10 Best Car Seats for Infants- Birth to 6 Months or Older

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Quick List: Best Car Seats for Infants

After comparing and reviewing 20+ best car seats for infants to toddlers, we can reveal that the best car seats (ordered by type) are:

1. Best for travel: Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller ($550) – foldable, car seat with wheels, travel system in one piece.

2. Best narrow infant car seat: Chicco KeyFit 30 ($219.99) – 16.75″ width. Friendly for preemies.

3. Best for extended rear-facing: Graco Extend2Fit ($234.99) – extended rear-facing (50-lb weight limit) and extension panel.

4. Easy to install – Briatx Marathon ($299.99) – 18.5″, ClickTight for easy installation, SafeCell to enhance safety.

5. Narrow: Diono Radian 3R ($199.99) – 17″ wide, foldable, budget-friendly fro most families.

See Our Top Picks

Find the best car seats for infants

Best By Bonus

See the best car seats for infants by bonus (e.g. extended rear-facing, rotate, etc).

Comparison

Compare key performance stats and specs to listed best car seats for infants.

What features do you expect in the top-rated car seats for infants?

The compatibility with a stroller, or one with a long-lasting rear-facing for toddlers?

No matter what you prefer an ideal infant car seat for preemies or infants at 6 months and up, move on reading this post to find one best suits your and your kid’s needs. 

From the database of over 50 car seats, we pick up the 8 top-rated car seats for infants so you can skip trawling the web for hours on end. All the information you need is right here.

Infants younger than 1-2 years old should stay rear-facing for safety considerations. To make it simple, we’ve split the car seats into two simple groups based on the kid’s age – car seats for preemies (newborns) and car seats for 6 months and up. All of the best recommendations can be used in rear-facing because the car seat laws in all US states require that children under 1 year old ride in this position (direction).

Choose the weight/height range you’re looking for to narrow down the car seat options and see which comes out as the best in the category. 

All the car seats listed have been carefully considered, thoroughly reviewed, and compared against our database of 50+ car seats.

Particular focus has been placed on weight and height limits, safety ratings, extendable use, the durability of the car seats, and how comfortable they are to stay for the little passengers.

Best Car Seats for Infants

Best Car Seats for Infants Small

Best Car Seats for Infants under 30 Pounds

Best for Travel

Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller
Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller

$550

Best for Preemies

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Chicco KeyFit 30

$199.99

Best Car Seats for Infants to Toddlers

Best Car Seats for Infants 6 Months and up with Extended Rear-facing

50 lbs Rear-facing

Graco Extend2Fit

$239.99

Easiest to Install

Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
Britax Marathon

$299.99

Easy to use

Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat
Chicco NextFit Zip

$299.99

Narrow

Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Car Seat
Diono Raidan 3R

$199.99

4-in-1

Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat
Graco 4Ever DLX

$329.99

Or, if you’d rather view the best car seats for infants by weight and height limits, your budget, or by type (e.g. portable, fit 3 across, etc), click on either of the below.

Best Car Seats for Infants by Bonus Features

16-18 Inch:

Further Information

Best Car Seats to fit 3 across

Foldable:

Extended rear-facing:

120 pounds

Part I: Best Car Seats for Infants under 35 LBS

Best Infant Car Seat for Preemies

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

Chicco KeyFit 30

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$199.99

For newborn infants, we’ve identified the Chicco KeyFit 30 as the best bet.

While it has an affordable price of under $200, this car seat has some excellent features that won’t disappoint you, especially if you have a small car without much space for a car seat.

The Chicco KeyFit 30 is also the best car seat for premature newborns.

The Chicco KeyFit 30 can be used for babies who are weighing from 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches in height.

This size limit makes KeyFit last at least for infants 6 months, or maybe longer up to 1-year-old kids.

The 4-pound minimum weight limit of this infant car safety seat makes it perfect to fit preemies, without sacrificing the car seat’s safety and comfort.

It’s also the best recommendation by many neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses for premature babies.

The Chicco KeyFit 30 includes a removable infant head and body insert to make the little one stay comfortable in the car seat.

For premature or smaller babies, the infant insert for the car seat offers extra support and keeps them secure. As they grow large enough (generally around 11 pounds), the insert is removable.

There is also an adjustable and removable canopy that can provide shade from the sun when taking the little one outside in the infant car seat or attaching it to a stroller.

This infant car seat comes with many excellent features to be the easiest-to-install infant car seat so that first-time parents will place it in the vehicle simply, properly, and securely.

A ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble level indicators help you to set up the car seat at a proper angle.

