We do not pretend to be afraid, but choosing a car seat for a baby is no joke. If already traveling by car requires a high dose of responsibility, when we take our little passenger the attention is multiplied by infinity.
Remember that, in case of an accident, what for an adult can be a small blow, for a baby it can be fatal.
So this purchase must be looked at with special care and, in addition, you have to do it before delivery, since you will probably need to take your baby from the hospital home.
We have tested the main car seats for babies and collected the opinion of mothers and pediatricians to recommend the best models in this article. In the end, you will also find a complete guide to solve all your doubts about the regulations and functionalities of this type of chairs and we will talk about the latest technology in accessories to reinforce the safety of your little one in the car.
Also, read our other guides on the best baby feeding bottles with a spoon, pumping bras, breast pumps, and the best baby video monitors
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What infant car seat to buy? The 7 best baby car seats for quality and price
There is no ideal solution for everyone, also because we should evaluate the best purchase based on the age of our child. Car seats are in fact classified by categories.
After the first group for newborns (group 0 and 0+ up to 9 or 13 kg), you can choose a “multi-group” model, the so-called group 1 2 3 car seat, which covers a very large weight range: this is in fact of a car seat 9-36 kg. But it is always better not to hurry and do not go immediately to the new model until the child reaches the right weight (as should be indicated in the technical data sheets that accompany each item).
The seat must be approved: check that there is the homologation label on the back or on the base of the structure (it is orange with ECE R44-03, ECE R44-04, ECE-R129). The homologation standards are always stricter, since 2017 in fact the new products must have the back up to 125 cm.
Another valid criterion of choice is to check whether the seats are equipped with Isofix attachments, which guarantee greater stability and better protection in the event of a frontal or lateral impact. Furthermore, the risks of incorrect installation of the child seat are minimized. Once the seat has been attached to the car structure, the child must be secured with the special seat belt (group 0+ and group 1) or vehicle seat belts.
Below we present the best infant car seats:
Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat
The Cybex Aton M seat is a classic egg, but with absolutely high safety, ergonomics and quality materials! This seat is an ECE 44 approved universal, it can be installed in the car without the aid of ISOFIX hooks but with the help of the car’s safety belt. If you want, you can buy an ISOFIX base separately.
The Cybex Aton M optimally protects your child in both side and front impacts and, even without a subbase, allows a comfortable and stable installation.
Another advantage is the reduced space required in the car, a feature that makes it suitable also for installation in small cars.
This seat is suitable for children up to about 13 kg, approved for heights ranging from 45 to 83 cm and up to about 1 year and a half of age. As far as maintenance is concerned, the Cybex Aton 5 is really easy to remove and its fabrics can be machine washed.
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Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat
It is a homologated seat Gr. 0 + / 1/2 that follows the growth of the child from birth to 6 years. In group 0+ the seat must always be installed in the opposite direction of travel after having properly deactivated the airbags. In this mode, there is a comfortable and enveloping reducer to be used up to 6 kg.
Each seat is designed to ensure maximum safety during transport by car. The materials and padding ensure the ideal comfort for the child and there are technical solutions designed to make the positioning in the car and the use of the seat very simple. The installation turns out to be practical in practice and is compatible with all types of cars.
The seat is developed with the Isofix system and can be reclined in 4 different positions. It is approved according to ECE R44 / 04.
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Britax Marathon ClickTight
Thanks to the extremely soft reducer cushion and the comfortable recline, this seat allows the baby to travel safely and comfortably. When the baby grows, you can easily adjust the seat in width to accompany your child up to 4 years.
The seat allows you to travel the child in the opposite direction of travel from 0 to 13 kg and in the direction of travel from 9 to 18 kg.
The installation in the opposite direction of travel is even easier thanks to the passage of the belt under the seat. Another important feature is the possibility to recline it to the sleeping position, to offer the child a really comfortable sleeping position. Very easy to use, it is designed with hooks to keep the belts open while the child is sitting.
Its features are completed by the wide ultra-padded seat with removable reducer cushion, adjustable in width, reclining device under the base to offer the baby a more comfortable position in the opposite direction of travel.
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Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
It is a Group 1 car seat, approved for weights from 9-18 kg (from 1 to 4 years). It is very comfortable and reliable, thanks to the “Adjustable Side Impact Protection” system.
Added to this is the adjustable headrest in 7 positions, to ensure maximum safety, at any time of the child’s growth. It has a wide and padded seat with reducer cushion, safety belts complete with shoulder straps, adjustable and repositionable on the seat thanks to the locking system to facilitate the positioning of the child.
The seat can assume 4 distinct positions, guaranteeing the child long comfortable journeys, in complete relaxation, even when sleeping. It has a double approval and offers two ways of fixing it: directly on the car, with the 3-point safety belts of the vehicle, or with Isofix Base 0 + 1 K, (available separately).
From birth up to 13 kg it positions itself in the opposite direction to the direction of travel, offering a comfortable nest for the newborn thanks to the soft anatomical cushion: from 9 to 18 kg it installs in the direction of travel, satisfying the child’s desire to look at the world around him, in complete safety in his seat.
