” infant car seat on the market. All of them must meet the same basic safety standard (213). But here are some worth
Chicco Keyfit 35The Chicco Keyfit is a BabyProductsMom fave because it’s easy to install correctly, which is super important for safety.
Graco Premier Snugride Snugfit 35 XT
At just 6 pounds, 9 ounces, it’s the lightest infant car seat on the market. It features a load leg in the base, but no anti-rebound bar.
Safety tip: When installing an infant car seat, consult the owner’s manual, watch the manufacturer’s installation video and consult your car manual. But for quick how-tos, just read the fine-print labels on the side of the car seat. Everything you need to know to install your baby’s car seat correctly is right there.
Shopping shortcut: Pick the infant car seat first, then a corresponding stroller or stroller frame. It’s just easier to do it in that order.
More car seats to consider for your baby registry list:
These infant car seats don’t have a load leg or an anti-rebound bar but they’re still super popular and worth considering:
Exceptions: One infant car seat BabyProductsmom loves (and owns herself) that doesn’t have an anti-rebound bar or a load leg is the Nuna Urbn because it’s super easy to install. It has what’s called rigid Latch connectors and it doesn’t have a car seat base. Wee!
Shopping shortcut: An All-in-One Car Seat, such as the Graco 4Ever $$ or the Britax One4Life. $$$ The Britax One4Life offers Clicktight installation, which makes installation and adjusting as your child grows super easy.
The Graco 4Ever is also easy to install and adjust as your child grows.
All most all car seat manufacturers make an all in one car seat these days.
Pro: You can use from day (in rear-facing mode) then later forward-facing until you’re baby is 120 lbs and 63 inches tall!
Con: You won’t get the cozy nest that an infant car seat offers and you won’t have an infant car seat to transport your baby around in, which is helpful.
This innovative car seat stroller is an infant car seat and stroller in one.
Pro: Great for travel and getting in/out of public transportation quickly; approved for airplane travel.
Con: It’s heavy–at 35 pounds, but you won’t be stringing on your arm like a purse. You’ll be strolling it most of the time.
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Copyright Sandra Gordon Writing Resources LLC
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