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How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to become overwhelmed when you are shopping for car safety seats. The safest car seats are those that fit your child and vehicle and can be used correctly 100 percent of the time.
Car seats that are difficult to install or use can make the lives of parents and children more challenging. The best car seats have high scores in terms of ease of use, impressive crash test results, and are light.
Safety
When shopping for a car seat safety features are the most crucial factor to consider. It doesn't matter if opt for a convertible, booster or infant seat. They must all comply with federal safety standards and they should also have a proven track record in third-party crash testing. It should also fit well in your vehicle and be easy to use.
A high-quality seat should include a harness adjustment that is easy to use, and also the possibility of connecting via LATCH or seatbelt. Flexible or rigid lower connectors with alligator-like clipping that hooks directly to the car seat belt guides or the car seat base are more preferred to flexible straps. The best seats come with a clear, intuitive color-change indicator to indicate that the seat is attached correctly and ensure a tight fit.
The most comfortable seats also come with a top tether that reduces the risk of injuries to the head during crashes by restraining the child's front head. They also have built-in harness guides to assist parents in properly threading the belt of their child or tether.
The most important features of a car seat are those that guarantee the seat is properly installed and used correctly all the time. Unfortunately, a lot of child passenger fatalities are caused by children being improperly restrained or using the wrong type seat. It is essential to talk with a child safety technician (CPST) near you to ensure the installation and positioning of your car seat are right.
A quality seat can save your child's life in the event of a crash. It is worth paying more for a seat that has a sturdy frame and high-quality materials. It's also helpful to have thoughtful features. It's also important to look for a seat that's in compliance with the most modern R129 safety standards which are more rigorous testing requirements than the older regulations that most seats adhere to.
It's also important to remember that a car is only as safe and secure as the adult who is driving it. Children should be properly secured in rear-facing car seats from birth until they reach a height that allows them to sit up straight in a harness, typically at the age of four or five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat can help your child get to sleep or stay asleep for longer, and that can mean the difference between the long drive done in one go and having an exhausted, cranky kid who screams at nap time. Look for a car seat that can accommodate your child's needs, has plenty of support for the back and head and is a good fit in the vehicle.
The most suitable infant car seat comes with a variety features that will make your child feel secure and comfortable. These include soft materials, plush cushions and padded armrests. Some include cup holders, adjustable headrests and sun shades. Some offer various recline positions. Some models have adjustable lumbar and thigh support to improve posture. Others have massage features activated by pressing a button when the child is in the seat.
When your child grows out of the infant car seat the next step is a toddler car seat. These seats typically accommodate children up to 40 pounds and can be used either rear-facing or forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seats can be used as boosters for children weighing up to 120 pounds, which will save you money and decreases the amount of car seat purchases you'll need to make over time.
Evenflo Chase is one of the most highly-rated toddler car seats for comfort. It provides excellent crash test results and can be easily mounted using LATCH or car seat belts. Its slim shell makes it easy to fit newborns and larger babies. It also comes with two different crotch buckle positions which allow for better positioning of the shoulder straps. It is also light and narrow, making it easy to maneuver.
The Nuna PIPA urbn is also a ideal choice for a comfy toddler car seat. Babylist's gear editor Jennifer LaBracio says the seat has a luxurious feel and plenty of padding and easy-to-read indicators for installation. It's also lightweight and can be installed with or without the base, which makes it a great choice for parents who often move their car seat between vehicles.
Simple to Use
Car seats are the single thing in the life of a parent that get heavy use, and many parents want an easy-to-use seat that will fit in their vehicle and also work with other baby equipment. Infant car seats have smaller weight limits and have shorter lifespans than convertible car seats, which means they are typically lighter in body and frame. The best infant seats come with features that make them easier to install and use, like recline feet that are spring-loaded, as well as bubble indicators on the base to help to position it properly in your car and clearly labeled installation guides that include clear instructions. The car seats have been designed with easy-to-read durable and long-lasting materials that are machine washable, as well as a soft padding for your child.
The Clek Liing is the highest-rated infant seat that we reviewed in 2018. It has impressive crash test results and analysis scores, as well as an excellent load leg that can assist you in putting the seat in your car with ease and accuracy. This car seat is also among the easiest to install using either the LATCH or the rigid latch connectors, with a color-changing indicator of the connection on the latches and a harness with no rethread that snaps quickly and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top pick. It offers impressive crash test results as well as loading legs to assist you in putting on the car seat. It's also a popular choice among parents and experts, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who claims the seat is designed to provide comfort, with the recline foot that is spring loaded and a bubble indicator on the base to help place it in the right position and tighten it easily. This seat is also affordable, GREENGUARD-certified and built to last with steel frames and high-density foam, as well as a ventilated seat back that allows air to circulate to keep your child cool.
The all-in-one Nuna Exec is a favorite of LaBracio and Saxton as well as Saxton, both calling it a "solid" seat that's worth the price for its luxury feel as well as its luxurious materials and ease of installation. It has a rear-facing 50-pound weight limit, and an expandable legroom panel, along with strong all-steel frame and anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat also can be converted into a forward-facing booster for children weighing up to 120 pounds, and is small enough to fit three across in many midsize vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in your child's safety Therefore, you must know it will fit well and be easy to use. Your final choice could be influenced by where and how you'll install the seat and how often you intend to switch between vehicles. Although it's impossible to know what could occur in a crash, your seat's design can help minimize damage and make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat.
One crucial aspect is whether a seat comes with flexible or rigid LATCH connectors. Rigid connectors are attached directly to the seat by alligator clips. They are more difficult to remove during the event of a crash. Flexible connectors have straps that can be tightened and loosened manually or by a mechanism. The majority of seats have a level indicator to show whether they've been properly installed. This is usually a plastic molded line on the shell's side, or a sticker that is affixed to the bottom of the seat that, when raised against the ground, indicates the car seat is at the correct angle.
Another crucial aspect is the way a seat fits newborns and young infants. pushchairsandprams.uk is based on the width and height of the shell, the headrest and the ease at which the harness can be buckled and unbuckled. Some seats have an insert for positioning that helps smaller bodies fit in the seat and harness. These inserts can be removed as your child grows.
Another important aspect is the ease with which it is to adjust the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness with out removing your child. They require pressing the button, pulling a tab or turning a lever. Additionally, the most convenient seats to utilize are those that adjust the shoulder strap position without having to rethread the belt.
If you're interested in an all-in-one seat, look for one that meets the minimum federal safety standards and performs well in third-party crash tests. We recommend seats with additional features, like an energy-absorbing layer molded into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.