Infant Car Seats - Which One is Right For Your Baby?
The best car seat is an essential parenting purchase. 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. They often go with a pram to create travel systems.
Group 0+
If you're a parent of an infant or newborn car seat, it is a must-have. These seats are specifically designed for babies to protect them from road hazards and head injuries. They accomplish this by keeping them in the correct position. All-stage car seats are equipped to safeguard infants, but they do not have the added safety features of infant car seats.
Car seats for infants are typically rear-facing, and allow babies to use the seat until 15 months of age. A lot of these models come with a newborn insert to support infants and ensure they are in a comfortable position. Furthermore, the best infant car seats come with a the recommended recline so that the child's head is protected during the journey.
All infant car seats must be approved according to the iSize standard, and must comply with European safety standards. The iSize standard is far more sophisticated than R44/04. This means that cars approved by this regulation are likely to be more secure in side impact crash tests. This is crucial for infants and newborns. The iSize seats also utilize the more advanced Q-series crash test dummies to provide even greater protection for infants.
Those who choose to buy an infant car seat must think about how often they'll need to transfer it between vehicles. If you are a frequent user of taxis and car sharing services often, look for a model with a unique design, like the Nuna PIPA Urbn. This allows the seat to easily be put in place in just a few minutes. This allows the seat to be easily swapped between cars. It is ideal for parents who have to take frequent trips.
ADAC has awarded the Silver Cross Dream i-Size an excellent safety rating, which means that it provides excellent protection for infants. It also has an ISOFIX base built in and EPS energy-absorbing foam.
Group 1
As with many other infant car seat, the Cosatto All in One is designed to be used until your child is 12 years old (or 36 kg). Similar to Group 0+ seats, it rotates so you can easily put the baby in and out, be used with ISOFIX or a cars seat belt with the top tether, and it's rear-facing. It is also easy to clean, which is great for spills and stains.
It's worth remembering that your baby can outgrow a car seat for infants quite quickly - many parents discover they need to replace the seat within nine months or earlier. Most manufacturers recommend switching seats when your child's head is within a single inch of the edge of the seat's top.
In order to be sold, a car seat must meet certain European safety standards. This involves rigorous testing during accident simulations, as well as the use of certain types of materials to protect your child from side-impact injuries. Two standards are in effect currently - ECE R44 and R129 called i-Size, which is more stringent and takes into account the height as well as weight when determining the weight of car seats.
Our experience has shown that seats that are approved to the R129 standard, also known as i-Size, tends to be safer and simpler to install. They also allow your child seated rearwards for a longer period of time. The only downside to these seats is that they can't be used with an airbag for the front-passenger which might not be suitable for some families. It is important to speak with the manufacturer prior to purchasing if you're worried. They will be able to give you the most current information and guidance on your particular situation.
Group 2
A baby car seat is for infants who are big enough to move up from an older Group 0+ car seat but aren't yet out of a convertible Group 1 seat. It's not quite as common as all-in-one seats, but is worth considering when you're looking for a seat to take your baby from birth until around four years of age.
As with all car seats, it's important that your chosen seat meets European safety standards. You can look for the E-mark and ensure that the seat is in compliance with ECE R44/04 or iSize (which is being replaced by the previous regulation). This will allow you determine if the seat is safe for your child from injury in a crash. Seats with the iSize certification are easier 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 infants up to 15 months old, is an excellent choice with impressive crash test results. Its LATCH connectors are rigid and change colour when properly connected. It also comes with a swivel base that helps reduce the movement of your car and an inlay designed to hug the baby's neck, head and back to support their posture.
The Cybex Aviounaut Pixel Pro is another option. It also features an swivel base that is 360 degrees and an exclusive G Cell system that provides protection during collisions with the sides. It's more expensive than other seats, but it provides great protection and is a good value. Jasper found the seat comfortable for long trips 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 up to the booster stage. They start rearward-facing (some until your child is at least 9kg) and can later be turned around to face forwards - they can be used in this manner until they reach the limit of 36kg.
These seats are generally very comfortable and provide good head and neck support. Many come with removable and machine washable padding for infants to ensure they are germ-free. One of the best models that we tested, Nuna PIPA Air Rx includes two inserts, one made of eco-friendly materials and the other made of GOTS certified organic cotton – to ensure that your baby feels super cozy.
This model not only has impressive crash test results but also a very user-friendly design. It includes an adjustable reclining feature that is single-handed and 12 different headrest positions. It is also easy to install with ISOFIX and has a convenient indicator that changes color to show when it's secure.
We wouldn't recommend swapping groups too early as children at the lower limits of each group could be more vulnerable to injury in a crash, so it's a good idea to hold on to the seat you've always had until your child is at their new limit. There are a few excellent alternatives in this category. We recommend the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 that will last until the 12th birthday of their child.
Another option is the Cozy N Safe Arthur, which can take your baby from their newborn stage to their four-year-old booster phase. It's not as expensive the top-rated Silver Cross and has a range of options for comfort and safety, including a one handed recline option and as many as 13 headrest positions.
Group 4
The infant car seat is the most recent addition to our list of the top infant car seats. It is slightly more age range than previous groups and is designed for children ranging from 6 to 6 years old. of age. It can be used either as a booster or in the rearward-facing position. We rated this seat highly for its versatility and the possibility of being used without having a base, which makes it ideal for taxi rides, fly-drive vacations or trips in rental cars or the vehicles of grandparents. The ISOFIX connectors are built into the seat and click into place with the click of a button that is satisfying. It is equipped with numerous features that make this car seat ideal for infants. These include the brand's hugging design, a revolutionary ClimaFlow ventilating system and G-CELL technology side impact protection to ensure your child's safety as they develop.
Our team of testers looked over several different car seats for group 4 to find the best options for you and your family. We rated each one by its ease of use as well as the quality of materials used and the comfort of your baby. car seat for newborn pushchairsandprams.uk assessed the safety of each seat, focusing on whether it was i-Size approved and how it performed in crash tests. We took into account the safety ratings given by independent safety experts, like the Swedish Plus test, which examines the safety of a car seat's performance both high-speed collisions and short braking distances.
We also considered the worth of each product because it is an aspect that parents often consider to be essential. Our top-rated infant car seat has an affordable price, are easy to fit and come with useful features like a removable sleeping bag and a reversible cover.