Top Rated Infant Car Seats
Not all baby car seats are created in the same way. The best ones have features that enhance the crash test's performance, for instance load legs, which are shock absorbing components on the base or car seat that help reduce movement during collisions.
A favorite among CPST instructors is the Chicco KeyFit, which has a large rear-facing weight limit and height limit and an indicator for the level of bubbles, and the reclining foot is spring-loaded, which makes it easy to set up.
Graco Mesa Max
The Graco Mesa Max ranks as one of the easiest infant car seats to use. It has an easy design and excellent fabrics. It also has a handy feature that allows you to attach the harness of your child directly to the headrest. It has a huge canopy that can be tucked away to keep your child sheltered when they travel. The only downside is that it is a bit heavier than normal and could be a problem if you are planning to transport it or if you want to pair it with your UPPAbaby stroller that has won awards.
Mesa Max's remarkable results in crash tests reflect its dedication to safety. It scored a high mark in the frontal test and a high score in the side impact test, which means that your baby is safe from both sides in the event of a collision.
Another noteworthy safety feature is the Graco's anti-rebound panel which reduces rebound forces during the event of a crash, and also safeguards your child's head. This feature is unique among infant car seats, and makes the Mesa Max standout among its peers.
If used with the base when used with the base Graco Mesa Max can be installed quickly and safely in your vehicle using LATCH. The load leg, recline angle adjustment and the indicator of tightness help ensure a fast, accurate installation. The base weighs 12.6 lbs which is slightly heavier than the average car seat for infants but not enough to cause an issue.
The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 uses the same dual-knit fabric as its predecessor. It is free of chemicals that are fire-proof. It also features an infinitely adjustable headrest and a robust infant insert that enhances the fit and body position of babies approximately 4-11 lbs. The fabrics are GREENGUARD gold certified, which means they test for low chemical emissions and low VOCs.
The UPPAbaby UPPAmax Mesa Max is a little more expensive than other models however it comes with premium features and advanced technology for an enjoyable and safe journey. The base is included and comes in a variety of attractive colors. This adds to the value proposition. Its thoughtful features and sturdy design give parents peace of mind during every excursion.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight
The Britax Blvd ClickTight is a great option for parents who want an automobile seat that they can grow with. The rear-facing limit is 40 pounds, which is greater than the majority of infant car seats, and it can also be used as a forward-facing car seat until your child reaches 65 pounds.
The ClickTight Installation System is its most popular selling point. It is the safest, easiest and most secure system on the market. The seat belt can be tightened by pressing a red release button and pulling the harness strap. This makes it unnecessary to loosen and rethread the seatbelt. This minimizes the chance of not tightening the correct belt which is the most common cause of car seat failure.
The EZ-Buckle Pad adds another safety feature that holds the buckle away as you put your child in the car seat. This feature, as well as beltpath cutouts along the sides of your child's seat, make it easy to get them into and out of the car.
All three of the ClickTight convertible seats (Boulevard, Marathon CT, and Advocate CT) have the identical features. ClickTight Installation System is one of them. Also included are an impact-absorbing frame that has seven recline positions.
It's a heavy seat, and it could be worth considering alternatives that are lighter when you are planning to use it frequently for car swaps or travel. The seat is large, so it might not fit in smaller vehicles.
If you're looking for a low-cost seat that is of similar quality the Graco 4Ever is a great choice. It has lower crash tests scores than the Boulevard however it is still a great option for your child.
The Graco has also connectors with push-on connectors for LATCH which allows you to easily remove the seat. Boulevard's LATCH connectors have a different release mechanism that requires you to pull on the webbing and then press an orange button. This can be difficult if the webbing is tight. This seat comes with an easy storage compartment for belt straps.
Clek Liing
If you're looking for an infant car seat that has it all -style, safety as well as convenience and luxuryyou'll love the Clek Liing. This rear-facing only car seat has a high crash test score, an impressive variety of features, and is easy to install on most vehicles.
The Liing is designed with features that exceed US and Canadian safety regulations. It is designed to allow for a simple, secure installation - in every seating position. It's packed with safety features that are advanced like an energy-absorbing metal load leg and a two-piece shell lined with EPP foam for increased side-impact protection. The base features seven recline positions, and an indicator bubble that tells you whether the seat is just the right angle for your baby.
The Liing is loved by parents for its modern and sleek design and also its innovative safety features, such as rigid lower anchors that are simpler to attach than hook-and-loop connectors. The Liing also has a handy quick release with a single-handed button that makes it easy to take it off the base, or to use with various compatible strollers. At less than 17 inches in width it's just narrow enough for 3-across use in most cars and is a good fit in many convertible car seats as a booster.
The Liing infant seat earns first place for ease of installation thanks to its unique rigid-LATCH system. The Liing's lower anchors click right into the vehicle's lower seat belt slots, and the seat's top tether strap snaps into the headrest of the vehicle to create an extremely secure, tight fit that eliminates the risk of the child being thrown around during the event of a crash.
The seat is light with the base weighing 9 lbs and the carrier itself coming in at a manageable 10.5 lbs. Other rear-facing seats weigh more, however, the difference isn't evident if you intend to carry the car seat and base around. ).
Parents appreciate the Liing's built in canopy and 100+spf sun protection with the mesh peekaboo window. Parents love the merino cover that keeps baby cozy and also appreciate the seat's handle's ability to pivot past the canopy and make it more comfortable for them to grab when needed.
Graco Trio Grow SnugLock LX
The Graco Trio SnugLock is a 3-in-1 seat that converts from rear-facing infant to forward-facing harness and then to an highback booster. It features the SnugLock system, which allows for a simple and smooth installation using lower anchors or vehicle seat belts. It also has the option to use the top tether in booster mode (although we recommend using the lower anchors at all times for added security).
This seat is perfect for children of all ages. It comes with an infant insert for younger infants that can support their backs and necks. When they get older, this insert can be removed and the seat used as a regular toddler car seat. This is the only car seats that allow the top tether to be used as a booster. We highly recommend it.
best infant seat pushchairsandprams is compact from front to back, which means it shouldn't have a problem fitting into most vehicles. The headrest has to be raised to allow the lower anchor webbing to pass through. Fortunately, there's a headrest adjustment knob that can easily accomplish this, and you can view the position of your headrest in the display window.
One of the most unique features about this seat is the SnugLock installation system, which is a bar that is located in the belt path. This makes fitting this car seat with the lower anchors an easy task and almost as easy as using the vehicle seat belt.
The manual also includes an excellent illustration of how to correctly route the lower anchor connectors while routing them through the new belt path, which can be a bit confusing initially. Keep them from the chest clip and the crotch loop in order to avoid interfering with the buckle system.
The Graco Trio Grow is part of the Protect Plus Engineered family, which means it's been tested to some of the most rigorous crash tests in the world. This includes tests for rear, side, and rollover crashes as well as frontal impacts.