Choosing a Car Seat For Newborns
A rear-facing infant car seat is the safest option for newborns. It is crucial to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer when installing the car seat.
The base of the car seat should be slightly reclined, which helps to naturally keep the baby's head tucked back and chin off their chest decreasing the risk of positioning asphyxia.
Types
There are two kinds of car seats that are suitable for infants. A baby car seat and convertible baby car seats. Both have advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to your personal preference and how the seat will be utilized. If you plan to utilize the seat as part of a travel system and you'll be moving between vehicles frequently, then an infant car seat could be the best choice. If you would prefer an extremely durable car seat that will grow with your child until a booster seat and beyond then the convertible car seat might be better.
Infant car seats are designed for newborns and babies and are used in the backwards facing position. This is the most secure option for traveling with small children. They are also generally cheaper than convertible car seats, but may have a shorter lifespan. The majority of seats need to be replaced once your child reaches the limit of their weight or height (which can vary greatly between seats) or if they reach the age limit.
Convertible baby chairs, or all-in-one car seat as they are sometimes referred to are designed to carry your infant from birth through their toddler years, and even into their school age years. Some can be used as a forward-facing seat or a rear-facing seat.
Many of the best car seats for infants are convertible and will have a range of features, like smooth rotation, easy harness adjustment and an foam base made of EPS, which is essentially Styrofoam. Parents appreciate these features since they make getting their children in and out of the seat easier, while also ensuring their children are comfortable and secure.
It is important to ensure that the car seat you choose is compatible with your vehicle, and it also has LATCH that allows for quick and easy installation. It's also worth checking the safety features, such as shock-absorbing materials as well as side impact protection. If you're not sure what type of seat is best for your family, speak to a qualified car seat technician. They can help you navigate the options and help you pick the appropriate seat for your baby.
Safety
If you're looking for an infant car seat convertible car seat, baby-friendly travel systems it is essential to ensure that the model you choose meets stringent safety standards. This is particularly important for babies, since they are lighter and smaller than older children. Choose a seat with five-point harnesses that are attached beneath the shoulders (rear-facing) or above the shoulder (forward-facing), between the legs and around the crotch. This helps secure your child and prevents them from being thrown out of the seat in the event of an accident or sudden stop.
You should also consider a car seat that is connected to your vehicle with lower anchors or a seat belt. It should also have a top tether, which stops the seat from advancing in a crash, and obstructing the airway of a child. Also, make sure that the recline angle of the seat is in the right direction. Infants can easily become stuck in a seat that is too upright.
It is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper installation of your car seat. It is a good idea to consult a certified car-seat inspection technician during your pregnancy or shortly after the birth of your baby. A qualified professional can ensure the perfect installation.
Compatibility with strollers is another factor to think about. If you plan to frequently use a stroller you should consider a baby car seat and stroller combination that clicks together seamlessly. This is a great choice for busy parents, as it makes it easy to transfer your child from the car to the stroller and vice versa when you're running errands or taking strolls with the family.
Always place your seat on a hard surface (such as a car seat or base) and not on a soft surface like the bed or sofa or a bed, as this could cause it to tip over. This could lead to your child being injured, or even killed. In the event of an infant or baby's seat being left unattended, it could cause on soft surfaces could cause suffocation.
Easy of Use
The best protection is only possible only if the car seat has been utilized correctly every time. Unfortunatelly, infant car seats that swivel pushchairsandprams to children's seats are caused by errors. A few of these are not following the manufacturer's instructions, improper installation, using aftermarket products, and putting the child in a wrong position.
To reduce the chance of error, a good infant car seat for newborns is one that has easy-to-read installation instructions and features that make it easier to ensure proper usage. Certain brands, such as CYBEX include visual indicators and click sounds that assure that the seat is fitted correctly. This is crucial as studies have proven that improper use of a car seat can be responsible for as much as 50% of all car seat-related injuries.
It is also crucial to remember that you should never leave your baby in the car seat of an infant or in a carrier out of your vehicle even for a brief period of time. A baby left unattended in the safety seat could fall and fall onto soft surfaces, such as couches or beds and cause serious injuries or even death. The seats may also tip over on their sides which can cause suffocation.
The best infant car seat is determined by many factors, including your lifestyle and the longevity of the seat. An all-in-one model can be more affordable initially, but it may not work for smaller babies as well and is less flexible than a convertible car seat or booster. If parents plan to travel often, a lightweight, easy-to-install seat is essential for urban dwellers, while suburban parents will likely want seats that can be easily installed without a base and can be used in a taxi or Uber.
A seat that integrates with strollers can be an excellent option for parents who want to minimize the amount of equipment they need to carry around town or on flight. This is especially true in the event that you intend to commute via public transport often and reside in a large city. A lot of seats can be paired with UPPAbaby's strollers for easy, comfortable commuting. It is important to be aware of how easy it is to put your preferred seat on vehicles that do not have lower anchors or tether connectors, as they are less common.
Convenience
Many infant car seats can be used with stroller travel systems which allows you to create a complete solution for child safety. This makes it much easier to move your baby from the car to the stroller in bad weather or at night. Always secure the seat before leaving the car. It's unsafe to leave it in your car or on the street. Your child could be injured if they exit the seat without supervision.
Infant car seats are designed specifically for babies and infants with smaller sizes, offering comfortable and secure fit with plenty of padding for safety and comfort. They're generally lighter than convertible car seats, making them easier to carry for short distances. Most infant car seats are designed to be used rear-facing and are endorsed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as the safest position for young children.
They have a shorter life span than convertible car seats. Most children outgrow infant car seats between nine months and one year. You might require upgrading your car seat to a convertible version sooner than you thought.
A good infant car safety seat should have a strap flat against the chest of the child as well as over their hips with the chest clip placed on the child's armpit. The crotch buckle should be flat across the child’s thighs. Some models come with adjustable and removable inserts that allow parents to achieve the recommended fit.
It's important to remember that straps that are not secured or tight the baby could be strangled. It's also not safe to leave your child unattended in a car seat, so make sure you choose one with an option to lock off your vehicle, or a built-in lock.
Our experts test car seats to ensure they have the best safety features. Bob Hoffman, our Senior Review Editor has more car seat installation and scoring expertise than anyone else and is with his mom of two boys Wendy Schmitz, Senior Reviews Editor, and Abriah Wofford, a Senior Review Analyst who has been testing seats since the year 2016. Our team's expertise and knowledge help you find the right seat for your child as well as your vehicle.