Chicco car seat is one of the most popular car seats for infant
Choosing and buying infant car seats could be a daunting task for soon-to-be new parents (I suggest you already have your car seat before leaving hospital). Comforts, easy-to-use, and price should be considered thoroughly aside from safety. Since obviously your baby couldn’t give you input about the comforts, you’re the one who has to decide it.
A Short Overview of Infant Car Seats
*If you already know about this, skip to how to choose infant car seat or see our top recommended at best infant car seat
An infant car seat is device used to hold an infant within an automobile and keep him/her safe during collision or other accident. Usually it is strapped to your seat belt lock and can hold up to 30 lbs child. Installing it in the middle back seat is most recommended since it has been proven to be the safest spot during collision.
Spare car seat base is recommended if you own multiple cars
Today’s infant car seats have many features to make your job as a parent easier. When you buy a car seat, usually it comes in 2 parts: the car seat itself and the car seat base. The car seat base is the one you install in your car and it has certain mechanism to help you attach or detach the car seat easily on it.
Detached car seat has a handle that could be used to carry it around when you’re shopping or any other long-time activities that won’t allow you to leave the baby in the car (or you can use car seat carrier to keep your hands free). When you do this outdoor, I suggest you wrap a car seat cover on it to keep the baby warm. Further development also allows the detached car seat to be attached to a stroller. Since the stroller can be folded and kept in your trunk, it is a great way to carry your baby everywhere. If this is what you need, I suggest you to look for a car seat and stroller package (it’s called Travel System) for cheaper price.
 A detached car seat carried using a car seat carrier. You can also carry it by hands |
 A Travel System consist of a car seat and a foldable stroller |
How to Choose Infant Car Seats
1. Fit To Your Car
Technically, an infant car seat can be installed in any kind of car, but if you own smaller car, it probably a good idea to look for a car seat with smaller overall size.
2. Check the Harness
Three point harness isn’t a good idea; I suggest you look for five point harness since it’s been proven to keep the child safer during collision, especially side-impact crash. Make sure the harness can be adjusted easily to accommodate the baby’s growth and different outfits he/she might be wearing. Also, make sure the strap is set back far enough so the harness is actually in contact with your baby.
5 point harness (indicated by red arrows)
3. Weight Limit
Most new infant car seats today come with 30 lbs weight limit, which is a good thing since you can use it a little bit longer. However, some of them only have 22 lbs weight limit, so make sure to check the specification and go with the one you want. Personally, I would go for the one with 30+lbs weight limit as some babies could reach 22lbs in their first year.
4. Easy to Use
If you don’t want to spend 10 minutes struggling in your car every time you try to attach or detach the car seat, you better check the strap. It must be easy to click in and out so you can attach and detach it anytime easily.
5. Car Seat Base
The car seat base also must be easy to attach and detach on your seat. If you have more than one car and don’t want to attach and detach the car seat base every time you switch car, an additional car seat base can solve that problem. Just be sure to check the price of the additional base and make sure it is reasonable.
Additionally, be sure to check the mechanism to attach and detach the car seat to it. Make sure it is easily doable in case you need to carry the car seat or attach it on a stroller.
A car seat has to be easy to attach and detach from its base
6. The Fabric
Your baby will be lay down on it for quite a while, so check the fabric and decide if it can give him/her the most comfort. Breathable fabric such as cotton is recommended.
7. No Exposed Metal
This shouldn’t be an issue in today’s car seat, but just make sure that there is no exposed metal on it since it could be iron-hot if you bring it outside during sunny day.
8. Safety
The whole reason to buy infant car seats is to keep your baby safe right? So why do I put the safety in the latest consideration? Well, every car seat produced are required to meet US government stringent crash-and-fire safety standard, so technically, all of the car seats in the market today are safe. Nevertheless, it only safe if you install and use it properly, so I suggest you to find the one that you could use easily. This will prevent any mistakes from installing it in a rush.
If you’re a new mom/parent, selecting the best infant car seats is vital since it is about the comfort and safety of your baby. Thus, pick the one that easy to use, has reasonable price, comfortable enough for your baby, and fit in your car.
Tagged: baby car seats, featured, infant car seats
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If you are a new parent, it is understandable that you can get anxious in making sure that you are providing the best there can be in the world for your precious child. And as mobile as the lifestyles are today, children can tag along a lot with parents to most places they are going. Safety, comfort and style are vital considerations that have to be seriously taken into account and provided for as you hit the road and travel with your child. Choosing the best convertible car seat may sound so easy, but it can be daunting as there are a lot of products out in the market that are also claiming to be the best.
