Best Infant Car Seats Review and Guide
Best Infant Car Seats
Welcome to our best infant car seats review and buyer’s guide.
There are several different types of car seats available for children. In this post, we look at rear-facing car seats that are specifically designed for infants. Infant car seats are typically designed for children who weigh between 40 and 25 pounds.
You can get all-in-one car seats and convertible car seats. While all-in-one child seats can be used as the child grows, they do tend to be heavy, and they are often unnecessarily large for a small infant.
Infant car seats may also incorporate safety features that are more appropriate for a baby. For more information about the different kinds of kid’s car seats, read Types of Kids Car Seats Explained for Parents.
For this review, we have picked out three of the best infant car seats currently available on the market. To give you a broader idea of what is available, we have also provided details of ten of the best-selling infant car seats. You will also find our tips on buying the best infant car seat for your child towards the bottom of the page.
Header image: Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat.
Best Infant Car Seats – Quick Guide
First, here are the three products that we selected for our best infant car seat reviews. You will find further details of each of these products a little further down this page.
Last update on 2020-11-20 Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Infant Car Seat Reviews
Next, we take a more detailed at each of our chosen best infant car seats. We selected these child seats based on customer reviews and on our assessment of the products.
If you would like to see a more extensive selection of infant car seats, scroll down, and you will find ten of the best-selling car seats for newborns and infants.
1. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat
The SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat is a rear-facing car seat that is suitable for infants weighing up to 35 pounds and measuring up to 32 inches in height. The product is crash tested to meet or exceed US Standard FMVSS 213.
Like most of the best infant car seats, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite consists of a base and a separate, detachable seat.
The seat section can also be used with Graco strollers. The base is secured to the vehicle using either the car’s seat belts or the LATCH system.
The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat has lots of excellent features. The device is easy to install and easy to use. There are four recline positions, and a canopy with a window and visor to protect the baby from the sun.
Overall, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car is our number one pick for the best infant car seat.
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat – Summary:
- Snug Lock Technology features a hassle Free 3 step installation rear facing car seat helps protect infants from 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 Inches quick and Easy clean up with the Rapid Remove cover; Head must be more than 1 inch from the Top of the headrest Infant car seats Made 2011 or after
- Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts headrest and harness together to prevent rethreading Safety Core absorbs frontal crash forces
- Adjustable base with 4 recline positions and Easy to read bubble level indicator In Right Latch system for a one second Latch attachment
- Rotating canopy with window and visor provides shade and sun Protection for baby removable newborn head and body Support cushions baby
Last update on 2020-11-20 Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Britax B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat
Like the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite, the Britax B-Safe 35 is suitable for kids weighing from 4 to 25 pounds and measuring up to 32 inches tall.
The B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat has a steel frame that provides all-round body protection, and there is a crumple zone to provide impact protection. The device consists of a base and a car seat with a carry handle.
The Britax B-Safe 35 car seat is compatible with Britax and Bob strollers. You can secure the car seat base to the vehicle using either the car’s seat belts or the LATCH system.
Other noteworthy features on this infant car seat include the large canopy, an easy-to-remove cover, and easy to use locks. We also like the spring-assisted recline, which makes adjusting the position extremely easy.
Britax B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat – Summary:
- Surrounded in safety: a layer of side impact protection, steel frame, and impact absorbing base
- Easy installation: use safe center latch or built in seat belt lock offs to secure the infant car seat
- Relax and recline: spring assisted recline and indicators ensure the best vehicle installation angle
- Travel system ready: compatible with Britax Be agile, Be free, Be mobile, Be ready strollers using the built in adapters and with all bob single and Dual-lie strollers (adapter sold separately)
Last update on 2020-11-20 Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
The Chicco KeyFit 30 is suitable for infants weighing 4 to 30 pounds. The maximum recommended height for this model is 30 inches.
The device consists of a base unit and a seat with a carrying handle.