The base included in the seat is equipped with LATCH connectors and a SuperCinch tightener, ensuring a secure fit in the cars.

All the car seats are required to pass crash testing before going to the market, and so does the Chicco KeyFit 30.

It also meets the Federal Safety standards and offers extra side impact protection by the EPS energy-absorbing foam carrier shell. The five-point harness with one-pull tightening gives more support to keep the baby secure in the cars.

The KeyFit 30 is a lightweight infant car seat, making it very portable and easy to switch between cars. 

It’s recommended to get multiple bases compatible with the KeyFit 30 in different family cars so that you don’t need to purchase several baby car seats.

The 2-position carrying handle gives you a comfortable grip when you take the carrier out of the car. The page weighs only 9.5 pounds and is compatible with Chicco strollers for travel system use.

This car seat is FAA-approved for air travel. So if you’re a frequent-flyer family and like to take babies for traveling in different cities or countries, this KeyFit 30 can serve the dual purpose of keeping your baby safe in the car and in the air.

The KeyFit 30 is made of machine-washable fabrics that can be removed separately into the washer with cold water for cleaning, but not use bleach.

The plastics and hardware may be sponge-cleaned using warm water and mild soap and dried with a towel, while the harness is not machine washable and can only be cleaned using warm water and mild soap.

Chicco KeyFit 30 vs KeyFit 30 Zip vs KeyFit 30 Zip Air

Car Seats Comparison Chicco KeyFit 30 Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Chicco NextFit Zip Air
MSRP Price $199.99 $229.99 $239.99
Rear-Facing Weight Limit 4-30 lbs 4-30 lbs 4-30 lbs
Rear-Facing Height Limit 30 inches 30 inches 30 inches
Carrier Weight 9.5 lb 9.6 10
SuperCinch LATCH
Reversible Newborn Insert - -
Convenient Zip Features -
3D Air Mesh -
Removable Boot -

Best Infant Car Seat for Travel

Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller

Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$550

Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller is the world’s first 2-in-1 infant car seat and stroller in one to work as a complete and fully integrated travel system without an additional stroller.

The car seat itself is an infant car seat and stroller combo that was designed to deliver a safe and practical solution for fitting newborns and babies, both in and outside of the vehicle.

This infant car seat features a unique design with foldable wheels, allowing parents to move from the car seat to the stroller in seconds. It’s the only car seat with integrated wheels on the market till this post is published.

This means that you don’t need to take an additional stroller no matter where you plan to go, on public transition, in the taxi/uber, or having a chat with friends in the cafeteria.

Doona is also one of the best portable car seats. It not only can be easily installed in your own vehicle for family travel but also allows for a simple installation in the taxi and uber cars.

Plus, it’s approved for aircraft use, making it one of the best car seats for air travel, as long as your baby does not outgrow its height or weight limits.

The unique hybrid functionality does not affect its safety. The Doona has been tested to meet the strictest US standards for car seats, strollers, and hand-held carriers.

The car seat is also made of baby-safe materials that are free of hazardous chemicals and are carefully tested and approved under the strictest European standards and the REACH regulation, including SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).

Doona combines functionality and quality into one. The company positioned it as a high-end car seat and manufactured it with the highest level textiles for the longest durability and best quality, assuring the safety and continued use of the product.

The textiles are breathable, removable, and washable to provide the best comfort for your babies.

Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller comes with a unique double-wall structure that enables the folding of the wheels into the body and offers a significant safety benefit. It’s one of the six best foldable car seats.

The two layers of durable, impact-absorbing plastic, along with additional layers of EPS, foam, and textiles provide enhanced side-impact protection.

Lightest Car Seat for Infants

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat

Graco SnugRide SnugLock

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$159.99

If you’re a frequent-flyer family and love traveling around the world even after you have a kid, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 might be a great choice, just after the Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller.

Weighing at only 7.5 pounds, Graco SnugRide SnugLock is one of the lightest infant car seats on the market,  making it easy for you to carry a baby from car to stroller and everywhere in between.

This car seat is also FAA-certified to be used in aircraft, meaning that you can even use it for air travel with your tiny through different cities.

The Graco SnugRide SnogLock 35 is a rear-facing car seat for newborn infants as small as 4 pounds. Thanks to the 5-point, front-adjust harness, this car seat will still give small babies a secure and snug fit until he or she outgrows the baby car seat by reaching the top weight limit of 35 pounds or a height limit of 35 inches.

From its weight or height limit, you’ll know that the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 is not good for tall babies who grow beyond the average growth rate.

But Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 is still a safe infant car seat, going through rigorous crash testing, and meets or exceeds the US safety standards FMVSS 213.

Featuring side impact protection, along with the EPS energy-absorbing foam, this car seat offers great protection for your little one in case any crash happens.

Like all newborn infant car seats, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 also provides shade and sun protection for your baby with a canopy, which is rotatable for more space when you need to carry the handle.

This car seat is compatible with all Graco Click Connect strollers, thanks to the Click Connect technology, with which you can easily attach the seat to strollers in one step for a customized travel system that best fits your lifestyle.

The seat cushion is machine washable and you can simply remove it for cleaning. For the metal and plastic parts, you can clean them with mild soap and water, but for a buckle, you’d better use a damp cloth for cleaning.

Best Car Seats for Infants under 40 LBS

Best All-in-one Car Seat for Infants to Toddlers

Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat

Graco 4Ever DLX - 4 modes

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$329.99

If you want to save money and get an all-in-one car seat for infants, you should not miss this Graco 4Ever DLX.

It is a superstar to ride your child going through all three stages – rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster (high back and backless) until they’re big enough to wear the vehicle seat belt for safety.

This car seat can be installed rear-facing to ride newborns as little as 4 pounds, even preemies.

Infants are fragile and weak to hold their heads in the car seat. The included plush head and body inserts provide additional support for small babies and help to keep your infant feeling cradled and comfortable in this child safety seat.

The 6-position reclines, with three of them rear-facing, allow you to find a perfect fit through their growth, newborns, infants, toddlers, and big kids.

The top weight limit in rear-facing is only 40 pounds, making the Graco 4Ever DLX less appealing to those car seats with a higher 50-lb weight limit like Graco Extend2Fit which we’ll talk about later. But there is an Extend2Fit version available with a 50-lb rear-facing weight limit. 

But it’s still good enough to keep the infant rear-facing on the second birthday. If you’re living in states that require a child to ride rear-facing as long as 2 years old, it’s a good option.

Getting the infants in and out of the car seat can be a challenge, especially in the rear-facing position. There is not much space between the car seat and the back seat.

The Graco 4Ever DLX features rubberized fuss-free harness storage for a no-slip grip to get your child in and out easily.

This all-in-one car seat supports smooth transitions to forward-facing as the infants approach the weight limit of 40 pounds in rear-facing.

In the front-position mode, Graco 4Ever DLX is brilliant to ride a child from 22-pound to 120-pound in three modes: forward-facing 5-point harness, high-back booster, and backless booster. It’s one of the best 5-point harness car seats for up to 120 pounds.

Even if you follow the guides and advanced tips to ride the infants rear-facing until their 40 pounds weight limit, it still goes for a long time for a child from 40 pounds to 120 pounds.

To achieve this long-term use, the company made this car seat frame with reinforced steel for durability for up to 10 years.

Here needs your attention: the 10-year lifespan started from the car seat’s manufacture date, so the real use should be shorter than the lifespan the company and car seat boast of.

The manufacture date can be found on the label on the car seat so that you can easily count down the remaining service life before it gets expired. We also write a post on when Graco car seats expire.

Kids should stay safely in the car seat. The 4Ever DLX might be one of the safest car seats for infants. It’s Graco ProtectPlus Engineered to help protect the littles from frontal, rear, side, and rollover crashes.

The ProductPlus is the company’s unique system and says that the car seat meets or exceeds a series of rigorous crash tests, including US standard FMVSS 213, side-impact tests with a 5-point harness system (and high back belt-positioning modes in this car seat), rear-impact tests based on European Rear-Impact Crash Pulse.

Some high-end models have this feature, you’ll see the car seat is ProductPlus Engineered. But this does not mean other Graco car seats are not good.

Actually, as a traditional manufacturer with dozens of years of experience, Graco has a few patented extraordinary functions to make sure the little riders’ safety.

Easy installation can add extra scores to the car seat performance. More than the default included InRight LATCH, the 4Ever DLX upgraded with an integrated belt lock-off feature to make it easy to install with the vehicle’s seat belt. No tangle and wobble!

Riding comfortably is also important to your little one, after all, they’ll spend years in the car seat. The breathable cushioned seat pad is made of machine-washable fabrics, along with the RapidRemove feature, you don’t need to be panicked about the littles messing the car seat up.

The RapidRemove is a new and upgraded feature for the Graco 4Ever DLX to connect the cover and seat with snaps that allow the easy pull of the cover for washing in a few seconds. This is more convenient and easier compared to those Graco car seats without this feature.