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Sweety Fox Infant and Children Car Seats
It is part of the broad category of growth models and corresponds to the 1/2/3 group, from 9 to 36 kg. Equipped with a safety cushion, it effectively protects your child’s back, spine, and neck. The safety cushion replaces the belt. It should be positioned in front of the child, on the armrests of the child seat and is secured by the seat belt. This baby car seat is made of materials that absorb shocks thanks to their excellent ability to absorb impacts. It also offers effective collision protection in the event of a frontal collision. The child’s body reaches out towards the safety cushion, avoiding that only the head is pushed forward, as in the case of car seats with belts. The risk of injuries to the cervical spine is thus reduced.
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Safety 1st Grow N Go EX
It is a 0-18 kg car seat group 0 + / 1 that can be used from birth up to a child’s weight of 18 kg (follow the blue markings for the opposite direction and the red markings for the direction of travel).
It has a padded seat with a reducer for the newborn for maximum comfort from birth. It offers a reclining position in the opposite direction of travel and two positions in the direction of travel. Easy to install with seat belts (same route as both Group 0+ and Group 1).
It is also designed with adjustable headrest, 5-point belt, adjustable in height in 3 positions to follow the growth of the child, padded belt protector to give optimal comfort. The cover is removable and washable at 30 degrees in the washing machine.
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Graco TurboBooster LX Featuring TrueShield Technology
This car seat has a special feature: it is designed with adjustable Isocatch front attachments. This solution ensures greater safety and allows you to adapt the seat to any car. Thanks to the Isocatch attachments, it is possible to anchor the seat to the machine’s Isofix attachments, thus allowing maximum adaptability and safety. There are also lateral wings that protect the child in case of impact.
The Safety Surround technology guarantees reinforced the protection of the head, combining ease of installation with serenity during every journey by car. The Safety Surround products go beyond the requirements set by the European standards regarding the safety of car seats.
The installation of the seat is very simple, you only need one hand and the journey can begin. The seat is approved for children from 4 years to 12 years (approximately 15 to 36 kg in weight). It is also equipped: in addition to the integrated armrests, it is complete with cup holders and a storage pocket. In this way, the child can always have his favorite drink and the games that accompany him during long trips always at hand.
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What should you consider before buying a baby car seat?
Child’s weight and age
The first thing you should keep in mind when buying a baby car seat is the age and weight of your child. As you have seen, car seats are designed to support certain weight ranges and to use them from a certain age. If you want to buy a chair that lasts a long time, we recommend those that support wide ranges of weight, which, most of them can be used up to 12 years of age.
Compliance with safety regulations
It is very important that the seat you choose has been tested according to the regulations of the European Community, in this way you will have the guarantee that your baby is safe and protected. The car seats that we have described in this post have been tested under the regulations ece44 / 04, so you can buy any of them, and be sure you have bought a totally reliable product.
Headrest and anti-impact systems
One of the most important points to consider is that the car seat offers some system to support the head and if it is adjustable better. Also, chairs that bring systems that prevent the baby’s head from leaning forward while sleeping should be among the first options. Remember that, most of the time, babies fall asleep inside the car, so it is essential to protect them from neck or head injuries. Chairs that bring side systems that absorb impact are also highly recommended, as they are very safe in the early stages of growth.
Anchorage system
On this point, baby car seats that incorporate the IsoFix anchorage system are highly recommended, since they provide a lot of stability. However, in many cases, the car seats with this system may not be compatible with your car, so before buying this type of product, you must verify what type of anchor fits your car. If you do not have a car compatible with the IsoFix system, we recommend car seats that have seat belts with several fixing points.
Comfort
When purchasing a car seat, you should not forget that your baby should feel comfortable, so we recommend car seats that can recline and bring padded fabrics in different areas. All these features will help your baby travel comfortably. It is also important to check the quality of the fabric, preferring those that are soft and breathable. Finally, it is very important that the chair is washable since it is a product of continuous use, which can easily get dirty.
Types of car seats by weight and age
When buying a baby car seat, you should know that there is a classification by weight and age, which is used by manufacturers to direct their products to a certain category of consumers. Then we present it to you, so that it serves as a guide when buying.
- Chairs group 0: they are for babies with a weight between 0 and 10 kilos, so they almost always adapt to ages between 9 and 12 months of age. In most cases, they have a removable, capsule-like seat to transport newborns more easily.
- Group I chairs: they are for children between 9 and 18 kilos of weight, whose ages oscillate between 1 and 3 years. They must have their own seat belt so that the child can travel sitting.
- Group II chairs are for use by children weighing between 15 and 25 kilos, with ages between 3 and 7 years. And they should bring padded seats to provide better support.
- Chairs group III: for children from 22 to 36 kilos of weight that, generally, are older than 7 years old, that train a cushion that elevates the child so that he can use correctly the safety belt of the car.
Conclusions
The best car seat allows you to move with your child in complete safety. The choice must be made leaving aside, at least for a moment, one’s aesthetic preferences, and focusing on the characteristics that make it a reliable structure from all points of view. And before making the purchase, check that the chosen model is made in compliance with the legislation currently in force, which as mentioned classifies the various types into a specific group based on how much the baby weighs and how high he is. Compare a height weight chart to be sure.
Also consider how it attaches to your car, especially if you need to use the seat on different cars. An Isofix model was created with the intention of making the connection absolutely safe. However, Isofix is not mandatory.
Comfort also plays an important role, even more than in the stroller. The best car seats have a reclining headrest, a revolving cup holder that makes children happy and have thermal insulation to keep them cool in summer and well warm in winter.