This car seat is straightforward to use, and possibly more straightforward to use than most other rear-facing infant car seats. The car seat can be used with comapitible Chicco strollers. This product can be used with either the car’s seat belts or the LATCH system.
The Chicco KeyFit 30 weighs quite a lot less than that the other two models we have featured here. The KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat weighs 12 pounds, whereas the other car seats weigh in at around 19 pounds.
The Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat is a good-quality product that deserves a place on our best infant car seats list. It does, though, have a few minor shortfalls. The positioning of the release handle makes it a bit tricky to release the seat from the base. And the canopy does not extend the entire way over the baby.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat – Summary:
- The #1-rated infant car seat in America!
- Easiest to install with Recline Sure levelling foot, Ride Right bubble levels, and Super Cinch LATCH tightened
- Designed for travel system use with compatible Chicco strollers (sold separately)
- Removable new-born head and body supports. For infants from 4 to 30 lbs and up to 30 inches in height
Last update on 2020-11-21 Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Best-Selling Infant Car Seats
The above are our selections of three of the best infant car seats. To give you a better idea of what is available on the market, here is an up to date list of ten of the best-selling infant car seats.
- The #1-rated infant car seat in America!
- Easiest to install with Recline Sure levelling foot, Ride Right bubble levels, and Super Cinch LATCH tightened
- Designed for travel system use with compatible Chicco strollers (sold separately)
- Removable new-born head and body supports. For infants from 4 to 30 lbs and up to 30 inches in height
- Adjust handle with one hand, leaving other hand free
- Silent Shade canopy easily and quietly adjusts without disturbing baby
- InRight LATCH system for a one second LATCH attachment
- 4 position adjustable base lets you customize fit to your vehicle; Engineered and crash tested to meet or exceed US standard FMVSS 213
- Extend2Fit 4-position extension panel provides 3.5" of extra leg room allowing your baby to safely ride rear-facing longer
- Snug Lock Technology - A Hassle-Free 3-Step installation using vehicle seat belt or LATCH
- Grows with and helps protect rear-facing infants from 4 to 35 lb and up to 35", making it an excellent first car seat for baby
- In the event of a frontal impact, the Anti-Rebound Bar reduces car seat rotation
- Give your baby a safe and secure fit for travel with this LATCH-equipped Safety 1st car seat that fits infants from four pounds to toddlers of 35 pounds in rear-fACing mode
- Featuring ultra-lightweight construction using next-generation engineering, this easy-to-carry seat includes side-impACt protection. Head and body inserts give newborns added comfort and support
- Adjust your child's fit in the seat with four harness heights, spACed for a better fit whether your child is tiny or tall. Adjust the harness with a single pull for a secure fit
- When travel takes you away from home, this seat is ready to use on an aircraft. Compatible with any quickclick-equipped stroller, the seat attAChes with one simple click
- SNUGRIDE PERFORMANCE: Infant car seat helps protect rear-facing infants 4-35 lb and up to 32"
- LIGHTWEIGHT CARRIER: Lightweight infant car seat weighs only 7.2 lb, making it easy to carry baby from car to stroller
- 4-POSITION ADJUSTABLE BASE: Helps ensure an accurate install and helps keep baby comfortable as he or she grows
- EASY-TO-READ LEVEL INDICATOR: Helps eliminate guesswork from the installation process, so you can feel confident it’s installed correctly
- SnugLock Technology: Installs in less than one minute using vehicle seat belt or LATCH
- Helps protect rear-facing infants from 4-35 lb and up to 32"
- Adjustable base with 4 recline positions lets you customize fit to your vehicle
- Easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate guesswork from the installation process, so you can feel confident it’s installed correctly
- Adjustable 5-point safety harness
- 4-Position push-button height adjustable base
- One-hand easy-access seat release
- Eps energy-absorbing foam for superior side impact head protection and soft head support
- EPS energy-absorbing foam for superior side impact head protection
- 5-point safety harness; Easy one-hand harness adjustment and push-button release
- Removable 4-piece grow-with-me insert
- Extra-large 3-panel canopy and delta multi-grip carrying handle
- 4 seats in 1: 4-in-1 seat gives you 10 years of use--it seamlessly transforms from rear-facing harness (5-40 lb), to forward-facing harness (22-65 lb), to highback booster (40-100 lb), to backless booster (40-110 lb).