Talking to the removable cover, the Chicco NextFit Zip series should have their names. They feature a zip-off design to pull off the cover with a zipper in seconds.

Easy to Use Car Seat for Infants to Toddlers

Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat

Chicco NextFit Zip

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$299.99

The Chicco NextFit Zip is one of the best convertible car seats for infants. It has a very high rear-facing height limit – up to 43 inches tall. Along with the 40-lb top weight limit, Chicco NextFit Zip is one of the best car seats for 2 year olds to stay rear-facing for a longer time.

This is very different from the Graco Extens2Fit’s extendable length.

Designed for newborns and preschoolers, the Chicco NextFit Zip is able to accommodate infants and toddlers between 5-40 pounds in rear-facing and big kids below 65 pounds in forward-facing.

The 65-pound is a common weight limit for 99 percent of convertible car seats, except the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Max, which comes with the highest weight limit of 85 pounds in a 5-point harness. (PS. The Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Max was just recalled by the company and is not available now on the market.)

This is a friendly car seat for growing infants. It includes a newborn positioner that is removable when your kid can stay steadily in the car seat by themselves.

The 9-position ReclineSure leveling system and 9-position adjustable headrest allow you to find a comfortable fit for a growing child.

It’s also friendly-designed for parents, providing additional support for them to install the car seat properly and securely.

The SuperCinch LATCH tightened (Pull 2nd) is good to install the car seat tightly in both rear- and front-facing, while the LockSure seat belt locking system helps to lock and secure the installation. Graco 4Ever DLX on this list also has a belt locking system for easy and secure installation, but both are less convenient than the Britax Marathon ClickTight (and other Britax ClickTight car seats).

With the one-pull harness tightener, you can easily adjust the harness’s tightness and looseness to perfectly fit your child in seconds.

Another appealing point for parents is the zip-and-wash design. You won’t have much time and energy to wash the seat pad by hand, so whether the car seat is easily taken off or machine washable is important for busy parents.

Even the CupFolder is dishwasher-safe for faster cleaning with a machine without by hand.

The Chicco NextFit Zip is certified for use on aircraft. Contact the airline prior to travel to discuss their Child Restraint policy before you take it on board every time.

Easy to Install Car Seat for Infants to Toddlers

Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

Britax Marathon

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$329.99

The Britax Marathon ClickTight might have the highest height limit for riding an infant in rear-facing among the convertible car seats.

It boasts of the same height limit for both rear- and forward-facing, up to 49 inches tall.

However, you should pay attention to its weight limit this time. Children ride in the rear-facing safer and it’s recommended to use the car seat until they exceed the top weight or height limits.

But you should also transfer the car seat from the rear-facing to forward-facing on time. For Britax Marathon ClickTight, the 40-lb is the maximum weight limit in rear-facing for riding an infant.

40-pound is not the best performance for fitting an infant in rear-facing, especially compared to those car seats for infants with a 50-lb rear-facing weight limit, but you should be still impressed with Britax Marathon. It’s one of the best car seats with extended rear-facing as well.

The ClickTight word in every model means a lot. It’s a patented click-tight technique that enables three simple steps to use the seat belt for an easy and safe installation. Installing the car seat with a seat belt requires fewer times than that with a LATCH system because there is a LATCH limit.

The V-shaped tether adds confidence to installing the car seat tightly and securely. Proper installation is the first step to ensuring your child’s safety in a child restraint system.

The Britax’s Marathon car seat for infants features a high-strength steel frame to reinforce the seat structure for a stable fit, while the crumple zone provided by the SafeCell helps absorb crash energy to keep your child safe.

This car seat is also FAA-approved for air travel, but you should take it as a second consideration for its heady-duty body.

That’s the common drawback for all convertible car seats – bulky and heavy, not easy to carry from home to the airport. If you like to fly a lot with your growing kids, finding a foldable car seat that is suitable for air travel is a good idea.

Best Car Seats for Infants under 50 LBS

Best car seat for infants to toddlers

Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat

Graco Extend2Fit

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$239.99

The Graco’s Extend2Fit was designed with a top weight limit of 50 pounds in a rear-facing harness, perfectly to keep infants safely riding rear-facing for a longer period of time. It’s one of the top-rated rear-facing car seats 50 lbs.

Even toddlers around 2-3 years old could stay in this car seat rear-facing.

More than a higher weight limit, the Graco Extend2Fit also features a 4-position extension panel that provides up to 5-inch of extra legroom in rear-facing, while the height limit is still as good as other convertible car seats for infants – up to 49-inch (that’s same as the forward-facing height limit).

