Best Infant Car Seats
Recommendations for Car Carrier Restraints for Babies
Parents deliberating over which infant car seat is the best fit for their family can be overwhelmed by the options available. Here are the top picks for infant carriers.
One of the most important safety products parents will purchase for their newborn is the car seat. The problem is that a stroll through the car seat aisle can leave parents confused over which is the "best choice." Here are some top picks for infant carrier carseats that have added safety features and greater ease of use.
Chicco KeyFit 30
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is one of the top-rated infant carrier car seats at Car-Safety.org. There are several advantages to the Chicco Keyfit 30 which make it stand out. It has one of the highest weight/height limits currently on the market, at 30 pounds and 30 inches. Another appealing factor is that it has one of the narrowest base widths, of 15 1/4 inches. This is especially helpful for families with smaller cars or multiple safety seats. Further benefits of the Chicco Keyfit 30 include a 5-point harness, EPS foam, added side-impact protection, and a level indicator. The handle can be left up or down when driving, which takes away the worry of forgetting to place the handle in the correct position.
Drawbacks to the Chicco Keyfit 30 include the price of approximately $170, the sunshade does not provide as much protection, the carrier weight is 9 pounds, and it does not adapt to most stroller frames.
Graco SafeSeat 1
The Graco Safe Seat 1 boasts the highest weight/height limits, with 30 pounds and 32 inches. This seat is great for keeping bigger babies rear-facing. The 5-point harness, EPS foam, level indicator, adaptable handle position (up or down when driving), and more affordable price (average of $130-$150) add to its appeal.
There are a couple of drawbacks to the Graco Safe seat. The harness may be too big for smaller babies. The bulky seat has a very wide base of 19 inches and the carrier weight 9 3/4 pounds. Its side impact protection is limited compared to the Keyfit 30 which is a detractor. The bonus is that it adapts to more strollers that the Keyfit, but not as many as the Snugride, listed below.
Graco SnugRide
The Graco SnugRide is the top-selling infant car carrier seat in the United States. At approximately $80 for the trimmest model, it is the most affordable of these preferred seats. Additionally, the 8 pound carrier is less cumbersome to lug around than the other seats. New models have EPS foam, a 5-point harness, and a level indicator. It also adapts to many brands of strollers.
The SnugRide is not perfect though, and parents should consider the disadvantages. The handle must be dropped down when installed into the car. Seemingly a simple task, but in the mad rush of today's world, parents sometimes forget. It also does not have side impact protection, and parents have complained that their baby outgrew the height limit well before the weight limit (22 pounds and 29 inches).
The bottom line is that the best car safety seat is one that is installed correctly according to the manufacturer's unique instructions and used properly every single time. Parents should consider their unique needs when choosing a carseat. These three top picks may help guide their choice.
Please note that the above recommendations use information of current manufacturing specifications for these models. Refer to Best, Safest Children's Car Seat, for a clear explanation of why there is no "best" seat, and why parents should strongly consider keeping their child rear-facing for as long as possible.
For access to other car seat articles, refer to blog entry entitled Car Seat Article Index.
References:
American Academy of Pediatrics. "Moving Kids Safely." 2008.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Child Passenger Safety Program." 2008.
