15 Best Infant Car Seats Uk Bloggers You Should Follow
Infant Car Seats - Which One is Right For Your Baby?
The right car seat is an essential purchase for parents. It's important to know the distinctions between car seats for children and infant car seats.
These rear-facing seats, which are typically Group 0+ or R129 (i-Size) baby car seats for infants, are suitable from the moment of birth. These seats are often combined with strollers to create travel systems.
Group 0+
A car seat for your newborn baby or infant is a must. These seats are designed to safeguard infants from dangers of the road, including head injuries, by ensuring that they stay in the position that is recommended. All-stage car seats are also capable of protecting infants, however they lack the additional safety features of infant car seats.
Infant car seats are usually rear-facing, and allow the baby to ride in the seat to 15 months old. A lot of these models come with infant inserts to help smaller babies and ensure they are in a comfortable position. Additionally, reputable infant car seats come with a recommended recline to ensure that the child's head is protected throughout the ride.
All infant car seats must be approved according to the iSize standard and meet European safety standards. The i-Size standard is more advanced than R44/04, which means that cars that have been approved to this standard are more likely to pass better side-impact crash tests, which is crucial for newborns and infants. The i-Size seats also use the more advanced Q-series crash test dummies, which provide more protection for 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 seat with distinctive baseless design, such as the Nuna PIPA Urbn which allows the seat to be installed within a matter of minutes. This allows the seat to be easily moved between cars, making it ideal for parents who frequently require multiple trips.
The Silver Cross Dream i-Size has been awarded an outstanding safety rating by ADAC which means that it offers extremely good protection for infants and babies. It also comes with an ISOFIX base integrated and EPS energy-absorbing foam.
Group 1
Like many other infant car seat like the Cosatto All in One is designed to be used until your child is 12 years old (or 36 kg). Similar to the Group 0+ seats, it can rotate so it's easy to get the baby in and out, can fit using ISOFIX or a car seatbelt that has the top tether, and is rear-facing. It's also easy to clean, which can help with spills and staining.
It's important to remember that your baby may outgrow an infant car seat quite quickly - many parents discover they need to replace the seat within nine months, or even earlier. Most manufacturers suggest moving on to a different car seat when your child's head is within one inch of the top of the car seat.
To be marketed the car seat newborn insert seat must meet certain European safety standards. This includes rigorous tests in crash simulations and the use of certain kinds of material to protect your child from injuries sustained by side impacts. Two standards are in force at present The two standards are ECE R44 and R129 also known as i-Size. The latter is more stringent and takes into account height as well as weight when determining the weight of car seats.
In our experience, seats approved to the R129 standard (i-Size) tend to be more secure and easier to install and keep your child rear-facing for a longer time. The only drawback is that they aren't used with a front passenger airbag and may not be suitable for certain families. It is important to check with the manufacturer if you have any questions prior to buying. They should be able to provide you with the most current information and guidance for your specific situation.
Group 2
A car seat for group 2 is designed for infants who are sufficient to upgrade from a Group 0+, but not yet old enough to use a Group 1 convertible car seat. It's not as popular 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 up to about four years old. old.
It is important that the car seat you pick meets European safety standards. Look for the E mark to ensure that the seat meets ECE R44/04, also known as i-Size (which will eventually replace the previous regulation) to be sure you're buying a seat that protects your child from harm in the event of a collision. Seats with the i-Size certification are simpler to install, offer better protection against side impacts, and will keep your child rear-facing longer.
For babies up to about 15 months and up, the Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro is a top choice with outstanding crash test sensor results and one of the simplest installation methods due to its LATCH connectors which change colour when properly connected. It also comes with a swivel-base that reduces movement in the vehicle, and an inlay that hug the lightweight baby car seat’s head, neck and back to help maintain proper posture.
The Cybex Aviounaut Pixel Pro is an alternative. It also comes with a 360-degree base swivel and an exclusive G Cell system that provides protection against side-impacts. It's more expensive than other seats, but it offers superior protection and a great value. Jasper found it to be comfortable on long journeys and it looks better than the other seats we tried, too.
Group 3
A group 3 infant car seat is a triple-in-one car seat that will serve your child right from birth until the booster stage. The seats are rear-facing (some until your child weighs at least 9kg) and then can be turned around to face forwards - they can be used in this manner until they reach their limit of 36kg.
These seats are generally very comfortable and provide good head and neck support. Many of them come with removable and machine washable padding for newborns to help keep them clean. One of the most effective models we've tested was the Nuna PIPA Air Rx has two inserts - one made from sustainably-sourced materials, the other from organic cotton certified by GOTS, to keep your baby super cozy.
The model has impressive crash test results but it also has a user-friendly design. It comes with one-handed reclining and 12 different headrest positions. It's also easy to install with ISOFIX and has a convenient indicator that changes color when it's secure.
We don't recommend changing groups in a hurry, as children who are in the lower limits are more prone to injury in a crash. It's best car seats newborn infant car seat (just click the up coming article) to keep your current seat until your child reaches their new limit. That said, there are some very good alternatives to this group which we particularly like. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 that can ensure your child's safety until the age of 12, so is a great choice for long-term usage.
Cozy N Safe Arthur is another excellent option. It can allow your child to go from the infant stage to the booster stage at four years old. It's not as expensive as the highly-rated Silver Cross, and features a wide range of safety and comfort features, like a one-handed recline setting and no less than 13 headrest positions.
Group 4
The infant car seat for travel car seat is the latest addition to our list of the most effective baby car seats. It has a slightly larger age range than previous groups and is targeted at children up to six years older. It can be used as a booster 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 ideal for taxi rides, fly-drive vacations or trips in hire cars or grandparent's vehicles. The ISOFIX connectors are integrated into the seat and can be inserted into place with a satisfying click. It also comes with a variety of features that make it suitable for babies, including the brand's hugging-style inlay a revolutionary ClimaFlow ventilation system, and G-CELL side impact technology to keep your child safe as he grows.
Our team of testers looked at a number of different car seats for group 4 to determine the best option for you and your family. We evaluated each model based on its user-friendliness and the quality of the materials used and how comfortable the seat is for your child to sit in. We also looked at the safety of each seat, considering whether it was iSize-approved and how well it performed in crash tests. We considered the safety ratings of independent safety experts. For example the Swedish Plus test which examines a car seat’s performance during low-speed impacts and short brake distances.
We also considered the value of each model, as this is a crucial factor for parents of all ages. Our top-rated car seats for infants are at a low cost, easy to put in and come with useful accessories such as sleeping bags that can be removed and an reversible cover.