Top Rated Infant Car Seats
A good infant car seat is a safety necessity, and not all seats are created in the same way. The top ones come with features that enhance the crash test's performance, for instance load legs, which are shock absorbing components on the base or car seat that reduce movement in collisions.
A popular choice among CPST instructors is the Chicco KeyFit, which has a weight limit that is high for rear-facing and height limit as well as a bubble level indicator, and the reclining foot is spring-loaded, which makes it easy to install.
Graco Mesa Max
The Graco Mesa Max is one of the top-rated infant car seats in terms of convenience of use. It is made of great materials, a simple design, and a handy feature that allows you to attach the child's harness to the headrest to make it easier to tighten. It has a huge canopy that can be hidden away to keep your child shaded while traveling. The only issue is that it's slightly heavier than the average and could be an issue if you intend to carry it around or if you want to pair it with your award-winning UPPAbaby stroller.
Mesa Max's impressive performance in crash tests show its commitment to safety. It scored a top score in the frontal test and an excellent score in the side impact test, which means that your baby is protected from both sides in a collision.
The anti-rebound panel is a important safety feature. It reduces rebound forces in a crash and protects the child's head. This is a rare feature in car seats for infants and makes the Mesa Max stand out among its rivals.
Graco Mesa Max can easily and securely be fitted into your vehicle with LATCH used with the base included. The load leg and recline angle adjustment and tightness indicator all help ensure a quick and accurate installation. The base weighs 12.6 lbs it is slightly heavier than the average infant car seat but not enough to be an issue.
The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 uses the same double-knit fabric that was used in its predecessor. It is free of chemicals that are fire-resistant. It features an infinitely adjustable backrest and a robust insert for infants between 4 and 11 lbs. The fabrics are GREENGUARD gold certified, which means they test for low chemical emissions and low VOCs.
The UPPAbaby Mesa Max is slightly more expensive than the other options, but it has premium features and advanced security technologies to provide the best travel experience. The base is included and comes in a range of stylish colors. This adds to the value proposition. Its thoughtful design and sturdy features offer peace of mind for parents on every journey.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight
The Britax Blvd ClickTight is a great option for parents who are looking for a car seat that their child can expand with. The rear-facing weight limit is 40 pounds which is higher than many infant car seats. It can be used forward-facing as well until your child is 65 pounds.
Its biggest selling feature is the ClickTight Installation System, which is the most secure and user-friendly available. The seat belt can be tightened by pressing a red release button and pulling the harness strap. This eliminates the need to unwind and rethread the seat belt. This reduces the risk of not tightening the correct belt, which is the leading cause of car seat failure.
Another safety feature is the EZBuckle Pad, which holds the buckle in place when you're putting 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 vehicle.
The three ClickTight convertible seats (Boulevard, Marathon CT, and Advocate CT) have the same features. They include the ClickTight Installation System, an impact-absorbing base, with seven recline positions as well as a rip-stitch energy absorbing harness pad, a HUGS tether, a steel-reinforced frame, and EPP energy-absorbing foam.
The seat is quite heavy, but you may want to think about a lighter option if intend to use it for travel or frequent swaps of cars. Also, the seat is big, so it may not fit well in smaller vehicles, particularly when it's on the rear.
If you're looking to find a budget seat with similar quality, the Graco 4Ever DLX is a great choice. The seat has lower crash test scores than the Boulevard but is still an excellent choice for your child.
The Graco also has connectors that can be pushed on for LATCH, which makes it easier to take off the seat. Boulevard's LATCH connectors utilize an alternative release system that requires you to pull the webbing, then press a gray button. This isn't easy if the webbing is tense. However, this seat does come with a handy storage cubby to store the belt straps when not in use.
Clek Liing
Clek Liing is the ideal infant car seat you should consider if you want it all: style, safety and convenience. This rear-facing car seat is easy to install, has an impressive crash test score and a wide range of features.
The Liing is constructed with features that surpass US and Canadian safety regulations. It was designed for easy, secure installation in all seating positions. It also comes with advanced safety features like an energy-absorbing metal leg as well as a two piece shell lined with EPP for enhanced side impact protection. The base features 7 recline positions and a trusty bubble indicator that lets you know when the seat is at the right angle for your infant.
The Liing is loved by parents for its sleek and modern design, and also its innovative safety features such as the rigid lower anchors that are simpler to attach than hook-and-loop connectors. The Liing features a one-handed release, making it easy to remove the base and connect it to compatible strollers. It's also slim enough to fit three-across in many vehicles, and can be easily inserted into a convertible car seat as an extra boost for travel.
This infant seat scores an impressive 1st place in terms of ease of installation with its unique rigid-LATCH system. The Liing's lower anchors snap into the lower seat belt slots of the vehicle, and the top tether strap snaps onto the vehicle headrest. This ensures a tight, secure fit which reduces the risk that the child might be thrown around during an accident.
The base weighs 9lbs, and the carrier weighs 10.5 lbs. Other rear-facing seats weigh more, but the difference isn't noticeable if you plan to carry the car seat and base around. ).
Parents love the Liing's built-in canopy and 100+spf protection from the sun with mesh peekaboo. Caregivers love the merino blanket that keeps the baby warm and the capacity of the handle to pivot away from the canopy. This makes it easier for parents to grab the seat whenever they need it.
Graco Trio Grow SnugLock LX
The Graco Trio SnugLock LX is a three-in-one car seat that goes from rear-facing infant to forward-facing harness, and finally to highback booster. It comes with the SnugLock system that allows for a simple and smooth installation using either lower anchors or car 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).
We love that this seat does so much for children of various age groups. It has an infant insert for smaller infants that can support their backs and necks. As they grow older, this insert can be removed and the seat is used as a regular car seat for toddlers. This car seat is one of the few that allow you to use the top tether in booster mode, which we highly recommend.
Its base is fairly compact from front to back, which means it shouldn't pose a problem fitting into the majority of vehicles. It is required for the headrest to be raised, however, to give you an easy way to the lower anchor webbing. Luckily, there's a headrest adjustment knob that allows you to do this, and also 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's inside 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 has a great illustration on how to route the lower anchor connectors in a correct manner through the new belt pathway which may initially be confusing. Keep them away from the chest clip as well as the crotch loop in order to avoid interfering with the buckle system.
The Graco Trio Grow belongs to the Protect Plus Engineered Family, which means that it has been subjected some of the most rigorous testing in the industry. car seat for newborn Push Chairs And Prams includes side, rear and rollover crashes as well in frontal impact tests.