How To Choose Best Infant Car Seats

One of the most important pieces of baby gear you’ll buy or add to your baby registry is an infant car seat. In fact, you won’t be discharged from the hospital without a rear-facing car seat suitable for newborns.

When it comes to car restraints for babies this young, you have two choices: an infant car seat that generally has a base that installs in your car then a carrier that you can fasten or unfasten, or a convertible car seat, which is a one-piece seat that you install first rear-facing and then flipped front-facing as your child grows.

“Infant car seats are rear-facing car seats built for infants in their earliest stage of life,” says Dr. Suzanne Chan, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and child passenger safety technician (CPST).

Car seats are installed in your vehicle using lower anchors or a car’s seat belt — not both — and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) say they can be used from birth (for babies as low as four pounds) until your baby reaches the seat’s maximum weight or height (whichever comes first).

Should I get an infant or convertible car seat for my baby?

Of course, you can opt for a convertible car seat, and using either a convertible or an infant seat is approved by the AAP and NHTSA. Convertible seats last for years and some parents may wonder if they need to bother buying a separate infant seat.

The choice is yours, but Chan says many families start out with an infant car seat because:

• They are smaller and more compact
• They often come as part of a travel system or with a base that allows easier transition between car and stroller
• They’re easier to use in multiple cars (if you don’t own one or travel frequently)
• You don’t have to wake a sleeping baby for transfers

When is my baby too big for an infant car seat?

According to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, infant car seats—and all car seats now—must have specific height and weight limits clearly labeled on the actual seat and outlined in the manual, says Chan. You’ll know it’s time to move your child to a rear-facing convertible seat once they’ve exceeded either the height or weight limit (whichever comes first).

Most infant car seats sold today hold babies until they reach 30-35 pounds or 30-35 inches. Children usually hit this milestone anywhere from 9 months to 2 years old, says Chan. But parents should check often: babies grow fast, and missing the mark is a serious safety concern.

What’s the safest infant car seat?

“All car seats are put through the same safety standards and testing to ensure their safety in use,” says Chan. Translation: Any seat sold in the U.S. is a safe seat.

A common myth is that European car seats are superior to U.S.-made seats. “While true that most of our standards were led by the Swedish (such as rear-facing and rear-facing until at least age 2), when examining their safety testing and standards, they are the same,” says Chan.

So if not safety, what do you get for paying more? “It can vary from car seat to car seat, but sometimes you have a higher weight and height limit, or convenience features like easier use, performance fabrics (moisture wicking), memory foam, and changeable/washable lining,” explains Chan.

How we chose the best infant car seats

With so many options on the market and car seat safety a top priority, choosing the right product can feel overwhelming. Of course, it’s a relief to parents to know that all car seats sold in the United States must pass the same federal safety standards. But minor differences in design, or features that you may not even understand when first choosing a car seat, can make a huge difference in your day-to-day experience with any one seat.

So as is typical with baby products, what’s “best” is decided on by a consensus of parents who put their children into the car safely and take them out again, over and over for years on end. Seeking this type of honest feedback from a chorus of parents, we started our research on BabyCenter’s Community, filtering through millions of comments in search of favorite models.

Next, the BabyCenter team vetted each to make sure it met the standards outlined by CPSTs, as well as groups like the AAP and NHTSA. Finally, we looked at the design, quality, value and ease of use to ensure all infant seats on this list truly are the best ones money can buy.

Keep reading to learn our favorite easy-to-install seat, and the lightweight and budget-friendly infant car seats parents prefer. If you’re in search of more car seat information, our look at the best convertible car seats and booster seats may be of aid.