Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are great for growing kids, an infant seat is the best choice for newborns and babies. They're also lighter and easier to clip into strollers than their larger counterparts.

Kecia Healy Instructor for CPST, Kecia Healy, loved the recline leg that is spring-loaded and also the bubble indicator on the bottom of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the ease of use. (The more user-friendly the car seat, the more likely it is that parents will be able to install it correctly. The model can also be used three across in most midsize cars.

1. Clek Liing infant car seat

Clek, an Canadian manufacturer, is known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their top infant seats. It is fitted with the best safety features available, such as a metal load-leg, and easy installation. It also features seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to suit the slope of your vehicle's seat. A bubble indicator helps you determine if the seat is at the right angle before your child rides in it.

The base of the Liing is easily installed by using LATCH connectors made of rigid material that fit into the lower anchors on your vehicle which makes it easier to anchor the seat. This makes the Liing a great option for families that plan to switch vehicles frequently or who want a quick, reliable way to install their child's car seat. You can also use the belt-tensioning system that comes with it to secure your child.

The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is just one of the features that sets it apart from other infant carrier seat car seat models. It includes an upper insert that slides over the crotch buckle, and an attachment for the head that connects to the harness to to prevent babies from sagging or bending their heads while they're in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that offer this level of support.

The Liing's crash-testing framework made of steel reduces the force of crash by 40% compared with other infant seat. The shell of the Liing is padded with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body, which are the most vulnerable parts in a collision. The base of the seat is an aluminum load leg that absorbs energy, and also helps to reduce crashes.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It's simple to install, easy to use and will grow with your baby. It also works well with strollers as a travel system.

The KeyFit is a great choice for parents looking for an easy-to-use, safe and versatile seat. It has an excellent score in crash tests, is light and comfortable to carry and has a good range of height and weight limits. It was also designed to guarantee the comfort of infants. The click-in points are made of soft materials around it so your baby doesn't get burned by metal, the newborn insert also has an enclosed head-skirt to shield their heads, and the seat pad that baby sits on has cushioned foam that absorbs energy for a comfortable experience.

Installing it correctly is also very easy. It is crucial to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation can increase the danger of injury. The KeyFit's top connectors for LATCH with a SuperCinch tightener ensures the safety of your child's seat while requiring minimal effort. The base also comes with ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble-level indicators to ensure the correct vehicle angle. For alternative installation clear belt routing, lock-offs and the car seatbelt make it easy to place and tighten.

It does lose some points in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread-style harness height adjustment--a common feature on many Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means you need to remove the harness and manually re-thread straps from one slot level to another which is more time-consuming than other adjustments. But this is still an acceptable trade-off for the convenience this seat offers.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seats that swivel car seat meets the highest safety standards. It features a no-rethread harness, and is compatible with Joie strollers that use Maxi-Cosi style adapters. It's easy to use, with clear installation guides as well as built-in bubble levels to help with alignment. The car seat has plenty of padding and is comfortable. It also has a useful canopy to shield your baby from the sun.

The i-Snug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure vehicle attachment. It can be used with a stroller that is compatible for a complete travel set-up. It's an infant car seat with a rear view that offers the best head and neck protection for infants and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has a layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side impact crashes.

Like any infant car seat, you'll need to replace it when your child is over the height and weight limits, or when they turn one. You can then upgrade to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat. This allows your child to travel rearwards for longer and is more secure.

A convertible car seat is more spacious and has a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant car seat in front seat car seat and typically has a larger, more spacious interior. It's a good idea to switch to a convertible car seat as soon as is possible to avoid your child from outgrowing it too quickly. In certain situations, parents can move their child into an all-in one car seat without the need to purchase an additional infant car seat. That's why it is crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family. Take a look at our comprehensive guide to get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

Nuna Pipa RX is a highly-rated infant seat due to its safety features, light design, and the flexibility. It can be used using rigid lower anchors in the seats that are outboard of most vehicles, and with the seat belt of the vehicle using Euro Routing (which utilizes the entire length of the belt to secure the installation). It also comes with an organic GOTS baby insert which is a great choice for parents who are environmentally conscious and want to use organic products for their children.

The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 pounds. without the canopy or inserts. It is one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. This is due to the innovative Aeroflex foam that's incredibly lightweight but incredibly durable, reducing the the force that is transferred to your baby in the event of a crash. Other safety features include the 5 second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg that has an area of crumple to limit forward rotation, resulting in greater rearward-facing security.

The ergonomic aluminum handle is lightweight and luxurious with leatherette accents to provide an ergonomic grip and a convenient method to carry the bag. A buckle holder with a magnetic buckle keeps straps clear when you buckle your child and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base enables easy, super-fast loading and the belt's open path with lock-off secures lap and shoulder belts.

Cleaning up after a messy family member shouldn't be. The inserts and fabrics in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking as good as new after every use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

While Nuna's PIPA RX and PIPA air rx car seats newborn seats are both excellent alternatives, the new Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. The ultralight infant seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are attached. It also comes with a luxe user-friendly design with useful features such as buckle holders that are magnetic to keep straps from getting in the way while you buckle baby in, and a green/red indicator to let you know the installation is secure (we wish that all car seats came with this! ).

This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without the base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it a great option for parents who frequently use rideshare, taxis, or travel.

Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. These green-friendly materials include a Merino Wool and Tencel branded blend of lyocell fibres as a headrest, and a water-resistant machine washable cover.

The main drawback of the Pipa Urbn is that it only has the rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, which means you may need to change to a convertible car seat sooner than some other brands. It's still a top option for the majority of infants. The car seat is equipped for travel and can be used with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect with the rings adapter.