How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like making it the 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 with ease, particularly if you often switch between taxis or trips in hire cars and grandparents vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to protect your baby and a safe one should come with additional features that go beyond federal safety standards. These include padded cushions on the head and shoulders and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool when driving in hot weather.

The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important aspect to consider for safety. Ideally, the seat must be easy to install and use, with clear indicators of its level, position, and security.

There are many features that will aid in this process including belt guides and built-in locks to help you align the car seat to your car's seatbelt. It is also important to avoid purchasing used car seats, as they might not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident, and could not be safe for your child. If you have to purchase an old one, make sure it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by an individual seller who doesn't have evidence of ownership.

It's also important to remember that you should only leave your baby in the car seat for up to two hours per day, unless it is in a flat position. This will prevent strain on the spine of your child and ensure that they get a chance to breath regularly.

Selecting a car seat for your infant car seats uk is a significant investment so you'll want to be sure it has a long lifespan. Select a seat that will grow with your child's age and last from toddlerhood to the teen years. One that our parent testers loved was the Axkid One i-Size, which is suitable from birth and can be used up to 7 years old.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a lengthy time. It can rotate 360 degrees making it possible to change it from rear-facing into front-facing as the child grows. It's also one of the lightest rotating car seats on the market, and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's the ideal choice for parents who regularly transfer their babies between vehicles or are planning on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent's houses.

Comfort

A well-designed infant car seat is comfortable for your baby both when they are in the seat and when you are installing it. Choose padded straps that fit snugly around their shoulders, and for plush material that feels comfortable on their stomachs. This is especially important when you intend to use the seat for a long period of time.

The most effective infant car seat for newborn seats are also easy to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors with SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet as well as belt paths that make fitting without the base easier than ever before. Other features let you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.

Cosatto All in All Rotate is a prime example. Our test subjects scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a clear and simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation, and recline lock indicators. It is easy to switch your child's position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow without having to remove and replace the seat.

Another instance is the Nuna Pipa aire rx, which our parent testers loved for its convenience, comfort and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrests are designed to accommodate your newborn's head and includes an infant pillow that is soft to keep them comfy. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby hits the max height or weight limit and can also be converted into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.

A good car seat is durable, and many come with a warranty. Look for an item that is made up of padding and sturdy materials to safeguard your child from any accidents. It should also include a steel frame to absorb the impact energy as well as an "crumple area" to prevent crash damage. It must be easy to clean since accidents are likely to happen with the growing age of a child. To make cleaning easier, search for a car-seat with removable covers and a machine washable pad.

Easy to Use

A car seat should be simple to install and use, especially if you're likely to be using it in the same vehicle from time to time. To make it as simple as possible, look for features like a quick-release belt and an indicator that shows the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked), and a manual that is easy to read.

The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features that our testers for parents were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush material and a cupholder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in an comfortable position for longer travels. It can be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create a complete travel system. This is ideal if you are planning to travel for a long period of time.

It is suitable from birth. Our panelists found this car seat easy to put in and adjust. It comes with a recline lock and an upgraded connector that comes with a SuperCinch tightener. This makes it easy to ensure your child's safety. It's also designed to be easily moved from side to side in the vehicle without the need for tools.

One of our favorite features is the reclining feature that helps you get your infant in and out of the car. This is particularly helpful for those who have back pain or drive a car with a small size. It also comes with a reversible cup holder and a handy pocket for snacks and toys.

The seat weighs under nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is an excellent feature if you are limited on space or suffer from back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

It's an excellent choice for anyone looking to convert their car seat into a stroller for an affordable cost. Its sleek design and premium materials will stand up to the test of time. Make sure to clean the cover often as spills of yoghurt or biscuits that are crushed, and even sickening accidents with toddlers will leave their mark.

Design

The styles of car seats are as diverse as the vehicles they're used in. Some parents prefer to leave infant car seats out in favour of convertible models, the majority of new moms want a product that can develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. The most versatile choice is an all-in-one infant car seat that allows you to switch between rear-facing and forward-facing. It typically has a higher height and weight limit, and is often used as a booster seat when your child is old enough to need one.

An ideal infant car seat newborn car seat is light which makes 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 since it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to high-end features such as the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and the seat should also be considered. Some car seats come with a base that locks into the buckles for the seat belts. Some have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base once properly joined. These were a great option for parents, particularly if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts.

Some infant car seats can be used with regular seatbelts, but without the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who travel often or take taxis with their infants. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT which can be used with or without the base. It has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it simple to get your child into and out of the seat.

Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat comes with a lie flat design, and how it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a new infant car seat that can develop with your child's growth into a booster seat pick a model with a reclining backrest and side impact protection. Check that the infant car seat you choose is iSize compliant and also has the correct car-seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.