Best Infant Car Seat 2022: Comparison and Review

An infant car seat is a simple and secure way to carry your child around. It is a seat with harnessed belts that are specifically made to fit your kid. If you have to travel alone or across long distances with your infant, these car seats come in handy. One of the most crucial decisions you can take as a new parent is choosing the proper car seat for your child.

Here is a guide for buying the best infant car seat along with a list of the top car seats for your convenience. 

What is an infant car seat?

A children’s safety seat, sometimes known as an infant car seat, is a seat made especially to shield kids from harm or even death in the event of a car accident. The majority of the time, car owners buy and install these seats; however, car manufacturers may directly incorporate them into the design of their vehicles and are typically required to supply anchors and ensure seat belt compliance.

Baby transportation in a car is made safer with car seats. Your decision will be influenced by your baby’s size, height, and weight as well as if you want the seat to be simple to remove.

Ensure that the car seat you choose fits in your vehicle, is appropriate for the age and weight of your child, and is used consistently. To ensure proper installation and use, always refer to the owner’s manuals for both your automobile and your car seat.

The child car seat can function as a carrier as well. (Although the car seat may click into place, it is extremely unsafe and not intended for use in grocery carts. Instead, think about using a carrier like a sling.) Numerous variations of this baby car seat can be secured to the vehicle directly or to a base that is permanently fastened to the car seat. You may buy several bases for various cars.

Depending on your baby’s growth rate and the size of the car seat, an infant car seat could last you anywhere from six to 24 months. Infant car seats are outgrown by some babies more quickly than others. It’s time to change to a car seat made for older babies and toddlers once your youngster has reached the maximum weight or height limit for the seat.

Why do you need a car seat for your baby? 

The safety of your child must come first for you as a parent. When traveling with your infant, using the right car seat helps protect him/her from any accident risks. The best safety for your infant when traveling is a car seat. It assists in lowering the possibility of deadly accidental injuries.

When a car crash happens, a driver or passenger who is not wearing a seat belt or child safety seat will continue to move at the same speed as the vehicle before the collision and will be propelled forward, most likely into the dashboard or the back of the front seat, depending on where they are seated.

When used properly, car seats have been shown to benefit young passengers by minimizing injuries and saving lives. In fact, using a car seat correctly reduces the chance of a fatal injury by 71% for newborns and 54% for toddlers.

Things to Look For Before Buying a Safe Infant Car Seat

As you might expect, there are numerous considerations when choosing a baby car seat, and no two families will ever make the same decision. It’s only logical that each of us would have varied needs and expectations from the product that will help our children in the car. However, it’s advised to adhere to a few fundamental, guiding principles when making your decision.

You could take the following actions to simplify the choosing process of the baby’s booster seat:

• Learn about your car

To find out what kind of attachment you’ll be using to keep the car seat in place, consult the owner’s handbook of your vehicle. The latch system and the candor of a seat belt are the two most popular types of systems. It’s best to choose the type of attachment you’ll use in advance and base your purchase on that decision.

• Rear-facing car seats versus convertible ones

You’re probably already aware that your baby won’t be able to utilize it forever. Having a car seat that your infant can use throughout their toddler years, however, can save you money because you won’t need to buy another one when they outgrow their baby seat. And at that point, the conflict between a convertible car seat and a rear-facing infant car seat is resolved. A rear-facing infant seat will be useless to you once your child reaches one, but investing in a convertible car seat can ensure that your child is secure throughout their toddler years.

• Verify the certification

It won’t hurt to check again even though every car seat that has entered the market should have undergone testing and been certified as safe. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has tested and approved the car seat you have your eye on, therefore you want to confirm that it bears the JPMA stamp.

In addition, buying a brand-new car seat is always preferable to relying on a used or outdated car seat that a relative is giving away when it comes to safety. The car seat may have been harmed or lost its capacity to perform as intended depending on how it has been cared for.

• Look for the “extras”

Some may refer to them as extras, while others may view them as necessities without which a car seat cannot be utilized. Check to see if the model you chose has a 5-point harness. Typically, this entails two straps across the shoulders, two around the waist, and one more in the middle of the legs. Side-impact protection is another element that a child’s car seat should have. Where the baby’s head should be while seated in the majority of car seats, there is additional foam placed there by design.

• Appropriate for the height and age of your child

Baby car seats, regular car seats, and highback booster seats make up the three categories of car seats. Which group to choose largely depends on your child’s age and size.

