How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
When searching for a car seat, it's easy to get overwhelmed. The safest car seats are ones that fit your child and vehicle and are safe to use 100 % of the time.
Car seats that are difficult for parents or children to set up or use can be a major issue. The best options have impressive crash test sensor results, have high scores for ease of use, and are lightweight and narrow.
Safety
When choosing a car seat, safety features are the most important aspect to think about. It doesn't matter whether you opt for a convertible, booster or infant seat. They should all conform to federal safety standards and they should have an established track record in third-party crash testing. It should also be able to fit in your vehicle and be simple to use.
A high-quality car seat should include a harness that is easy to use for adjustment, and either LATCH or seat belt connections. Rigid or rigid lower anchor connectors, which are equipped with alligator-like clips that connect directly to the base of the car seat or vehicle seat belt guides are superior to flexible straps that can move or loosen. The most comfortable seats come with an indicator that changes color and is easy to understand and indicates that the seat is properly connected.
In addition to these features, the best seats have the top tether, which reduces head injuries during crashes by securing the front of the child's head. The harness guides are built into the seats to assist parents thread the belt or tether properly.
The most important aspects of car seats are the ones that ensure the seat will be in place and used correctly 100% of the time. Tragically, many children's deaths result from children are not properly restrained or in the wrong kind of seat. Consult infant car seats on sale pushchairsandprams (CPST) who is located close to you, to make sure that the car seat's installation and placement is correct.
A quality seat can save your child's life in a crash. It is worth the cost to buy seats that have strong frames and high-quality materials. It's also helpful to include intelligent features. It is also advisable to search for a seat that is compliant with the most recent R129 safety standards which are more rigorous tests than the older regulations that many seats abide by.
It is also important to remember that a car is only as secure and safe as the adult who is driving it. Children must be properly secured with rear-facing car seats from birth and continue until they reach the height required to wear a harness. This usually happens between the ages of four and five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat can aid your child in getting to sleep or stay asleep for longer, and that can mean the difference between getting the long drive done in one piece and an exhausted, cranky kid who screams at nap time. Look for a seat that can accommodate your child's growing stature and offers plenty of neck and head support and is a good fit to stop movement in the car.
The best infant car seat has many features that help your child feel safe and comfortable, such as soft materials including plush cushions, plush cushions and padded armrests. Some offer a choice of recline positions and adjustable headrests as well as cup holders and a sun shade. Some come with adjustable thigh and lumbar support to improve posture. Other models have massage options activated by pressing a button when the child is in the seat.
When your child grows out of an infant car seat The next step is to get a toddler car seat that will generally accommodate children of who weigh up to 40 pounds. They can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seat can also be used as a booster up to 120lbs. This saves money and reduces the number of car seats that you will require over time.
The top-rated toddler car seats for comfort include the Evenflo Chase, which offers excellent crash test results and is easy to install with either LATCH or a seat belt for a vehicle. Its slim shell allows it to accommodate more babies and infants of average size than other car seats and also features two crotch buckles for better shoulder strap positioning. It is also light and narrow making it easier to move around.
The Nuna PIPA urbn is a excellent option for a comfortable toddler car seat. The seat is a good option for parents looking for a car seat that is comfortable for their toddlers. It has cushioned sides and easy-to-read indicators. It's also lightweight and can be installed with or without the base, which makes it a great choice for parents who frequently transfer their car seat between cars.
Easy of Use
Many parents use their car seats frequently, and they want an simple to use and can be tucked away in their car. They also want it to work with other baby equipment. Car seats for infants have lower weight limits and a shorter life span than convertible car seats, so they are generally lighter in both body and frame. The most effective infant car seats are equipped with features that make it easier to install and use. They include the recline foot, which is spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base to help you position it correctly in your vehicle and installation guides that are clearly labeled with clear directions. The car seats have been designed with easy-to-see, durable materials that can be washed in the machine as well as comfortable padding for the child.
The top-rated infant car seats we reviewed this year is the Clek Liing, which offers impressive crash test results and analysis scores, in addition to an impressive load leg that allows you to place the car seat in your vehicle with ease and precision. This car seat is among the easiest to install using either LATCH or the rigid latch connectors, with a color-changing indicator of connection on the latches and a harness with no rethread that snaps easily and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top choice. It offers impressive crash test results and loading legs that can help you install the car seat. It's also a favorite with parents and experts, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who says the seat is well-designed for ease of use with the recline foot that is spring loaded and a bubble indicator on the base to assist you in position it correctly and tighten it up easily. This seat is affordable, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It features a steel frame and a high-density, ventilated foam.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one seat is a favorite among LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women describe it as a "solid" comfortable seat that is well worth the price for its exquisite feel, luxurious materials, and the ease of assembly. It has a rear-facing 50-pound weight limit, and an expandable legroom panel, as well as a sturdy all-steel frame and anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat also converts to a forward-facing booster for children who weigh up to 120 pounds and is small enough to fit three across in many midsize vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in the safety of your child, so you want to be sure that it will fit and be user-friendly. The final decision you make will be influenced by where and how you'll install the seat and the frequency you plan to switch between vehicles. While it is impossible to predict what will occur in a crash, the design of your seat can help minimize damage and make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are an important aspect. Rigid connectors are attached directly to the seat by alligator clips. They are more difficult to disconnect during an accident. Flexible connectors come with straps that can be adjusted by hand or with some sort of mechanism. Most seats have a level indicator that shows whether they've been installed correctly. It's usually a formed line on the shell's side, or a sticker that is affixed to the bottom of the seat that, when raised against the ground, displays the car seat is at the correct angle range.
Another important factor is the degree to which a chair can accommodate newborns and infants. This includes the size of the shell and head rest, and the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Certain seats have an insert for positioning to help smaller bodies to fit into the seat and harness. These inserts can be removed when your child grows.
A third important factor is how easy it is to change the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness without having to remove your child and require only pressing a button, pulling an tab or shifting levers. The most convenient seats can also be adjusted to the strap around your shoulders without having to rethread the belt.
If you are interested in an all-in-one car seat, make sure it meets the minimum federal safety requirements and has a good performance in third-party crashes tests. We recommend seats with additional features, like an energy-absorbing layer built into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.