Your kids are your most precious cargo, and you need a car seat that keeps them safe through infancy to toddlerhood and beyond. We’ve found the best infant car seats, convertible car seats, and booster seats on the market. Before you buckle your little one up, put safety first with one of the best car seats. 6 Best Affordable Car Seats Graco SnugRide 30 Click Connect Front Adjust car seat. Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat and base. Graco Contender 65 convertible car seat. Cosco Scenera NEXT convertible car seat. Evenflo Amp High Back booster car seat. Cosco Highback booster car seat.
Best Overall:' In all, this car seat provides up to 10 years of use.' Best Budget:' Easy to install and the fabric stands up to stains and more.' Best for Small Cars:' Just 17' wide, but it has all of the safety features of bigger seats.' Easiest to Install:' Open the front, buckle the seat belt across, and click shut.' Best for Travel:' Lightweight, weighing just 7.6 pounds, and is airplane-seat friendly.'
Best for Tall Kids:' Has one of the highest height limits on the market.' Best Booster Seat:' Features Graco’s special harness system.' Cutest Car Seat:' A little help from the beloved mouse can help get kids into their car seat.'
What exactly is an infant car seat, and how does it differ from other types of car seat?.The main characteristic of an infant car seat is that it's rear-facing. In the event of a car accident, children under two are 75% less likely to be killed or injured in a rear-facing seat than in a forward-facing seat.Most infant car seats have a base that's anchored into your car, and the main body of the car seat simply clips into the base. This means two-car families just need a second base, rather than a second car seat. The Chicco Keyfit's engineers obviously put a lot of time and energy into designing a seat that safeguards precious cargo. Energy-absorbing foam shields infants from violent side impact, but the Chicco Keyfit's best safety feature is actually its ease of installation. A well-installed car seat is a safe car seat, and the Chicco comes with simple, push-button technology that ensures a proper fit each time.
One owner who was in a rollover SUV accident told us that the Chicco Keyfit kept her five-month-old solidly planted in her seat throughout the entire upset. Parents of newborns don't have to worry, either; this product includes a body-hugging insert that cradles floppy babies and keeps them safe and snug.Infant car seats have a carry handle, so you can get your baby in and out of the car without disturbing her — a lifesaver if she's gone to sleep in her seat and you don't want to wake her.Avoid getting a used car seat as it could be a recalled product, could be damaged so its safety features don’t work, and will certainly not have any company guarantee.Be wary of toys. Toys can injure your child in a crash, so be extra careful to choose ones that are soft and will not hurt your child. Secure loose objects and toys to protect everyone in the car.
Jonas has spent more than half of his life surrounded by children's products. He published a series of baby books called Indestructibles that are designed to take everything a baby can dish out. More recently, Jonas has taken on a role as Marketing Director for ConsumerSafety.org, where he oversees safety campaigns to inform consumers about recalled products. As a father and safety expert, Jonas has a critical eye for analyzing products, and is well-versed in CPSC safety regulations for baby products. The lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system is designed to help you fit your child's car seat safely. Most infant car seats only use the lower anchors, which are located in the crease where the seat cushions meet — these anchors should be found in almost all cars (and other passenger vehicles) made from September 1, 2002 onward. You'll find two lower anchors, and two lower anchor connectors on your infant car seat or base — one on each side — both of which must be clipped to the anchors.While this is a basic explanation of how the LATCH system works, always consult the manual that comes with your infant car seat to learn exactly how to fit your chosen model.If your car is compatible with the LATCH system, you don't need to use the seatbelt to secure your baby's car seat at all.
However, it's still possible to use a seatbelt instead of the LATCH system if you have an older vehicle that doesn't have anchor points. The Chicco Keyfit is the easiest infant car seat to install out of all of the leading contenders. That's no small feat, considering how complicated (and frustrating) installation of an infant car seat can be. A push-button installation mechanism helps achieve the proper base angle. Two bubble-level indicators let you know when the seat is at the accurate angle. A one-pull LATCH indicator helps assure a tight and secure fit.
If you're not mechanically inclined — or if you just don't feel like fussing with a complicated installation system day in and day out — this product is definitely worth your consideration. While an infant car seat isn't something you should scrimp on, you can find great options to suit a range of budgets.Basic infant car seats cost about $60 to $90. They won't have all the bells and whistles you expect from high end models, plus they're unlikely to be as convenient and well designed — they may be harder to fit and less comfortable to carry.
That said, you can find a few gems in this price range.Mid-range infant car seats cost about $90 to $150. They tend to be more user-friendly than basic car seats and have a few added extras.High-end infant car seats cost about $150 to $200. They tend to be extremely well-designed and easy to fit, with all the safety features you could desire. How long should my child use an infant car seat?A. Although the connotations of the word 'infant' might lead you to believe this type of car seat is only for small babies, it's recommended that your child uses a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. Rear-facing car seats are much safer in the event of a collision, so it's best to keep your child in one until he outgrows it.
Most infant car seats can accommodate children of up to 35 pounds, so ideally he'll use a rear-facing safety seat until he reaches this weight limit or grows too tall.Q. Is my child too tall for an infant car seat?A. Your child can stay in an infant car seat until she's tall enough that the crown of her head sits one inch below the top of the seat's shell.
Even before she reaches this height, she'll probably have to bend her knees or cross her legs to fit in the seat. Many parents worry that their child is uncomfortable or cramped in this posture, but the increased safety of a rear-facing car seat is worth the tradeoff.Q. How will I know if my car seat has been recalled?A. When you buy your car seat, you'll find a card enclosed asking you to register your purchase with the manufacturer. It's important that you do this, as that's how the manufacturer will know to contact you in the event of a recall.