Infant Car Seats - Which One is Right For Your Baby?
The best car seat is an important purchase for parents. With a wide variety of child car seats and baby car seats to pick from, it's important to be well-informed.
Usually Group 0+ or i-Size (R129) baby car seats, these rear-facing seats are suitable from birth. These seats are often combined with strollers to create travel systems.
Group 0+
If you're a parent of a newborn or infant, an infant car seat is a must-have. These seats are designed to safeguard babies from the dangers of driving including head injuries by ensuring that they remain in the correct position. While all-stage car seat also provide protection for infants, they lack the enhanced safety features offered by infant car seats.
Typically, a baby car seat is rear-facing, and allows the baby seat to be in the seat until they're about 15 months old. A lot of these models include an insert for newborns to help smaller babies and keep them in a comfortable position. Good infant car seats offer recline suggestions to safeguard the child's brain during the ride.
All infant car seats must be approved in accordance with the iSize standard, and must meet European safety standards. The I-Size standard is far more advanced than R44/04, therefore cars approved to this regulation are more likely to pass more effective side-impact tests, which is crucial for infants and newborns. Additionally, iSize seats utilize more sophisticated Q-series crash test dummies, which gives even greater safety protection for toddlers and infants.
When buying an infant car seat, buyers should be aware of how often they'll require it to be moved from one vehicle to another. For those who regularly use taxis or car sharing services should look for a model that has an exclusive baseless design, such as the Nuna PIPA Urbn that allows the seat to be put in place in seconds. This allows the seat to be swiftly changed between different vehicles which makes it ideal for parents who frequently have to take multiple trips.
The Silver Cross Dream i-Size has been given an excellent safety rating by ADAC, meaning that it offers excellent protection for infants and babies. In addition, it has an ISOFIX base that is built-in and an EPS energy-absorbing foam.
Group 1
The Cosatto All in One, as with other infant car seats, is designed to be used from birth until your child is 12 years old (or 36kg). It is able to rotate in order to put your baby in and out. It can be fitted with ISOFIX or a car seatbelt that has a top tether. It's also easy to clean which helps with any spills or staining.
It's important to keep in mind that your baby may outgrow a car seat for infants quite quickly - many parents discover they need to replace the seat within nine months, or even earlier. Most manufacturers recommend switching seats when your child's top is within a single inch of the top edge of the seat.
In order to be sold the car seat must meet certain European safety standards. This includes rigorous tests in crash simulations and the use of specific types of materials to safeguard your child from injuries caused by collisions. Two standards are in force currently - ECE R44 and R129 also known as i-Size, which is more rigorous and considers height as well as weight when grading car seats.
Our experience has proven that seats that are approved to the R129 standard, also known as i-Size, tend to be safer and simpler to install. They can also keep your child facing backwards for a longer time. The only drawback with these seats is that they are unable to be used with an airbag for the front-passenger, which may not suit certain families. It is important to speak with the manufacturer if you have any concerns before buying. They should be able provide you with the most up-to-date information and advice on your specific situation.
Group 2
A car seat for group 2 is designed for infants who are large enough to be upgraded from a Group 0+ but not yet old enough to be able to use a convertible Group 1 car seat. It's not as common as the all-in-one ones, but it's worth keeping in mind if you want the best car seat for your child from birth right until around four years old. of age.
As with all car seats, it's essential that the seat you choose to use is compliant with European safety standards. Look for the E mark to ensure that the seat meets ECE R44/04 or iSize (which will eventually replace the old regulation) to be sure you're getting a seat that will protect your child from harm in the event of a crash. Seats with the i-Size certification are simpler to install, and provide better protection against side impacts and can keep your child rear-facing longer.
The Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro is designed for babies up to 15 months old, is an excellent option with impressive crash test results. Its LATCH connectors are rigid and change color when properly connected. It also has a handy base that swivels to help reduce movement in the car and an inlay that is hugging for the baby's head, neck and Nania Easyfix High Back Booster Seat - France-Made to support their proper posture.
The Cybex Aviounaut Pixel Pro is another good option. It also comes with a 360-degree base swivel and a unique G Cell system that provides protection against collisions with the sides. It's more expensive than some of the other seats but offers good value and excellent protection. Jasper found the seat to be comfortable for long journeys and it also looks nicer than other seats we've tested.
Group 3
A group 3 infant seat is a three-in-one car seat that can be used from birth until booster stage. These seats are designed to be rear-facing (some until your child weighs at least 9kg) However, they can be changed to be used forward-facing up to the maximum weight limit of 36kg.
These seats are typically very comfortable and provide good head and neck support. A lot of them come with removable and washable padding for newborns, ensuring that they are hygienic. One of the most effective models we tested was the Nuna PIPA Air Rx comes with two inserts, one made from sustainably-sourced materials, the other from organic cotton that is GOTS-certified, to ensure your baby is more snug.
Along with having impressive crash test results, this model comes with an extremely user-friendly design, including an adjustable recline that is single-handed and no less than 12 headrest positions. It's also easy to install using ISOFIX and has a handy indicator that changes color when it's secured.
We don't recommend switching groups too soon, as children at the lower limits of each group could be more prone to injury in a crash, so it's a good idea to hold in your old seat until your child reaches their new limit. There are a few excellent options in this group. We recommend the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 that will last until the 12th birthday of their child.
Another option is Cozy N Safe Arthur, which will take your baby from the time they were born to their four-year-old booster stage. It's not as expensive as the highly-rated Silver Cross, and features a good range of safety and comfort features, such as the ability to recline with one hand and no less than 13 headrest positions.
Group 4
The infant car seat is the most recent addition to our list of the most effective baby car seats. It has a slightly larger age range than the previous groups and is targeted at children up to six years of age. It can be used either as an extra seat or in the rearward-facing position. We rated this seat highly for its versatility and the possibility of it being used without a base, making it perfect for taxi rides, fly-drive vacations or trips in hire cars or grandparent's vehicles. The ISOFIX connectors are built into the seat and can be inserted into place with a satisfying click. It also has a range of features that make it perfect for newborns, including the brand's hugging-style inlay an innovative ClimaFlow ventilation system and G-CELL side impact technology that helps ensure your child's safety as he grows.
Our team of testers reviewed various car seats in the group 4 category to find the best options for you and your family. We evaluated each model on its ease of use as well as the quality of its materials and how comfortable the seat is for your child to sit in. We also assessed the safety of each car seat, focusing on whether it was iSize certified and how well it performed in crash tests. We considered the safety ratings given by independent safety experts, such as the Swedish Plus test, which looks at the safety of a car seat's performance both low-speed impacts and short braking distances.
We also considered the value of each item, as it is a factor that many parents consider essential. Our top-rated car seats for infants are at a low cost, easy to put in and come with useful features like a sleeping bag that can be removed and a reversible cover.