- Simply Safe Adjust Harness System: Adjust the height of your harness and headrest to 10 positions in one motion to ensure that your child is always properly secured.
- 10-position Headrest: One-hand, 10-position adjustable headrest is easy to use and grows to properly fit your growing child.
- 6-position Recline: Helps keep your growing child comfy on your many journeys together.
- This safety 1st all in 1 travel system allows for a seamless transition from car to stroller; QuickClick technology secures the latch equipped car seat to the stroller without disturbing your baby
- With exceptional side impact protection, the included 35 Lt rear facing infant car seat includes added back and neck support for newborns
- An oversized canopy with flip out visor and peek a boo window provides shade and airflow on sunny days and a convenient basket under the seat provides storage for baby items
- Designed for travel, the stroller is lightweight, has a fast, 1 hand fold, and stands on its own when folded
Last update on 2020-11-21 Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Infant Car Seat Buyer’s Guide
The most important consideration when buying a car seat is, of course, safety. So, it is not advisable to buy the cheapest car seat for newborns that you can find. Nor is it wise to buy a used car seat. All child seats sold in the USA must meet specific standards. So, it is also a good idea to only purchase car seats from reputable US-based stores or websites. Here are the most crucial things to look at when you are choosing the best infant car seat for your child.
1. Check Your Vehicle
The first thing to do before you buy an infant car seat is to check your car over. Car seats can either be secured to the vehicle with the seat belts or with a LATCH system. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It would be advisable to check the space that you have available in the back of your car too. Some infant car seats are quite large and may not fit easily into a small car.
2. Choose the Type of Car Seat
In this review, we have focussed on infant car seats, which are suitable for newborns and young kids weighing between 4-35 pounds. When your child outgrows an infant car seat of this type, you will need to buy another product. If you want a car seat that you can use as your child grows, you will need an all-in-one or convertible car seat.
3. Always Buy a New Car Seat If You Can
Infant car seats are naturally the type of thing that people want to sell when their child outgrows them. So you will find plenty of used car seats for sale online. However, it is advisable to always a brand-new car seat if you possibly can. New products will incorporate all the latest safety features and meet the newest safety standards.
4. Think About Cleaning
Consider how straightforward a car seat will be to clean. Can you remove the cover, for example? Is the cover machine washable? Remember, too, that smooth fabric will be much easier to clean than textured fabric.
5. Buy an Age-Appropriate Car Seat for Your Child
Always buy a car seat that is designed for the age of your child. Car seats are usually classified by the weight and the height of the child. Carrying an infant in a car seat that is too big or too small of the child is dangerous and could do more harm than good.
6. Put Safety Above Fashion
When you are comparing products to find the best infant car seat for your child, look at the safety features before you look at anything else. We all want our kids to look cute, but a car seat is one product where safety must come first.
7. Safety Vs. Price
Infant car seats can vary considerably in price. The more expensive models do usually provide better protection. At the lower end of the price range, look for car seats that have a 5-point harness, side-impact protection, and models that can be used with the LATCH system. If you can afford a premium infant car seat, you should be looking for safety features like an anti-rebound bar at the front, and crumple zones.
8. Check the Reviews
As always, the only way to find out what other parents thought of a product is to read customer reviews. The most crucial thing to look for in customer reviews of child seats is comments about the ease of use of the product. Some car seats look great and meet all the standards required, but they are unbelievably tricky to use in real life.
Conclusion
Many thanks for reading our best infant car seats review and guide. We hope that you have found it helpful. We will be publishing more kids’ safety product reviews very soon. If you would like to receive occasional updates from us, please subscribe to our mailing list.
Thanks again for visiting Best Panic Alarm. Have a beautiful day and stay safe!
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