Top Rated Infant Car Seats

Not all infant car seats are made in the same way. The best car seats newborn seats have features that improve the performance of crash tests. For example load legs -- shock-absorbing elements which are attached to the seat or base and help to reduce movement during an accident.

A favorite among CPST instructors is the Chicco KeyFit, which has a high rear-facing weight limit and height limit, an indicator for the level of bubbles, and an reclining foot with a spring that allows for easy installation.

Graco Mesa Max

The Graco Mesa Max ranks as one of the easiest infant car seats to use. It is made of great materials, a simple design, and a handy feature that allows you to attach the harness of a child to the headrest to make it easier to tighten. It has a large canopy that can be hidden away to keep your child protected when they travel. The only downside is that it's a bit heavier than normal this could be a problem if you are planning to transport it or want it to pair with your UPPAbaby stroller, which is a winner.

The Mesa Max's impressive crash test results demonstrate its dedication to top-tier safety. It scored highly in both the frontal and side impact tests, ensuring that your child will be safe from both sides of a collision.

Another notable safety feature is the Graco's antirebound panel, that helps to reduce rebound forces during an accident and ensures that your child's head is protected. This feature is not common in infant car seats and makes the Mesa Max stand out among its rivals.

Graco Mesa Max can easily and securely be mounted in your vehicle with LATCH when used with the base included. The load leg and recline angle adjustment and tightness indicator to ensure a quick, precise installation. The base weighs 12.6 This is a bit more than the average car seat for infants, but not enough to cause a problem.

The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 uses the same dual-knit fabric as its predecessor. It is free of chemical that are fire-resistant. It also comes with an infinitely adjustable headrest as well as an infant insert that helps improve the body's fit and positioning for infants weighing between 4-11 pounds. The fabrics are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which tests for low emissions of chemicals and VOCs.

The UPPAbaby UPPAmax Mesa Maxi is a little more expensive than other options however it comes with premium features and modern technology for the most secure travel experience. The base is included and is available in a variety of stylish colors. This is a great addition to the value proposition. Its thoughtful features and durable design offer parents peace of mind for every journey.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight

The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a car seat that will expand with their child. Its rear facing infant car seat-facing limit is 40 pounds, which is more than the majority of infant car seats. Furthermore, it can also be used as a forward-facing seat until your child reaches 65 pounds.

The ClickTight Installation System is its major selling feature. It is the safest most user-friendly and secure system available. It allows you to tighten the seat belt by pushing the red release button and pulling the harness strap and not having to loosen it, then re-thread. This decreases the risk of a mistake when tightening the belt that is the main cause of failures in car seats.

Another safety feature is the EZBuckle Pad, which keeps the buckle in place when you're putting your child in the seat. This feature, along with beltpath cutouts that run along the sides of the seat, makes it simple to get them in and out of the car.

All three ClickTight convertible seats (Boulevard, Marathon CT, and Advocate CT) have the same features. ClickTight Installation System is one of them. Also included are an impact-absorbing frame that can accommodate seven recline positions.

It's a hefty seat, so it might be worth looking at a lighter alternative in case you plan to use it frequently for car swaps or travel. Additionally, the seat is big, so it may not be suitable for smaller vehicles, particularly if it's installed on the rear.

If you're looking for a low-cost seat that is of similar quality the Graco 4Ever DLX is a great option. It has lower crash tests scores than the Boulevard however it is still an excellent option for your child.

The Graco has also push-on connectors for LATCH, which makes it easier to remove the seat. Boulevard's LATCH connectors have a different release system that requires you to pull the webbing and then press a gray button. This isn't easy if the webbing is tight. However the seat comes with a handy storage compartment for belt straps when not in use.

Clek Liing

If you're looking for a baby car seat that offers everything -- style, safety as well as convenience and luxuryyou'll love the Clek Liing. This rear-facing car seat can be easy to install, comes with an impressive crash test score and a wide range of features.

The Liing is designed to safeguard babies with features that meet and surpass both US and Canadian safety standards. It is designed to allow for a simple, secure installation in any seat position. It's packed with safety features that are advanced like an energy-absorbing steel load leg as well as an outer shell that is lined with EPP foam to provide greater side-impact protection. The base has seven recline positions and a trusty bubble indicator to let you know when the seat is at the proper angle for your baby.

The Liing is loved by parents for its sleek and modern design, as well as its innovative safety features like rigid lower anchors that are much easier to attach than standard hook-and-loop connectors. The Liing features a one-handed release, making it easy to remove the base and use with strollers compatible with it. And at less than 17 inches in width it's small enough to fit 3-across in the majority of vehicles. It also is a good fit in many convertible car seats to act as a travel booster.

The Liing infant car seat that swivels seat is rated first for its unique rigid-LATCH installation method. The lower anchors of the Liing snap into the seat belt slots of the vehicle and the top tether strap snaps on to the vehicle headrest. This ensures a tight snug, secure fit that eliminates the chance that the child will be thrown around in a crash.

The seat is lightweight, with the base weighting 9 pounds and the carrier itself weighing just 10.5 lbs. Other rear-facing seats are heavier, but the difference isn't evident if you intend to transport the car seat and base around. ).

Parents appreciate the Liing's built-in canopy and 100+spf sun-protection with a mesh peekaboo window. Caregivers love the merino-covered cover that keeps babies warm, and they also like the ability of the handle to pivot over the canopy and make it easier for them to grab when needed.

Graco Trio Grow SnugLock LX

The Graco Trio SnugLock is a 3-in-1 seat that converts from rear-facing infant to forward-facing harness, and later to the highback booster. It features the SnugLock installation system that allows for a simple and smooth installation using either a car seat belts or lower anchors. It also allows you to use the top tether in booster mode (although we recommend using the lower anchors at all times for added security).

This seat is ideal for children of all age groups. It comes with an infant insert designed for younger infants that can support their backs and necks. When they get older, the insert can be removed and the seat can be used as a normal car seat for toddlers. This is one of the few car seats that allows the top tether to be used as a booster. We highly recommend it.

Its base is quite compact from front to rear and it shouldn't be difficult to locate a place for it in the majority of cars. It requires the headrest to be raised however, to allow an open way for the lower anchor webbing. There's a handy knob for adjusting the headrest, and the display window displays the location of the headrest.

One of the coolest things about this seat is the SnugLock installation system that is an anchor that is in the belt path. Installing this car seat using lower anchors is easy, and as simple as putting it on the car's seat belt.

The manual offers a wonderful illustration on how to route the lower anchor connectors correctly through the belt path which at first can be confusing. Keep them away from the chest clip and crotch loop to prevent interference with the buckle system.

The Graco Trio Grow belongs to the Protect Plus Engineered Family, which means it has been put through some of the most rigorous tests in the industry. This includes tests for rear, side and rollover crashes and frontal impact.