Best Rated Infant Car Seat For Your Toddler (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

Now that you’ve read  8 reviews of the best infant car seats, it’s time to choose the right system for you and your child. Of course, picking a thing that is supposed to protect your precious cargo and keep it comfortable and calm is no easy task. Some infant car seats come with all the bells and whistles, while others seem stripped to their bare essentials – which one is better at doing its job? And what about the price? Does it really reflect the quality of the product?

To help you with these and many other questions you may have, we’ve prepared this handy guide. Here, you can read all about the features you should be looking for in an infant car seat, different types of seats, and finally how to choose the right one. We also cover the installation process, as well as what to avoid when looking to purchase a new infant car seat, so make sure you read it all before making your decision.

Types of Infant Car Seats

There are a few different infant car seats available on the market today, but let’s start with the fact that all infant car seats must be rear-facing. This is because rear-facing car seats support baby’s body much better than any other type of seat. Here is how: when car accidents happen, the force of the crash can seriously hurt everyone in the car, including the child tucked in the car seat (especially their head, neck and spinal cord). But when the seat is rear-facing, it’s able to distribute crash force over the child’s entire body, thereby reducing the risk of serious injury. Because of this, you absolutely have to start with a rear-facing seat. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that all children should be in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years old. As your child grows, you can switch to forward-facing seats with harnesses, booster seats, and finally, when they’re old enough – to regular seat belts.

With that out of the way, let's get into the types of infant car seats.

• Standard infant car seats

As mentioned, rear-facing car seats must be used until the child is at least 2 years of age. Because of this, the rear-facing seats are also called infant car seats. These systems are designed for children weighing between 4 and up to 35 pounds, depending on the brand and model. The point is, the infant car seats can and should be used from the day you bring your baby home from the hospital, to the day he or she becomes heavier/larger than the seat can take.

Typically, infant car seats consist of the ‘crib’ and a base that can be left in the car. Most systems use a 5-point harness to secure the baby and some may have extra safety features. Also, most seats are semi-reclined, which means you can adjust them for baby’s comfort as you see fit. Speaking of comfort, infant car seats usually have body and head pillows and pads, which makes the ride not only safe but also cozy for the kid. Still, these car seats should not be used as traditional cribs – no matter how comfortable they are, infant car seats can never measure up to real baby cribs.

To make the transport of a sleepy baby easier, all infant car seats have a carry handle.

• Convertible car seats

As their name suggests, these car seats are convertible. This means that they can go from rear-facing to forward-facing, and sometimes they can even convert into a booster seat. Naturally, convertible car seats are heavier and larger than regular infant seats, and as a result, can also fit in larger children.

The convertible car seats are usually more expensive than infant car seats, as well as a bit more complicated to use. This is because of the recline and harnesses that need to be adjusted in each different mode. Still, convertible car seats do have more functions and modes, so many parents prefer them over regular infant car seats.

• Car seat and stroller combos

Car seat and stroller combos, or travel systems are basically car seats that can be attached to strollers (besides car seats, of course).  Because infant car seats come with a carrier, all you have to do is attach the seat to the base of the stroller to go from riding in the car to walking in the park. Obviously, these combos are very convenient and usually safer than separate parts, as strollers, along with the seats, need to go through extra testing.

There are several different models of car seat and stroller combos, including jogger combos, hiking combos, 3-wheel models, 4-wheel models and others.

How to Choose a Car Seat - Convertible vs. Infant

When you look at the features of infant car seats and convertible seats, you may think that the only difference between the two is the fact that the convertible has more options: it has more modes, often more useful features, and it can hold larger babies. Seems logical to go for the convertible car seat, right?

Not so fast – the differences between a regular infant seat and a convertible seat are actually more numerous than you may think.

Convenience

• The convertible car seat: there’s no doubt a convertible seat is super-convenient. Who doesn’t love a system that seems to have it all? It can go from rear-facing to forward-facing to even a booster seat, depending on the model. However, it doesn’t have a carry handle – to expectant parents, this may seem like a minor thing, but trust us when we say this – you do not want to wake a baby if not absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, with a convertible car seat, you will have to wake your sleeping child in order to get her or him out of the car, as you have to unbuckle them and lift them out of the seat.
• The infant car seat: regular infant seats are safe, simple to use and comfortable for the baby and the parent. Besides padding and pillows inside the ‘crib’, these seats also have carry handles that are usually ergonomically made (but not always), which makes the transport from home to the car and anywhere in-between super easy and convenient. If your baby has fallen asleep during the car ride, you don’t have to wake him or her – just lift the seat itself from the base and carry the baby with you to the house, or attach it to the stroller.

