How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
When looking for a car seat it can be easy to get overwhelmed. car seat inserts for newborns is one that fits your child and vehicle and can be used safely 100% of the time.
Car seats that are difficult for children or parents to install or use can be a serious issue. The most effective options boast impressive crash test results, come with high scores for ease of use, and are lightweight and narrow.
Safety
When you are looking for a car seat safety features are the most crucial aspect to take into consideration. If you decide to purchase an infant, convertible, or booster seat, it must meet federal safety standards and have a proven track of third-party crash tests. It should also fit in your vehicle and be easy to use.
A top-quality car seat must include a harness that is easy to use for adjustment, and either LATCH or seat belt connector options. Rigid or rigid lower connectors with alligator-like clipping that hooks directly to the seat belt guides or car seat base are more preferred to straps with a flexible design. The most effective seats have a color-changing indicator that is easy to understand and lets you know that the seat is properly connected.
In addition to these features, the most comfortable seats come with top tethers that reduce head injuries during crashes by restraining the front of the child's head. The harness guides are also built into the seats to assist parents use the seatbelt or tether correctly.
The most important characteristics of a car seat are those that guarantee the seat will be in place and used correctly all the time. Unfortunately, a lot of child passenger deaths occur because children are restrained incorrectly or in the wrong kind of seat. It is important to speak with a child passenger safety technician (CPST) near you to make sure the installation and placement of your car seat is correct.
A well-designed seat could help your child survive a crash. It's worth the extra cost for one that is constructed and built with a solid frame, top-quality materials, and intelligent features that make daily use more enjoyable. It is also advisable to search for a seat that's in compliance with the more recent R129 safety standards, which have more rigorous testing than the older regulations that most seats adhere to.
In the end, it's crucial to realize that car seats are only as secure as the adult who is using it. Children should be properly secured in rear-facing car seats from the time they are born until they reach a height that allows them to be seated forward in a harness, which is usually at the age of four or five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat will help your child fall asleep or sleep for a longer period of time. This could mean the difference between a content restful, well-rested child from an exhausted, cranky child who resists naptime. Look for the right seat that will accommodate your child's growing size, provides plenty of head and neck support, and has a good fit to stop movement in the car.
The most suitable infant car seat comes with various features that make your child feel secure and comfortable. These include soft materials including plush cushions, soft cushions and padded armrests. Some include cup holders, adjustable headrests and sun shades. Others provide various recline positions. Some have adjustable thigh and lumbar support to improve posture. Others have massage features activated by pressing a button once the child is sitting in the seat.
If your child is out of an infant car seat, the next step is to get a toddler car seat that can usually accommodate kids up to 40 pounds and can be used either rear-facing or forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seat can be used as boosters for up to 120 lbs. This helps save money and decreases the number of car seats that you will need to buy in the future.
Evenflo Chase is one of the top toddler car seats for comfort. It provides excellent crash test results and can be easily installed with LATCH or the seat belt of a vehicle. Its narrow shell allows it to accommodate more babies and infants of average size than other carseats and features two crotch buckles for better shoulder strap positioning. It is also light and narrow, making it easy to maneuver.
The Nuna PIPA urbn is a great choice for a comfortable toddler car seat. The seat is a good option for parents who are looking for a car seat that is comfortable for their toddlers. It has padded sides and easily-read indicators. It's also lightweight and can be set up with or without the base, making it a good option for parents who frequently transfer their car seats between vehicles.
Ease of Use
Car seats are the single thing in the life of a parent that sees a lot of use and lots of parents are looking for an easy-to-use car seat that can fit in their vehicle and also work with other baby equipment. Infant car seats are less heavy due to their less weight restrictions, and they last longer than a convertible car seats. The best infant seats have features that make them easier to install and use, including recline feet that are spring-loaded, as well as bubble indicators on the base to assist you in position it correctly in your car. Also, they come with clearly labeled installation guides, with clear instructions. The car seats are made of robust materials that can be washed in the machine and easy to read. They also come with comfortable padding for your child.
The Clek Liing is the most highly rated infant seat we reviewed in 2018. It has impressive crash test results and analysis scores, as well as an excellent load leg that can help you place the seat in your car with ease and precision. The car seat is easy to install with either the rigid latch connectors or LATCH. The latches change color to indicate the connection and the harness snaps into place quickly and securely.
Another top pick is the Chicco KeyFit 35, which provides impressive crash test analysis scores and an extra leg to help you place the car seat in your vehicle. Experts and parents love it, including CPST instructor Kecia H. The seat is well-designed, with a spring-loaded recline foot and a bubble indicator on the base, which helps position the seat correctly and tighten the seat without difficulty. This seat is inexpensive, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It comes with steel frames and a high-density, ventilated foam.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one chair is an absolute favorite with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women consider it a "solid" comfortable seat that's well worth the cost for its luxurious feel, luxurious materials and the ease of assembly. It comes with a rear-facing weight restriction of 50 pounds, an expanded legroom panel as well as strong steel frame with anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat can also serve as a booster seat for children weighing up to 120 pounds. It is small enough to fit into the majority of mid-sized vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in your child's safety Therefore, you must know it will fit well and be simple to use. The final decision you make will be influenced by where and how you plan to install the seat, as well as the frequency you plan to switch between vehicles. It is impossible to predict what could happen in an accident. However the design of your seat can help to minimize the damage and make it easier to get your child into and out of their car seat.
One crucial aspect is whether a seat comes with LATCH connectors that are flexible or rigid. Rigid connectors have alligator-like clips that are attached directly to the seat and are harder to remove in the event of a crash. Flexible connectors come with straps that can be tightened and loosen either manually or through a mechanism. A majority of seats come with a level indicator to show the correct installation. This is usually formed as a plastic line on the shell or on the bottom of the seat that shows the angle range when the seat is placed against the ground.
The ability of a seat to accommodate infants and newborns is important. This is based on the size of the head rest and shell as well as the ability to easily buckle and unbuckle the harness. Some seats also have an insert for positioning that can help smaller bodies fit better in the seat as well as within the harness. These inserts can be removed when your child grows.
Another important aspect is how easy it is to adjust the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the belt without taking away your baby. It is as easy as pushing an button, pulling a tab or shifting levers. In addition, the easiest seats to use are those that can adjust the shoulder strap's position without rethreading the belt.
If you are interested in an all-in-one car seat, ensure it meets the minimum federal safety standards and has been able to pass third-party crashes tests. We prefer seats that also go above and beyond with features like an anti-rebound bar, the use of a foam that absorbs energy built into the shell or the capability to use the seat from birth (with an insert) until your child reaches 50 pounds in rear-facing mode.