Thanks to the 50 lb rear-facing weight limit and adjustable extension panel, this convertible car seat is able to ride an infant rear-facing as long as possible, until they’re ready to turn front-facing.

The seat combines long-term use and safety into one. More than the longer stay in rear-facing, the long-term also means durability.

Made of reinforced steel, the frame delivers strength for safety and durability for 10 years of use, since the manufacturer’s date.

Pro tip: The real usage of a car seat should be shorter than the lifespan that the manufacturer stated because the car seat was generally on sale on the market after several months since it was manufactured in the factory.

So carefully check the label in the car seat manual to make sure it’s not expired. See where to find the expiration date for a car seat.

The Extend2Fit convertible car seat for infants is Graco ProtectPlus Engineered to help protect the little passenger in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes.

It meets or exceeds a few basic and strict crash tests, like the US FMVSS 213 standards, European Rear-Impact Crash Pulse, and its own RollSafe testing standard based on European rollover testing procedure.

Installation can be easily finished. The InRight LATCH, along with an easy-to-read level indicator on the top side, provides an easy and one-second attachment with an audible click to help ensure a proper and secure installation.

This convertible car seat for infants was designed to go along with your child’s growth. The car seat insert add-ons included help to keep your infant feeling cradled and comfortable.

It’s removable when your child is big enough to stay in the car seat steadily and safely without additional help. It features a 6-position recline and 10-position headrest height that allow you to find the best fit for a growing child.

The Extend2Fit convertible car seat for infants is friendly for traveling with a child, no matter in a vehicle or on an airplane. It’s FAA approved for aircraft use and can be installed with the seat belt on the plane. But you won’t would like to carry it throught the air port. If you need one, see our post on lightweight convertible car seats.

Narrowest Car Seat for Infants to Toddlers

Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Car Seat

Diono Radian 3R

Key Features
The Good
The Bad

$199.99

The Diono Radian 3R is able to fit newborns starting from 5 pounds to up to 50 pounds in rear-facing, making it the best car seat for infants.

Riding in rear-facing is safer and the 50-pound weight limit allows the littles to stay in the car seat in rear-facing for as long as possible up to 4 years of toddlers with an average weight.

Even big kids who grew faster than their peers can ride in rear-facing in their 2-3 years old in this Radian 3R car seat, which is a great option in those US states that require infants under 2 years old should ride in rear-facing.

The car seat has only one height limit throughout its three-stage use – up to 57 inches. So the infant’s weight is the only thing you should consider when it’s a good time to transition the car seat from rear-facing to forward-facing as the infants grow.

As one of the members of the Radian R series, the Radian 3R features a unique combination of Diono car seat engineering and rigorous testing and performs well enough to protect the littles in the event of a crash.

Aluminum reinforced sides, along with the thick energy absorbing foam add scores to its protection performance by distributing crash forces for full shielding upon side impact.

The reinforced steel constructed the car seat core and frame and gave strength for protection and durability.

The Radian 3R lasts for a long time of use up to 10 years after the date of manufacture.

The Diono Radian 3R lacks the headrest position, but just provides the 10-position harness adjustments for growing infants in the rear- and forward-facing.

There are no inserts for infants, and if your baby needs additional support, it’s better to get an advanced version like the 3RX pr 3RXT, or the other variant – 3QX or 3QXT.

Installing the Radian 3R is very easy with its SuperLATCH system, thanks to an audible click for letting you know when the LATCH connectors are locked properly in the safe.

No base is required to install the car seat in rear-facing and included support can be mounted to the car seat to hold it up for rear-facing riding.

The Diono Radian 3R is friendly for compact cars, it is slimily designed to fit 3 across in the back seat. This makes it popular in big families with several kids. Thanks to its 17-inch width, it’s one of the best car seats to do 3 across and also among the narrowest car seats.

As a 3-in-1 car seat, the Radian 3R is able to ride a child from birth to youth across the three stages from rear-facing, forward-facing, to booster.

But it does not feature a detachable design to be a backless booster, even though it allows a 120-pound weight limit. It’s a good car seat with a 5-point harness up t0 120 pounds.

It’s the cheapest model of the Diono Radian series, with the basic features. And if you prefer a high-end model that comes with a few extra functions, check the comparison of the Diono Radian R series.

From the weight and age standpoint, your three-year-old kid can sit in the rear-facing or front-facing convertible.

From the safety point, it’s better to stick to the rear-facing mode as long as possible before your child outgrows their car seat’s weight limit – up to 50 pounds for the Radian 3R. 

