Best Infant Seat Features All infant seats must meet federal safety standards However, some go beyond From extra padding to a cushioned inlay for newborns to the ability to raise and lower the headrest without having to rethread the seat, our Best of the Bump winner has many features that parents will appreciate We took into consideration factors such as weight without base and stroller connectivity special features and price when selecting our top picks Read on to see which infant seat may be right for your family Safety Every infant car seat on the market must meet the safety standards of the federal government Some seats come with extra features that go beyond the minimum requirements These can include load legs, a built-in rethreader, sides that can hold straps and more According to the experts I spoke to the more features a seat includes, the are more efficient The more user-friendly a car seat can be and the more likely parents will be to use it in a safe manner and reduce their *****'s risk of injury in an accident This is particularly important for an infant seat, since it's only designed to last for a short period of time Find a seat with an indicator that bubbles and an incline foot that is spring loaded to make it easy to adjust the seat Make sure that the base can be easily pushed into and out of the vehicle Other top features that some car seat manufacturers offer are an unrethread harness, magnet buckle holders, and side grips for carrying the seat These are wonderful however, don't forget that a safe car seat is only as secure as the car you're driving in You can find tips in the owner's guide on how to secure your infant's car seat and learn more about the car's safety features When you are choosing an infant car seat, be aware that you'll only be able to use it for a period of about two years before your ***** is ready to move to the convertible seat Some families skip the infant car seat completely and opt for a convertible car with greater weight and height limit If https//wwwpushchairsandpramsuk/categories/baby-car-seats decide to buy an infant car seat, be sure to take into account the dimensions of your vehicle and try out a variety of models in person prior to making a decision on one You can ensure that the seat is comfortable for the *****, fits inside your car and comes with useful features such as converting it to a stroller Be sure to check for recalls on the product prior to you buy it It's vital to ensure the safety of your ***** on the road Ease of Use If you're planning to use the seat in one car or transferring it between several, you'll need an infant car seat that is simple to install and detach from the base You should look for clear installation instructions and a smooth operation Think about how easy it will be to adjust the seat as your baby grows and the quality materials used One of the best features that infant seats come with is a load leg which acts as an extra brace between the base of the seat and the vehicle's floor to provide extra stability in the event of an accident Consumer Reports research shows that it's especially important if you are driving an older vehicle because the risk of suffering a head injury is higher when the ***** is too close to the floor Other high-end features can enhance the infant car seat experience They include a no rethread harness, as well as an anti-rebound bar that helps stop the seat from bouncing during a crash The latter has been shown to lower the risk of head injury by as much as 43 percent The Evenflo LiteMax DLX is a great option for those on a tight budget and looking for a car seat that's ARC-certified and comes with a number of premium features Jennifer LaBracio, Babylist's gear editor, suggests it The seat has received an outstanding rating from ***** safety technicians and features an adjustable, no-rethread harness and five recline settings, plus an extendable canopy that can be secured by magnets to provide full coverage A seat that can be easily installed using only a lapbelt, and without the requirement for the base is an alternative That's ideal for parents who intend to use taxis or Uber rides and doesn't require an extra journey back and forth to the car to install a new seat For example the Nuna Pipa Urbn and the equivalent TRIV travel system come with a sturdy LATCH system that's built right into the bottom of the seat which makes it fast and easy to install in any vehicle It can also be used with a rear-facing for children weighing between 4 and 40 pounds and forward-facing for children between 22 and 65 pounds and also converts into a highback or belt-positioning booster for children who weigh between 40 and 120 pounds It's a great choice for families with a limited budget Comfort It is essential that your ***** is comfortable in the car seat, particularly when they're there for a long time This means straps that are padded on their shoulders, a plush fabric that is comfortable against their tummy and back and a headrest that expands with them to support their growing body Look for an easy-to-use seat to adjust as they grow as well A car seat with a variety of features can be more expensive, but is also easier to use When evaluating infant car seat, we consider factors such as a one-hand system harness, high-quality LATCH connectors, and harness that doesn't rethread We also take note of the dimensions and weight, as a heavy or bulky seat could put stress on your biceps as you carry it in and out of your car, or in between cars A seat with a load leg -- a safety feature that aids in stabilizing the car seat in the event of a crash, is an additional option It's typically found in more expensive seats but we've seen couple of budget-friendly options that have this safety feature Another important consideration is the height and weight limits You'll need to ensure that the seat will remain safe for your ***** when they reach their peak growth spurt usually at around the age of two or three Consider a convertible car seat for infants that could be transformed into a toddler seat This will allow you more flexibility in your vehicle and is ideal for families who frequently switch vehicles or travel Our test participants were impressed with the Doona which combines a car seat for an infant and a stroller in one piece It's a great option for parents who are always moving around, particularly those who use public transportation to commute to work or go to school It is also easy to set up Our expert testers appreciated its user-friendlyness and its one-handed latching system as well as the shoulder straps that are padded Our product testers also remarked how small the seat is and is an essential for those with a limited trunk space It's also free of any flame retardant chemicals which is a huge benefit for parents who are concerned about their baby's surroundings and health Convenience The best infant car seats are easy to use From buckles that are smooth and easy to tighten or loosen, to harness height adjusters that automatically raise as your ***** grows, the top infant car seats have convenience features to help parents get into and out with minimum of hassle Check if the seat is able to be cleaned by machine to make cleaning easier and if it comes with a canopy This is useful in the car as well as on the stroller One thing that might seem like a small deal but can save you a lot of hassle is an indicator on the base that informs you whether it's been put in place correctly This line should be parallel to the ground and is located on the base This is particularly useful when you're going to change the car seat often or when your ***** will be traveling with you and you need to set it up in Ubers or taxis Another feature that is beneficial is the possibility of attaching a compatible stroller directly to the infant car seat which makes it easier to transport your baby's bundle of joy from the car to the store or out for errands without having to wrestle with an additional carrier This can be a game changer for new parents looking to get back to their normal routine after an exhausting commute or outing with a baby If your baby is likely to grow quickly, select an infant car seat with a higher weight and height limit than the one recommended by the manufacturer You can use the car seat for a longer period of time While all car seats sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards, that does not mean that all car seats are created equal Some seats come with extra features, such as load legs that brace the base of a car seat to improve stability and an anti-rebound bars that reduce the risk of head injuries in crashes A few extras can make the journey more comfortable for your baby, making you as a parent feel more comfortable and more confident