Price

• The convertible car seat: because they have more modes and features than infant car seats, convertible seats are more expensive. If it fits your budget, great, but if the model you like costs more than you’d like to pay at the moment, there’s no reason to insist on a convertible car seat. However, it should be noted that in the long run, a convertible seat will actually save you money as your child will be able to use it for a long time.
• The infant car seat: there are so many different infant car seats on the market today, from really cheap to highly expensive, that it’s easy to find one that fits your budget. If all you need is a simple, safe, no-fluff infant car seat, you can find affordable options everywhere (Evenflo Nurture Infant Car Seat comes to mind). But if you want extra features, a unique design and ultra-comfort for your baby and yourself, you’ll need to pay more (Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Infant Car Seat is a great option).

Ease of Use

• The convertible car seat: although they’re highly convenient, convertible car seats are more difficult to use than standard infant car seats. Because they have multiple modes, every time you use a different one, you’ll need to adjust the recline, as well as the harnesses in order for everything to fit and work properly. Basically, with a convertible seat, you need to check the settings regularly and that takes more time and effort.
• The infant car seat: with a carry handle and carrier that can be moved around without disrupting a child’s sleep, the infant car seat is easy to install and use. You just click the seat into the base when you need to put your little one in, and click it out when you want to take her or him out of the car. It’s as simple as that.

What To Look For In The Best Infant Car Seat

Hopefully, by now, you’ve decided on whether to buy an infant car seat or a convertible seat. In case it’s the former, and you’d like to know what to pay attention to before purchasing one, read on.

• Right Size

First and foremost, the infant car seat you’re buying needs to be able to fit in your car. If your car is on the smaller side, or is particularly large, make sure to take that into account, as the seat needs to fit properly to be able to protect your baby. Likewise, if you’re planning on using multiple cars but one infant car seat, make sure the seat fits well on every car seat.

• Safety

You’ll be pleased to know that in order to become available on the market, every new car seat needs to meet government safety regulations. What this means is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to protect your child – cheap or expensive, all infant car seats (especially those we’ve reviewed here) are safe. Of course, more expensive seats do come with additional safety features, but these are currently not required by law.

• Simple to Install

When buying a new infant car seat, make sure it’s as simple to install as possible. Some car seats have additional features, which although are useful for other uses, unnecessarily complicate the installation. The instructions should be user-friendly and easy to follow and the carrier should snap in and out of the base quickly and efficiently.

• Easy to Transport

Ideally, all infant car seats should be simple to carry around, from home to car to store to park (stroller), so it makes sense to choose one that is easy to transport. The only problem is, some car seats are just not transport-convenient. For one, those that are heavy can be difficult to carry around, especially if you’re on the tiny side yourself, and two, some carry handles can be uncomfortable to grab and hold. For this reason, go for relatively lightweight car seats with ergonomic carry handles.

How to Install An Infant Car Seat

As mentioned, the installation of the infant car seat should not be complicated, but simple and easy. Saying that, there is no one way to install a seat – although most infant car seats work similarly, they do have their differences, so each one must be dealt with in its own way.

• Read the manual

You may have already installed a couple of infant car seats in the past, but you’re not above reading a manual. Seriously, just sit down, read the manual and follow the instructions. If you still find the installation difficult, turn to the internet – there are countless videos and resources available that can help.

• Place the seat in the middle

The safest place to put the infant car seat in the car is in the middle of the back seat. This will not only protect your child if the car is hit on the side, but will also make it easier for you to check on the baby from time to time. In fact, one study showed that the center car seat is 43% safer than the side in the back.

• Install it on time

The best time to install an infant car seat is before the baby is born. You will have to bring your child home from the hospital, and the only way to do that with your own car is to tuck her or him in the infant car seat. So, install the seat, drive around with it a few times to check if the base is attached securely, and then and only then, put your baby in the seat.

What To Avoid In An Infant Car Seat

Finally, to purchase the best infant car seat possible, it’s good to know what to avoid.

• Very heavy carrier

Frequently carrying a baby on its own can be tiring, not to mention carrying one in an already heavy carrier. Avoid super-heavy infant car seats, particularly the carrier, as you’ll be taking your baby in it anywhere you go.

• Nonwashable materials

Babies are messy, period. For this reason, it’s crucial to choose carriers that have removable, washable pads and pillows. It’s a plus when the material is washing machine-safe, but not absolutely necessary.

• A bunch of additional parts

Some extra features are nice, convenient and add to safety, but there is such a thing as too many features and parts. If you constantly need to check on the features, clean them and keep parts out of your child’s hands, it’s a sign your car seat has way too many gadgets.

Sources:

1. Car Seats: Information for Families, HealthyChildren
2. New Help for Parents to Protect Kids on the Move: The Ultimate Car Seat Guide, HuffPost
3. Types of Car Seats for Your Baby, Verywell Family
4. Where Should You Put Your Car Seat?, Safe Ride 4 Kids