Infant Car Seat Guide: 9 Things You Need To Know Before Buying (2024)

With so many options, which seat is right for me and my baby?

These are undoubtedly some of the first questions you’ll ask yourself as a new parent or soon parent to be.

Most hospitals will require that you have an infant car seat with you when you’re ready to leave after delivering your baby. This will be the first important journey of your baby. The seat that you choose will most probably stay with you until your child reaches 18 months.

That’s why choosing the right car seat is very important.

Should you get an infant car seat or a convertible seat? What should you pay attention to and which features are unnecessary?

In this baby car seat buying guide, you’ll see everything you need to know to pick the right seat for you and your baby. We’ll start by reviewing the 9 essentials tips to select the car seat that’s right for you before sharing more information on how infant car seats are tested.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what to look for in a car seat to spend your money wisely.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

The first and most important thing to keep in mind is, of course, safety. You buy a car seat to keep your child safe and secure while driving so you need to be able to trust that it will do its job.

In most countries, there are national organizations in charge of testing and evaluating car seat safety. In the U.S., that’s the role of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA sets rules and regulations for road safety with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). The NHTSA will also crash test every infant car seat and assign them a safety score before allowing them to be sold in the U.S.

As a result, every new car seat sold in the U.S. has a safety rating and meets minimum road safety standards.

The second most important thing to keep in mind when choosing an infant car seat is the height and weight limit. This is especially important if your baby is premature or below 6.5 lbs at birth. You need to make sure that the seat comes with a newborn insert to keep your baby snug and tight.

A car seat of the right size is essential to keep your baby secure. The Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) estimates that the risk of dying in a car accident goes down by 71% for children who are properly secured in a car seat (source).

Overall, we have a strong preference for infant car seats over convertibles. While it’s true that a convertible seat means that you only need to purchase one seat, it comes at the cost of being less practical and comfortable for you and your baby. An infant car seat, on the other hand, can easily be moved from your car to your stroller and carried by hand (check our guide on car seats and strollers compatibility).

You and your baby will need to go for regular pediatrician visits in the first few months, so not having to take your child out of the seat and risk waking them up every time you move is a significant advantage.

Infant car seats are just more suitable for infants, especially premature babies. They were designed specifically with them in mind.

Aren’t convertible seats cheaper over time? If you add up the price of an infant car seat with the price of a toddler car seat, the total will probably be higher than the price of a convertible seat. But, many parents don’t keep their convertible seat for more than 2 years and end up buying another seat. Children’s car seats get dirty quickly and don’t age well. In addition, safety regulations regularly change as new models are being released.

You’ll probably be happy to change your car seat after 18 months of regular use. Trust us! You’ll be better of purchasing two car seats at a lower price over two years versus spending a larger amount for a convertible initially.

That said, there are many excellent convertible seats available today. Here’s a list of the best-sellers on Amazon.

There is nothing worse than having a baby crying at the back of your car for an entire journey. If your child isn’t comfortable in their seat, they will cry!

The two most important things for comfort in an infant car seat are extra padding and material breath-ability. The UPPAbaby MESA is one of the best car seats in that category thanks to its soft, lightweight and breathable natural Merino wool fabric.

You’ll be regularly taking your baby’s seat in and out of your car, so ease of installation is a critical factor to take into account when choosing a seat. It starts by making sure that the seat will fit your car in the first place. Some extra-large infant car seats might not fit in a smaller car. If you’re unsure, measure the space available at the back of your car before looking at the dimensions of each seat in our ranking of the best infant car seats available today.

Most infant car seats now come with a dedicated installation base. You can install the base once in your car and just clip the seat in and out when needed. Every car seat base has the option to connect with Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) to make the installation easier.

If you already have a stroller, you’ll need to make sure that your car seat is compatible with it. Stroller compatibility will enable you to easily take the seat out of the car and clip it to your stroller to get going.

Finding the perfect match between a stroller and a car seat can be very tricky, and is one of the most time-consuming tasks that new parents have to go through. And it’s an important one, as you’ll be using both your stroller and your car seat regularly.

Some car seats are compatible as-is with specific strollers, while others will require an adapter or not be compatible at all. You can find the best combo for your lifestyle with our in-depth compatibility guide on strollers and car seats.