1. Depending on height, this group is appropriate for newborns up to about 12 months of age. When the baby can hold its head firmly and when the child’s uppermost point reaches the highest level of the car seat, parents must go on to the following stage.
2. The toddler car seat comes next. Children must stay rear-facing for at least 15 months, as required by UNR 129, although BeSafe suggests at least 4 years, if not longer. When the time comes, some seats in this category can switch between rear- and forward-facing positions. When the child’s ears are at their maximum point and the car seat headrest is adjusted to its highest position, the child has outgrown the seat.
3. Group three, the last phase, includes high-back booster chairs. Your kid will spend the most time in this car seat. Your child must, by law, ride in a certified car seat until at least 135 cm or 12 years of age, whichever comes first.

• The importance of maintenance

A baby is a messy affair, as many parents are aware. There are always going to be unexpected food or drink spills and other, far more unpleasant catastrophes, therefore you have to always have a bag of wet wipes with you. 

Make sure the car seat is simple to clean and maintain to keep it looking new and fresh for longer. It is advised to read the cleaning instructions before making the purchase. 

Best Infant Car Seats

If you are wondering what is the best car seat for infants or what is the safest car seat for infants, then this extensive list of the best infant car seats will help you make the right choice. 

• River Baby RDC007: Best Overall

Infants are given a safe and comfortable place to ride in their parents’ cars thanks to the baby car seats in River Baby’s product selection. They make sure the straps on the car seats were strong and solid to give kids the best possible protection when driving. Their car seats are made of durable, non-toxic materials that are lightweight, easy to clean, and have a very long lifespan.

By paying close attention to every little detail while inspecting and testing their goods, River Baby distinguishes itself as the safest infant car seat manufacturer. Because of their efficient production and collaborative factory screening, they also provide the most affordable car seat pricing.

Key Features:

• Certificate:ECE/ R129
• Suitable stature :40-150CM
• Melange fabric
• Forward facing &Rearward facing
• ISOFIX+Top tether 360° rotation

• Chicco Keyfit 35

Chicco is a reputable baby product supplier. The KeyFit 35, the company’s main product, has a strong reputation for reliability, dependability, comfort, and affordability. It’s undoubtedly one of the most well-liked infant car seats available.

The KeyFit 35 typically costs around $250, but over the past year, its price has gradually decreased, putting it in a highly competitive position because to its incredible features, safety, comfort, and simplicity.

The Keyfit 35 is a touch heavier than other rival models, so keep that in mind if you have to transport a baby while doing so. Additionally, the canopy and handle scrape against one another, making it challenging to have both upright at once. Aside from these minor issues, we believe this premium seat is ideal for the majority of families and that parents will be pleased with the affordable pricing.

Key Features:

• SuperCinch LATCH connectors
• EPS energy-absorbing foam 
• Side-impact protection
• Preemie support (4 pounds) with the included infant insert
• Machine washable fabrics

• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35

The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 has outstanding ratings for installation, comfort/quality, and crash test outcomes, which helps it be the best baby product supplier. This Peg is portable, lightweight, and equipped with straightforward functions that function well.

Even with the baby in the seat, the SIP headrest is simple to adjust to 6 settings without re-threading to provide the greatest and safest fit. The infant’s head and body are shielded from impact forces by energy-absorbing EPS foam that fills the shell and head panel.

The Energy Management Foot on the Load Leg may be changed into ten different configurations and absorbs energy by crumpling under pressure. Superior protection in the event of a collision is provided by the built-in anti-rebound bar attached to the base.

• Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat

This streamlined, lightweight car seat offers more than simply nice looks. With a weight of under eight pounds, the Pipa is among the lightest baby car seats available. One of the simplest seats to install, as well. Color-coded indicators used by the True Lock safety system to indicate appropriate installation provide an additional piece of mind for worried new parents.

To reduce impact in an accident, a fold-down stability leg that runs from the seat’s base to the floor is included. Parents also laud the high-quality construction and extensible “dream drape” that completely envelops sleeping infants, and claim it to be the best infant car seat. For individuals who frequently use taxis, installing the Pipa in any vehicle without the base is simple.

Key Features:

• Lightweight 
• Protective 
• Portable
• Automatic Side impact protection
• Dream drape pulls down smoothly and attaches quietly with magnets. 
• TUV aircraft are certified to travel everywhere.

• Baby Trend EZ Flex-Loc

One of the more affordable alternatives in this collection is the Baby Trend EZ Flex-Loc. However, this safety seat offers much more than just an astoundingly low price. A simple baby seat featuring two simple installation techniques, including one without the base, is the Flex-Loc. It is advantageous because it is also lightweight, making it a possible choice for those who commute or travel frequently.

