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Best Infant Seat Features All infant seats have to meet federal safety standards. However some go above. Our Best of the Bump winner has many features that parents will love, including additional padding, a padded inlay for newborns and the ability to raise or lower the headrest, with no rethreading. We considered factors like weight (without base) and stroller connectivity special features and prices when selecting our top choices. Read on to see which infant car seat is suitable for your family. Safety Every infant car seat on the market must meet the safety standards of the federal government. But some of the seats come with extra features that go beyond the minimum requirements. They could include load legs, a built-in rethreader, sides that support the straps and more. According to the experts I spoke to the more features a chair includes, the better. The more user-friendly a car seat is and the more likely parents will be to use it correctly and decrease the risk of injury to their child in a crash. This is particularly important for infant seats, which are only meant to be used for a limited time. Find a seat with a bubble indicator and an incline foot that is spring loaded for making it easy to level the seat. Make sure that the base can be easily pushed into and out of the vehicle. Other top features that some car seat manufacturers provide include a no-rethread harness, magnetic buckle holders, and side grips to carry the seat. Be aware that, even though these features are great but the safety of your car seat is only as good as the car that you use to drive. You can find helpful tips in the owner's manual about how to secure your infant car seat, and also learn more about the car's safety features. When you're choosing an infant car seat, bear in mind that you'll only be able to use it for around 2 years, until your child is ready to move to a convertible car seat. That's why some families opt to skip the infant car seat and go directly to a convertible seat, which has higher height and weight limits. When purchasing an infant car seat, make sure you consider the dimensions of your vehicle and try several models before making a decision. You can then ensure that the seat is suitable for your child, fits well in your car and includes useful features like the ability to convert it into a stroller. Don't forget to verify recalls prior making a purchase. It's the most important factor in ensuring your baby's safety on the road. Easy of Use You want a car seat for your infant that is easy to connect and take off from the base, regardless of whether you plan to use it in a single vehicle or shift it between several. Look for clear installation instructions and a simple mechanism. Also, consider how easy it is to alter the car seat as your baby grows. Also, consider the quality of the materials used. One of the best features that infant seats have is a load leg that acts as a brace between the seat's base and the vehicle floor to offer extra stability in the event of collision. It's an especially important feature for those who drive an older vehicle, since the risk of sustaining head injuries during a crash is much higher when a baby is seated close to the ground, as per research by Consumer Reports. Other top features that improve infant car seat user experience include a harness that is not rethread and anti-rebound bar, which can prevent the seat from rebounding during a crash. This has been proven to decrease the chance of sustaining head injuries by as much as 43 percent. The Evenflo's LiteMax DLX is a great choice for those on a limited budget and looking for an ARC-certified car seat and has a few high-end features. Jennifer LaBracio, Babylist's gear editor, suggests it. The seat was awarded an excellent rating by safety experts for children. It has a non-rethread adjustable harness that can be reclined in five positions, and an extended canopy that has magnets that ensure full coverage. Another thing to look for is the type of seat that can be put in with just the lap belt and doesn't require the use of the base. This is ideal for parents who plan to take taxis or Uber rides and doesn't need an extra trip back and forth to the car to install a new seat. Nuna Pipa and TRIV travel systems, for example, have a rigid LATCH built into the seat's bottom which makes them fast and easy to install. It also can be used with a rear-facing (4-40 pounds) and forward-facing (22-65 pounds) and can also be converted into the highback booster or backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 pounds). This is a great choice when you're on a tight budget. rear facing infant car seat pushchairsandprams When your baby is in a car seat for long periods of time, it's essential that they feel safe. This means padded straps on their shoulders, a plush fabric that feels cozy against their tummy and back and a headrest that grows with them to accommodate their growing body. Choose an easy-to-use seat to adjust as they grow and. While a car seat with lots of features may cost more, they're also often easier to use. When evaluating infant car seat, we consider aspects like a single-hand system harness, premium LATCH connectors, and a harness that doesn't rethread. We also consider the weight and size of the seat, because a heavy or large seat can put stress on your biceps while you transport it to and from your vehicle or in between vehicles. A seat with a load leg – a safety feature that assists in stabilizing the car seat in the event of a crash—is an additional option. It's typically found in more expensive seats but we've seen few budget-friendly options that include this additional safety feature. Another important consideration is the height and weight limits. You'll want to make sure that the seat will remain safe for your child after they reach their peak growth spurt, which is usually around age two or three. It's also worth looking at a convertible infant car seat that converts to a toddler seat. This will allow you more flexibility in your car and is great for families who frequently switch vehicles or travel. Our testers loved the Doona that is a combination of an infant car seat and stroller into one. It's a great choice for parents who are on the move particularly those who commute to work or school on public transportation. It's also easy to set up. Our expert testers appreciated its user-friendlyness with the one-handed latching system as well as the padded shoulders straps. Our product testers also noted that the seat is compact which is crucial for those who have a small trunk room. Plus, it's free of flame retardant chemicals, which is a huge benefit for parents who are concerned about their baby's health and the environment. Convenience The best infant car seats are easy to use. The best infant car seats come with convenience features that make it easier for parents to get in and out of the seat. Other important aspects to consider are whether the seat can be washed in the washing machine (to help with cleaning) and if it features a canopy, which can be useful both inside the car as well as attached to the stroller. One thing that may not be a big difference but can save you a lot of trouble is an indicator on the base that lets you know whether it's been put in place correctly. This line should be parallel to the ground and is located on the base. It can be particularly helpful if you're going to be changing the car seat between vehicles frequently, or if are planning to travel with your baby and require the seat in taxis or Ubers. A stroller that is compatible with the infant car seat can be affixed directly to it. This makes it simple to transport your sleeping bundle to the store or for running errands. You don't have to struggle with an additional carrier. This could be a great advantage for new parents looking to get back to their routine after a long commute or outing with their newborn. If you expect your child to grow rapidly, choose a car seat for babies with a higher weight or height limit than recommended by the manufacturer. This will allow you to keep the car seat for longer. While all car seats sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards, it doesn't mean all seats are created equal. Some have premium features that go above and beyond, including load legs that anchor the car seat's base for added stability and anti-rebound bars that reduce the chance of sustaining head injuries in crashes. A few accessories can make the ride more comfortable for your baby, and make you as a parent happier and more confident.