One thing is certain, your car seat will get dirty quickly and often. So you want a seat that’s easy to wash and maintain. The seat cover, in particular, should be easily removable and machine washable.

We include the easiness to wash and maintain a seat in our rating of the best infant car seats and dedicate a section to it in our reviews because it’s too often overlooked by parents when choosing a seat but quickly becomes a pain when the first stain appears.

The weight of a car seat shouldn’t be a deciding factor in your selection but it’s something worth keeping in mind nevertheless. Some car seats are significantly heavier than others. And some car seats also have a terrible design with a handlebar that blocks the seat canopy.

If you expect carry your seat by hand often, check the portability score in our reviews to see how your favorite model performs.

You might be surprised to see some of the features that infant car seats come with. Some features are essential, while others are nice to have. And then some are just fancy marketing buzzwords to make you spend more.

Here are the features we think are really important to have in an infant car seat:

Wondering how much a baby car seat is going to cost you? Typical prices range from $100 for entry-level models to $300 for more premium models. In general, the more you spend the more features and quality materials you may get.

Regardless of how much you spend, every car seat sold in the United States meets the minimum safety standards. So why are some models nearly three times more expensive than the cheapest car seat? It all comes down to features, materials and finishing.

The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35, for example, is one of the cheapest models available on the market today (check price). It will keep your baby safe in the car but we wouldn’t recommend it for extended use as your child won’t be comfortable in it.

The UPPAbaby MESA, on the other hand, is more expensive (check price) but comes with a naturally breathable fabric and plenty of extra cushion to help your baby fall asleep while being in the seat.

To decide how much you should spend on your seat, we recommend that you think about how you’ll be using it. The more time your baby will have to spend in the seat, the more money you should spend to make it a pleasant journey for everyone in the car.

When it comes to buying your car seat, you can go to a store or look for your preferred model online. While we like to see and touch new seats to make our decision, we often find that there are a lot more options available online and for a better price.

If you live near a store that has a good range of options, go there and see the seats for yourself. Note down the prices for your preferred brands and compare them online.

If you don’t have such a store near you, take a look at our in-depth car seat reviews. We test each seat that we review with our own kids for several months before writing down our thoughts. That way, you can get practical and real-life feedback from parents like you. We also include detailed scores for each of the essentials aspects to keep in mind when choosing your car seat.

Whatever you do, make sure to buy from a trusted store with clear and convenient return policies, to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Which side of the car is safest for a child seat?
According to both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the middle seat is the safest place to install your baby’s car seat. The NHTSA also recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in the back, ideally in the center. (source)

What is the best car seat for a newborn?
It depends on your needs and budget, but our overall best newborn car seat of the year is the Chicco KeyFit 30. It’s the best value for money and comes with one of the easiest installation bases.

When should I change my baby’s car seat?
You should change your baby’s car seat once your child reaches the height or weight limit of the seat or if the seat has been damaged or has expired.

What is a convertible car seat?
A convertible car seat is a seat that can be used for both infants and toddlers. You can adjust the seat as your child grows. Here are the best-sellers on Amazon.

Do all car seats fit in strollers?
No. Most car seats will fit in a stroller of the same brand. Infant car seats from the most well-known brands can also fit strollers from other brands by using an adapter. We’ve written an entire guide to help you find the best car seat and stroller combination.

What is the best time to buy a car seat?
You should ideally buy your car seat at least a month before your baby is due. Don’t wait for the last minute to go pick your car seat, you’ll have other things on your mind. You’ll need the seat to leave the hospital, so buy one well in advance.

Can I buy a used car seat?
We don’t recommend buying a used car seat as it might have expired or been damaged. You should avoid buying a second-hand seat if you don’t know how it was used or trust its seller. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, in particular, to avoid buying a used car seat if:

We used several authoritative sources to help us write this guide. We recommend that you read them if you want to learn more about car seat safety in general. These are also great resources if you want to understand a particular aspect of child safety or want to stay up-to-date with the latest research.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Child Passenger Safety Board have excellent in-depth resources on car safety for children. We recommend you start there:

Samantha Wood

Samantha is a busy mother of four, who loves finding the best products to help in raising children. She graduated from BYU in Marriage and Family Studies. When she isn’t writing or testing new products, you can find her playing board games with her kids and teaching them creative strategies.