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Best Infant Car Seat to Keep Your Child Safe (Top 4 Reviews)
Always put safety first. It’s in your DNA to want only the best for your kid and that’s why we are writing this article: to assist you in finding the very best infant car seat available on the market. There are many different features that make a car seat the best infant car seat and we’re going to go through all of them, explain everything and help you in making the right decision. In the process of assisting you in buying the best infant car seat, we make a database with all the new models and check out reviews from verified buyers. The main criteria we take into consideration when deciding on what’s the best infant car seat are:
- Safety mark
- Ease of use
- Baby height and weight ranges
- Flexibility
- Car size compatibility
- Durability
- Stroller compatibility
One quick note before we jump into the diverse world of infant car seat reviews: the models you’ll find in this article are rear-facing infant car seats since this is the only legal infant car seat carrier in most countries up until a certain age.
The Best Infant Car Seats in 2023: Comparison Table
You can’t talk about children's gear without including Chicco in the list. They are world-known for top-quality products in every possible domain. It’s also a known fact that, even though they provide some of the best infant car seats, they’re not the brand to go to when you’re considering the budget. This booster car seat from Chicco offers the desired durability, safety, and versatility and if you don’t mind the price, it is one of the best options you can go for. It comes with upper and lower infant inserts, two crotch positions, adjustable shoulder and headrest, EPS energy-absorbing foam, bubble-level indicators as well as a premium LATCH connection. The seat cover is removable and you can safely put it in the washing machine to get it ready for the next trip. The Chicco Fit2 has two different rear-facing mounting positions. One of them is quite reclined and it’s perfect for infants of up to 12 months and the other is more upright that offers more legroom from when your child gets bigger.
Why We Like It
- The well-known brand recognized globally
- Multiple settings to provide maximum comfort
- Compatible with strollers from the same brand
A similar model compared to the Fit2, the Chicco KeyFit 30 enters the battle for the best infant car seat with similar functions and features. However, one distinctive feature comes from its weight. Being one of the latest models from Chicco, this car seat weighs only 9 pounds which is a lot lighter than many of its competitors, even from Chicco. It’s a bit cheaper compared to the other Chicco model that we reviewed above and comes with all the features such as latch connectors, the foam padding that is energy-absorbing, and the already famous RideRight indicators to make sure the seat is properly installed. Overall, the Chicco KeyFit is a great pick for those that want a Chicco car seat but do not want to spend that much on Fit2. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use this seat for children older than one and a half years though.
Why We Like It
- Durable materials that offer maximum safety
- Comfortable padding that can be machine washed
- Easy mounting on the car seat through latch or the basic seat belt system
No safety features should be too expensive when it comes to your or your loved ones’ safety. That being said, the term expensive is also a relative one since it really depends on the level of income and how much you’re willing to spend on one convertible car seat or another. You might have guessed by now that the UppaBaby seat is on the more expensive side, however, you get the very best quality and safety money can buy. First, it comes with an automatically-tightening LATCH with a built-in indicator to let you know when the base is properly secured on the seat. If, on the other hand, you use the seat belt to place the seat on the back seat, you get a lock-off system. In addition, the 4-position adjusting foot helps you level the base correctly on the back seat and the headrest adjusts easily on five different height positions.
Why We Like It
- Multiple safety systems working together for maximum results
- Perfect for very small infants and children of up two years of age
- Padding can be machine washed
If you’re also interested in looks besides safety, this adorable-looking infant car seat for sale will definitely catch your eye. It instantly won the best infant car seat title when it comes to being pretty, however, how does it rate on the safety elements? Thanks to the extra padding, it can easily accommodate infants starting with 4 pounds, with the chair being light as well. It has inflated side protection for extra safety and coupled with the EPP energy-absorbing foam as well as the anti-rebound bar, you get the safety department well in check. The fabric is easily detachable for cleaning in the washing machine and the canopy covers a decent part of the seat, just in case there’s no other way to create shade.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable and good looking with plush padding and other design elements
- Great safety features
- Washing machine ready
Cons
- Not very effective against rain or wind
Infant Car Seat – Buying Considerations
Alright, now that you have seen the best infant car seat features and detailed reviews on what they have to offer, their pros and cons, it’s time to help you determine how to exactly apply those features to what you need. This process is the final step in determining exactly what defines the best infant car seat for you and your needs. So, let’s see how exactly you can determine which is the best infant car seat that adapts to your everyday needs and what are the considerations you need to make before actually buying one.
Ease of Use
Without a doubt, the most important factor when determining which is the best infant car seat for you and your child. Since being a parent is hard enough as it is, you don’t want to get caught in complicated locking mechanism and all sort of difficult-to-operate strapping systems. The baby car seat you get has to allow you to install it easily and place your child in place with the same ease. Even if you’re traveling alone, the car seat should be a car accessory that allows you to make the drive easier, not the other way around. So, the best infant car seat in terms of use has to make it extremely easy to place the infant and securely strap it in for the ride, without losing too much time.
Price
Of course, the price is an important aspect as well. Sure, you will not cut back from anything when it comes to getting the best for your infant, however, you don’t want to spend thousands on a car seat when there’re a lot more things to buy as a parent. In terms of safety, all the car seats presented above provide everything needed so that your child is protected in case of an accident. The price difference, however, comes from different accessories and the quality of the padding, shock-absorbing foam and different other uses that a car seat may have. To sum things up, the best infant car seat does not necessarily have to be the most expensive one; however, the price is a good indicator of quality most of the times.
Height and Weight of the Baby
You might have noticed that in our list of the top-rated infant seats, we have always taken into consideration the maximum weight and height each model can adapt to. This comes from the simple fact that you do not want to change the seat every three months when your child grows. In this respect, the most efficient car seats are the ones that can easily accommodate your child close to the 2-year-old mark. This usually translates into a maximum height of 32 inches.
Safety Features
You do not need to look for the best infant car seat to know that all the options presented in this list are extremely safe. After all, nobody jokes around with safety, especially when it comes to infants. All the models are tested for safety before getting the approval to be sold and some of the main safety elements are the car seat locking system, the waist and shoulder straps, the headrest that has to be padded and impact-resistant, and the shock-absorbing foam that has to cover all the hard parts of the infant seat.
Car Size
Finally yet importantly, you also need to think about car size when deciding on the best infant car seat. This is especially applicable if you have more than one child and you are planning to have passengers on the backseat. Most car seats tend to be bulkier and occupy more space so there is no way you can fit three of them on the backseat. If you absolutely need to fit three of these, there is a bigger chance you will have to change your car rather than finding seats narrow enough to allow you to fit them.
Conclusion
After going through the top-rated infant car seats, you now know what to pay attention to. Among the considerations, you need to focus on are your child’s age, car size, ease of use, price, etc. All the reviewed models of best infant car seats 2023 are absolutely safe but they come with different features so you have to pick the one that will fit you and your child. Our top recommendation is Britax B-Safe 35 Elite Infant Car Seat, the best infant car seat model that offers comfort and a reasonable price. It comes with a good locking mechanism and will support your child on any ride in your car. Consider getting this car seat, you can also think about this car seat protector
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