Top Six Car Seats Identified
To make it easier for you, the child care, products and accessories industries have identified the top car seat products in the market today. Parents and clients’ satisfaction feedback are also considered and basically became the basis for such ratings.
Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat
Designed for children who are yet to be positioned to face the rear or those under 40 pounds, the Britax Marathon 70 convertible car seat can also be repositioned to accommodate the needs of an older or bigger child up to 70 pounds and should be on the forward facing position. But these are not the only things you can get from Britax Marathon 70. The following features will show you how this important gear can keep you going and confident for the safety of your little one.
• Safecell Technology. It has employed some safecell features that are designed to compress in a crash by neutralizing the forward rotation of the child seat which usually thrust the child toward the front seat and by lowering the center of gravity. Protection and safety is one the leading market that Britax has powerfully installed in its leading products.
• Side Impact Protection. Specially installed with energy-absorbing EPP foam on its deep side walls, this feature safeguards the head, neck and body from possible impact.
• Integrated Steel Bars. As car seats are attached to the vehicle, the integrated steel bars strengthen its connection to the vehicle and reduces the forward flexing of the child seat in times of unexpected crashes.
• Harness. Britax uses quick-adjust harness that repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps.
Note: there is newer version available now, which still bring every features this version has to offer. Check it out here.
Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat
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Another quality convertible car seat that you ought to check is the Graco My Ride 65 Convertibel Car Seat. It takes pride in being the first to offer the rear-facing 40 pounds weight limit and keeps up to 65 pounds for the front-facing position weight limit. Rigorous tests for safety standards in the United States have successfully been met and exceeded by Graco that you can be confident that you are providing the durable and protective gear for your child. In cases of crash, its side-impact protection has been supported and made more reliable by its 5-point harness system. Also lined with EPS foam so you are sure that your child is seated comfortably safe and with the deep seating space, larger kids are easily accommodated. |
Recaro ProRIDE Convertible Car Seat
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With the various brands competing against each other, the Recaro ProRIDE Convertible Car Seat definitely shines through and captures the confidence of parents and the industry. Using EPS foam, the car seat has been tested and proven to be efficient in absorbing crash force as well as in protecting each of the five vulnerable areas of the child during strong impact such as the head, neck, face, torso, and pelvis. With its easy to adjust turn dial 5-point no-thread harness, a child weighing up to 70 pounds can still be accommodated in the front-facing position. Children weighing up to 35 pounds or those who are 37.5″ tall can be best accommodated in the typical rear-facing position. |
Evenflo Triumph 65 LX Convertible Car Seat
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Manufacturers of Evenflo continually strive to provide safety and advanced innovative features in its products. Increasing its weight ratings for both rear and front-facing, the Evenflo Triumph 65 LX Convertible Car Seat has also improved its harness system. Accommodating children who are 5-65 pounds, the Evenflo Triumph 65 is definitely a solution to the challenge of acquiring at least two different car seats. Instead of spending more for various units, this convertible car seat comes with secure and comfortable features that pass international standards. Because of its reasonable price and availability, it has been featured in several consumer magazines especially in the child care and gears industry. Evenflo reassure parents that safety standards are never compromised in its products and made sure that they are offering the best convertible car seat in the market. |
Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat
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Perhaps the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat is the answer to your child’s need for a comfortable and protective travel gear. It features three modes of use – the rear-facing position for children who are 5-35 pounds, front-facing for those in 22-40 pounds, and on belt positioning booster for those who are 40-100 pounds. With quick fit harness system, you can adjust your child’s harness from the front in one easy step. It also features a multi-position recline and pivoting armrests. Remember that in choosing the best car seat for your child; choose one that offers uncompromised comfort and safety. |
Combi Coccoro Lightweight Convertible Car Seat
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As more vehicles are designed to be more fuel-efficient, various gears that are manufactured that are best to compliment them are also coming out and sold in different markets. The Combi Coccoro Lightweight Convertible Car Seat is a compact convertible travel gear for children is fast and easily installed in vehicles, it also has tru-safe side impact protection feature. Using equally safe and comfortable EPS Foam and safety measures installed in the seat, this Combi Coccoro Lightweight can be considered a convenient travel companion that every parent should consider. |
So if you are looking for the best convertible car seat for your child, take time to review every bit of the product that is presented in front of you. Choosing the best product may be daunting but if you arm yourself with as much information and detail before you step out to get that one convertible car seat that you have in mind, then you are better off to a good deal.
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