Best Car Seats Out There and Why
It’s about to get real. You will be taking a baby (or more) home in the near future and with everything you need to do to prepare, researching all the MANY baby seat options may feel a bit daunting. Never fear, we are here to help. As it turns out baby seats have come a LONG way since their inception in the 1960s. Although their hearts were in the right place, ‘60s were a bit lacking as far as safety went. Not hugely surprising, given most car manufacturers charged extra for seatbelts to be installed, which many of our parents contemplated whether it was worth it or not as they chain smoked their cigarettes with the windows rolled up, telling us to “be quiet or they would pull the car over” which no one wanted. Anyway, in 1971 the first federal standards for car seats came into effect, and in 2002 the standardized LATCH system went into effect, and all cars from that point on are built with hooks designed to be utilized with baby seats built on or after 2002. Bear in mind, all infant and child car seats go through rigorous testing, so finding the right one will be more of a personal choice depending on what is important to you. The ones below all offer extra padding and comfort for your baby, and have features parents love, but you may want to consider which ones will be easiest of you have multiple babies (we have twins and have two of the Doona + which didn’t turn out to be the best option for twins unless there are two of us to push each stroller. Otherwise we would’ve gotten a lighterweight options and a double stroller to transfer them to and from).
Below are five of the top parent picks, along with prices through Amazon.
1.Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna. It is not only just over 7 lbs, but connects to Bugaboo strollers so super convenient when you’re ready to stroll instead of carry, and parents love the 4 position options for comfort. The biggest downside seems to be the button to release the seatbelt is a bit tricky to find. Priced at $480. Amazon.com : Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna Car Seat + Recline Base - Compatible with Bugaboo Fox, Lynx, Donkey Bee and Ant Strollers - Fits Infants 4 to 32 Pounds - Lightweight Car Seat - Grey Melange : Baby
2.Cybex Aton M Sensor Safe Car Seat. The great thing about this one is it has baseless installation, making it very travel friendly… It can easily be installed in Uber’s, Taxi’s, Friend’s cars, etc. It also offers an removable infant insert so your baby can recline to an almost flat position for napping and changing. Although considered lightweight, it does weigh over 10 lbs. Although I could not find it on Amazon, it can be found at Nordstrom or Macys for $400. The Aton G can be found at Amazon for $249 and is also highly rated. Cybex Aton M with Sensorsafe - Macy's (macys.com)
3. Doona+ Car Seat Stroller Bundle. Often voted best of the car seat/stroller combo, this beauty easily converts from car seat to stroller and back with a click or two, with baby still in it. The only downside is it does weigh about 16.5 lbs, so a little cumbersome to carry when needed, and the price can be a bit offputting at around $550. Amazon.com : Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base - Rear Facing, Car Seat to Stroller in Seconds - US Version, Nitro Black : Baby
4. Chicco KeyFit35 Infant Car Seat. This seat consistently ranks high in overall satisfaction when it comes to baby car seats. It’s easy to install and is compatible with variable Chicco strollers, and works well with infants up to 35 lbs (as opposed to many other infant car seats). The biggest and often only noted downside is the weight, at just over 10 lbs. It’s easy to find for around $240.Amazon.com: Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat and Base, Rear-Facing Seat for Infants 4-35 lbs, Includes Infant Head and Body Support, Compatible with Chicco Strollers, Baby Travel Gear | Onyx/Black : Baby
5. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Lite infant Car Seat. This lightweight (7 1/2 lb) versatile infant car seat also offers a safe ride for infants up to 35 lbs, has four reclining positions AND can be installed with or without a base for ease of Ubering, etc. The best part is it’s affordable price at around $230. Just bear in mind you Graco has various bases for their carseats, so be sure to buy the proper one to fit your model. Sold on Amazon at Amazon.com : GRACO SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat (LX/TrueShield, Ion) : Baby