Although it didn’t receive the highest rating in this list, this Baby Trend model is a cost-effective alternative that would make a great backup seat for grandparents or anybody else on a tight budget who has to cut costs without compromising safety.

Key Features:

• Adjustable 5-point safety harness
• 4-Position push-button height adjustable base
• One-hand easy-access seat release
• Eps energy-absorbing foam for superior side impact head protection and soft head support
• Smooth carrying handle, won’t scratch your arm

• Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

When this car seat is installed using the rigid latch and load leg features, it is highly recommended by both experts and parents. It also receives excellent crash test scores. 

The seat has a load leg on the base, a seat belt tensioning and locking system on the base, indicators to signal whether the carrier is secured into the base and the belt is properly tensioned, a five-point customizable harness with straps that don’t twist, and a fantastic fit for preemies.

Some individuals think that the carrier’s European belt route may be safer than the American belt path featured on many other baby seats. The shoulder belt of the car wraps around the carrier’s back when using the European belt path, providing additional security.

Key Features:

• Seven recline positions
• Features a three-position adjustable canopy
• SPF 100+ protection
• Mesh peekaboo window for airflow and visibility into the car seat
• Safely seats kids from 4 up to 35 pounds
• Comes with a three-year warranty

• Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat

The SnugLock seat belt strength and locking device, a European belt route, an extendable base with four reclining modes, a rotating canopy with window and visor, and other features are all included in this cost-effective baby seat series at an affordable price. The Platinum carrier’s no-rethread harness allows the crotch buckle to be j-looped, better suiting preemies and smaller newborns, in contrast to the DLX and Elite carriers rethread harnesses.

These Snuglock types can frequently be positioned behind tall drivers and can function well for fitting three car seats across in the rear seat because they take up less space front to back than many other infant seats.

Key Features:

• Snug Lock Technology
• Simply Safe Adjust Harness System
• Adjustable base with 4 recline positions
• Rotating canopy with window and visor provides shade and sun
• Support cushions baby

• Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base

With one easy action, this unique baby car seat transforms in a matter of seconds from a car seat to a stroller. This unusual hybrid seat, which can fit most children up to their second birthday and is absolutely unique, should only be taken into consideration for specific families.

Installing the carrier without the base using the European belt path is safer and will optimize the protection the seat has to provide because the Doona has lower crash test scores when used with the base than other infant seats.

This creative option offers a lot of flexibility for families that use taxis or rarely spend time in a car. Fitting infants weighing 4 to 35 pounds, the car seat has a five-point harness, an adjustable handlebar, three layers of side impact protection, and detachable and machine-washable fabric. Parents should be aware that it is relatively heavy at 16.5 pounds.

Key Features:

• 5-point harness
• Adjustable handlebar
• Made of Baby Safe Materials & Breathable Textiles
• Suitable for babies between 4 lbs. to 35 lbs.
• Compact and lightweight 

• Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe

The Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe is only a hair under an inch shorter than the majority of infant car seats now available, making it the perfect choice for vehicles with limited second-row legroom. The nine-pound seat boasts a number of noteworthy safety features, including a sensor integrated into the carrier’s chest clip that may inform parents via phone if the surrounding temperature rises or falls.. The notification serves as a reminder that the infant is in the car as well.

Additionally, it has a load leg to lessen rebound in the event of a collision and linear side shock absorption extenders that can be used when placed in outboard seats to minimize collision forces by 25%. 

In addition, its 12-way recline will make it simpler to reach a level position while utilizing the base. Its relatively small 17.25-inch width makes it a strong competitor for parents who need to fit other car seats.

Key Features:

• Compact size
• Built-in sensor
• 12 recline positions

• Britax B-Safe Gen2

Britax is routinely ranked among the top infant car seats and it is one of a select few infant car seats that have received five stars from the NHTSA in almost all categories of ease-of-use evaluations. 

The optional FlexFit+ model comes with an anti-rebound bar, while the standard FlexFit model employs an extra layer of side-impact protection and has Euro belt guides allowing seat-belt installation without the base. Parents may use it for a few more months before transitioning to a convertible car seat since all models are suited for infants weighing up to four pounds and up to 32 inches.

Its warranty is less than some of its rivals, and at 10.9 pounds, it is a little bit heavier. All adjustable pieces are an eye-catching bright red hue since the product is well-designed with utility in mind.

Key Features:

• Spacious seating space
• Tagless smooth-touch knit fabric
• Fits babies 4 – 35 lbs & up to 32″ in height
• Safe for machine wash

Conclusion

The baby car seat from River Baby, which won our Best Overall title, can grow with your child from birth to toddlerhood. Compared to many other baby seats, the seat can accommodate children longer.