If your kid grows at an average speed as their peer, they should not exceed the 50-lb weight limit. But if your kid wants to see and explore the landscape outside the window, you can switch Radian 3R to the front-facing and move your kid then.

It’s not required to put a 3-year-old child in the rear-facing; Most US states only indicate this requirement that a 2 years old child should ride rear-facing in the local laws

The Diono Radian 3R also works as a booster for big kids in teens. As long as your kid grows over the harness weight or height, you should change it to booster mode, generally in the ages of 7-8 years. 

Lots of parents love Diono’s car seats for their great accommodation in compact vehicles or small cars with relatively narrow seats in the back. The company noticed this pain point for some parents and big families with several children at different ages. So they developed the 3-series, meaning to fit 3 across in the back seat.

It’s a heavy car seat for infants, weighing up to 25.9 pounds. But it’s still a choice for traveling families, thanks to the foldable design. Yes, the Diono Radian 3R is also a foldable car seat. This makes it very portable as the lightweight convertible car seats.

Car Seats Comparison Radian 3R Radian 3RX Raidan 3RXT Raidan 3QX Radian 3QXT
Price $199 $269 $329 $369 $399
Weight limits (lb) RF:5-50 / FF: 22-120 RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120 RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120
Rear Facing Weights Up to 50lb Up to 50lb Up to 50lb Up to 50lb Up to 50lb
Newborn Protection - - 2-in-1 Advanced 3-in-1 Advanced 4-in-1
Safe+ Engineering - - -
Head Support - 12 Positions 12 Positions Safe+ 12 Positions Safe+ 12 Positions
Cup Holder -
Fit 3-across
Width (in.) 17 17 17 17 17

Things to Consider to Look for the Best Car Seats for Infants

Okay, it’s time to purchase a baby car seat, now what’s next? Do a search, find some, compare them and pick up the best option.

It’s easy to make a list of dozens of car seats, you can find them on Amazon, Target, Walmart, or any other online or offline stores, but the most important and time-consuming part is to compare the car seats’ features, to check if it is the best option for your specific needs.

We do this job for you and make a complete list of great car seats for a kid to ride from birth to the day he or she gets out of a car seat.

It’s recommended to keep these five questions in mind when selecting the best infant car seats for the coming little one.

  1. Which infant car seats offer the safest ride?
  2. Which are the most comfortable (for both babies and parents)?
  3. Which are the most user-friendly in terms of installation and daily use?
  4. Which have the highest weight and height limits to allow for extended rear-facing?
  5. Which is the most value for the money?

These questions give you a rough view. Based on the questions, we list some basic but important features to look for when you find a superior baby car seat.

Your budget. It’s absolutely okay that your kid deserves the very best. However, what he or she needs during their upbringing is quite a lot more than just a car seat.

All the baby things can add up quickly. You can always find a great seat whatever your price range, so just focus on those that fall into your budget. This will save you both money and time.

Your vehicle. Car seats are available in different sizes. Not all car seats fit well in compact or small cars. Also, consider how many car seats you want to place in the back row.

Make sure you have measured and known how much room there is for a car seat and how much space a car seat takes up, especially when you need to locate it in a small car.

The Safety. All the car seats on the market are required to meet federal crash-test safety requirements. All best infant car seats in this list are FAA approved to assure you of your baby’s safety in a car seat.

Some manufacturers promote their seats with additional safety features like anti-rebound bars, which are not federally regulated or tested for better protection.

Easy to install and use. Proper car seat installation increases safety. However, a study revealed that almost 95% of maiden parents made at least one mistake while installing and using baby car seats?

Seats that are very easy to set up and intuitive to use are much less likely to be used incorrectly.

You might need special attention on the car seat buckles, clips, and LATCH system. You usually use a harness and chest clip to put the infant seat in your car and make sure you have the straps tightened strongly to secure your baby.

Look for buckles, clips, and straps that are simple and require less strength to use and tighten.

The LATCH straps are also a necessity to set up the car seat with your car’s built-in LATCH system. Look for car seats coming with a LATCH that don’t require much strength for setup.

Push-on connectors are generally easier than clip-style. The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35, for example, uses push-on connectors.

Seamless switch. Infant car seats generally come with a separate base that can be left in the car. The separable design allows you to take the seat in or out of the car for easy switching between different cars.

Most of the baby car seats can be used with strollers for a travel system. Look for some car seat that can be simply attached and detached to the base and buckled onto a stroller for a travel system, without waking your little one in his/her sleep during the switch.

Easy-to-clean and breathable fabrics. Infant car seats made with a smooth fabric can be wiped for cleaning more easily than a textured fabric such as corduroy. Most car seat covers are machine washable, but not all are dryer-safe use, but as long as you’re not in a rush, hanging it with air dry is acceptable.

Car seats made of breathable materials provide the best comfort to your baby. If you can’t check this from the product description, you can check out the customers’ reviews to see what other parents say about their experience.

Grow with your child. An infant car seat is rear-facing only. To keep your young rear-facing as long as possible, the car seat with a higher weight limit is better for longer use, of course.

Convertible car seats generally have a higher weight limit than newborn car seats. But for preemies, it’s recommended for parents to use a baby car seat like Chicco KeyFit 30.

What about the car seat brands? Graco and Britax have a few years of experience in the car seat industry, but other new brands found in millennial times are not bad anyway.

Advanced Tips to Install the Car Seat for Infants

Buying a baby infant car seat is just the first step for your child’s safety, installing it PROPERLY is the second and most important step, because improper installation of a car seat can cause injuries, even death to babies.

You should always thoroughly read the car seat manual before doing anything. The State laws also suggest setting up and using the car seat following the manufacturer’s guide.

If you have any questions, you can search for tips and video guides on YouTube or the manufacturer’s official website.

Or you can ask help from someone at the local police station, a pediatrician, a hospital, or even a baby store if you still have questions.

Do remember to call the manufacturer’s customer service if there is anything not clear.

Where

Car seats for newborn babies should be installed in the rear-facing position, and the best place for fitting is the center of the rear seat row. If you have a van or SUV with more than one backseat, the middle seat in the center row is better. Putting the car seat in the middle of the backseat will prevent your child from playing with the window buttons and door locks. The second best spot is the seat behind the passenger. This allows you to check your child in the child safety seat occasionally more easily without taking your eyes off the road for too long. And it’s much easier for parents to take the little in and out if the car seat places behind the passenger’s seat.

When

Just like you’d better buy a car seat in advance before the baby’s birth, you can also locate the seat in your car to test if it is installed properly or not, or if it is stable in the car. You can test by going around some corners to see how the seat moves. If it tips, slides around or rattles too much, you may have to make some adjustments. For extra security, go to your local car seat technician, pediatrician or police station to have the seat checked by someone who will help to confirm that you’ve set up the seat correctly.

How

Let’s take installing a rear-facing infant car seat for example to explain the steps. Step 1, put the car seat base in the middle seat of the car with a proper angle at a 30-45 degree to ride your baby most comfortably. Step 2, use the vehicle’s seatbelt to secure the car seat base to the vehicle. Step 3, lock the seatbelt by pulling the seatbelt all the way out and retracting back. You will hear it retract while it’s retracting. Step 4, tighten the seat belt by placing one hand on the car seat base and holding the seat belt shoulder strap with the other hand. Simultaneously pull the seat belt slack while pushing down on the base. Step 5, check the base for slack. The base should not move when wiggled more than an inch at the seat belt path. Step 6, double check to make sure that the car seat base is tight when buckled and does not move more than an inch. Step 7, install the car seat into the base using the “click connect” system. Different baby car seats may have a different system, but all have one. These are the basic steps. If your car seat manual has a different explanation, follow the manual.

FAQs on best car seats for infants

This is related to the position where parents need to place the car seat for their babies. The safest position is the centre of the backseat or second row. A study showed that for children from newborn to 3 years old, sitting in the center rear seat is 43% safer than sitting in the eight seat in the back.

However, only 28% of parents place their baby’s car seat in this spot. It was found that the rear passenger side is the most common place in the vehicle for a car seat, up to 41% of parents in the research mount the child’s car seat here.

It’s a common case to have two or more babies in a family. Following the car installation location, the middle of the back seat is the safest place, the seat behind the passenger’s seat is the next and the last is the seat behind the driver’s seat.

If you have to set up two seats in the car, it would be better to put them in the back seat side by side, with the car seat for younger babies placed in the middle, and the other for older children behind the passenger’s seat. But make sure the two car seats can be put in the same row.

Yes, some convertible car seats can ride newborn infants as little as 4 pounds, like the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat. But for parents who have premature babies, it’s recommended to start with a baby car seat. Most infant car seats include a support insert for the baby’s head and body for better security.

You can’t use a baby infant car seat for a lifetime. They have a lifespan, which is different from usage time. While babies always outgrow their seats during their 1-3 ages, the car seat can be used for a longer time for their following siblings. Generally, most newborn car seats feature about 6 years of lifespan.

Yes. All baby car seats come with a base, and most parents place the car seat on the base, but this doesn’t mean you always need to set up the car seat with the base. Want to know the way to settle a baby car seat without a base, just move to the next question.

How to install infant car seat without base

Car seats featuring either American-style belt path or European-style belt path can be set up without their base.

This installation video on YouTube demonstrates the Chicco KeyFit 30 that features an American-style belt path without its base.

The summarised steps:

  • Recline the seat for an appropriate angle.
  • Pass lap belt through guides and buckle belt.
  • Engage the seat belt’s locking mode by pulling slowly to end.
  • Apply pressure & pull shoulder beltCheck for tightness

If you have an infant seat with a European-style belt path, it is supposed to Put the seat more securely in a much wider variety of vehicles. Seats with European-style belt path include Doona, Graco SnugRide 35 Classic Connect, Nuna Pipa, Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, UPPAbaby Mesa (older version before 2015), and more.

The installation video shows the steps:

  • Buckle babyPass lap belt through guides and buckle belt
  • Engage seat belt’s locking mode by pulling slowly to the end
  • Pass shoulder belt around carrier and into designated guide
  • Recline seatApply pressure & pull shoulder beltCheck for tightness

Many parents may wonder: Is it safe to use a carrier without a base? The Answer is yes.

That depends. For parents who have prematurely newborn infants, it would be better to use a baby car seat like Chicco KeyFit 30 for the child’s safety. But if your baby can fit a larger car seat well, it is perfectly OK to use a convertible car seat instead of buying an infant-only car seat and then transition to a convertible car seat. Whatever you use, make sure your newborn fits into the height and weight range for rear-facing to ride safely in these car seats.

Both infant and convertible seats are a great option for newborns. For small babies, the infant car seats may be better, featuring some head and body inserts for better safety. Newborn car seats are also portable with a carrying handle so that you can take the baby in and out without waking them. Convertible car seats will save money for their longer use and lifespan and are better for families that have few budgets on a car seat.

It’s time- and energy-consuming to find a suitable car seat, this But there are some basic things you should consider for choosing the seat: your newborns, your car, your budget. A car seat that lets your little one stay most comfortable is a more appealing option. Before purchasing a car seat, you should always check with your doctor with the baby’s conditions, like the estimated weight or height range, and measure your car interior room for a seat. Then pick up one that falls into your budget.

To use the LATCH connectors to set up the car seat, make sure your vehicle has lower LATCH anchors. You should always read the car seat’s instruction manual and the vehicle’s owner manual before starting. Then you can follow these steps to mount the car seat with LATCH:

  • Place the baby car seat in the back center seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position. Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
  • Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted across your toddler’s head or body.
  • Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten the straps. Tips to check the tightness: the car seat won’t be moved side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
  • Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
    • 30-45 degree angle: Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
    • Most rear-facing car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you, generally found near to the bottom on the side.
    • The angle may need to be adjusted as your child grows, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

The car seats that can be used rear-facing generally have a 5-point harness to strap and secure the babies. Doctor Alisa from the Car Seat Lady has made this video for parents to strap their babies in the correct way.  The summarized steps:

  • Loosen the straps. You should pull the shoulder straps towards you while pushing/lifting the loosening tab to make the straps loose.
  • Slide bottom back. Make sure the baby’s bottom is all the way into the back of the car seat.
  • Buckle between legs on both sides.
  • Buckle chest clip.
  • Tighten the straps by gathering the slack bottom to top. Pull straps up while still keeping chest clip low, then pull the tail of the bottom of the seat to make sure the straps tighten enough.
  • Check for snugnessMove the chest clip to armpits

The video also shows how to put a blanket to swaddle the baby correctly in the car seat.

Yes. All car seats have limited lifespan, about several years. For the infant car seat case, the lifespan is generally 6 years. Convertible and booster seats can be used longer and generally also have a longer lifespan up to 10 years.

All infant car seats have weight and height limits. Most US State laws recommend you stop using them and move your child to a higher-weight-and-height-limit convertible car seat once your little one has outgrown their infant car seats. The highest weight or height limit is usually reached somewhere between 9 and 18 months. But it’s better to ride your child in a rear-facing position until age 2.

Yes. Most baby car seats are certified for air travel. Although airlines typically allow infants to ride on a caregiver’s lap during flight, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) recommends that infants ride in properly secured safety seats. You may need to contact the airline first to make sure your car seat is acceptable.