Safest Infant Car Seat 2018
As you might have already decided to purchase a new infant car seat for your baby, we are not going to cover topics on why you need to buy one. After all, it’s mandatory.
In fact, we are only going to talk about best brands and what features you should not ignore. Almost all infant car seat brands in the market today adhere to safety regulations laid down by the government.
However, only a few companies provide much better features intended to make your baby feel comfy. They also provide enhanced safety and security measures most needed in case of an accident. These are the very brands we will be covering in this review.
Best Infant Car Seats 2017
Model | Weight Supported | Height | Car Seat Weight (without base) | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4 lbs to 30 lbs | 30 inches | 9 lbs | $$$ | |
 | 4 lbs to 35 lbs | 32 inches | 10 lbs | $$$ | |
 | 4 lbs to 35 lbs | 32 inches | 7 lbs | $$$ | |
 | 4 lbs to 35 lbs | 32 inches | 9.8 lbs | $$$ | |
 | 5 lbs to 30 lbs | 32 inches | 13.5 lbs | $$$ | |
 | 4 lbs to 35 lbs | 30 inches | 7.5 lbs | $$ | |
 | 5 lbs to 30 lbs | 30 inches | 10 lbs | $$ | |
 | 4 lbs to 35 lbs | 32 inches | 11.2 lbs | $$$ |
Wondering what makes Chicco Keyfit 30 the most preferred car seat? Easy and simple installation process when compared to all other car seats in the market. The base easily attaches to the car seat either by latch system or car seat belt system.
Chicco Keyfit 30 weight is mere 14 lbs approx., including 5 lbs base weight while seat weighs just 9 lbs making it very easy to carry.
Fabric type: Soft-touch fabric makes your baby comfortable. Comes with multiple straps and a single crotch buckle. Straps do not need rethreading.
Infant insert of Chicco Keyfit 30 supports small infants from 4 lbs to 11 lbs
Side impact protection is the key takeaway of Peg Perego Primo, it adjusts to 6 different positions and two stage cushion system provides maximum security to head and shoulders.
The Right Tight System allows easy locking of the base to car seat either by latch or seat belt. 5 point harness for height adjustability requires no rethreading of straps. Material quality is extra-ordinary with plush and soft fabric that makes your baby comfortable every time.
In the event of collision, the built-in anti-rebound bar provides maximum protection along with the safety from two stage cushion system for head and shoulders.
Graco SnugRide 35, rear-facing car seat is the best on performance yet most inexpensive one. Not as plush or stylish like most other costly brands but includes all their features and meets all safety and security standards.
Connects to car seat via both hook type latch as well as seat belt and employs easy to read level indicator for hassle-free installation. Does not require rethreading. Lightest of all the infant car seats available in the market, making it very easy and comfortable to carry everywhere.
Graco Snugride has been the favourite for over a decade now and sells in great numbers
Britax B Safe is known for extra-ordinary security features that are well above the standards required by federal safety regulations.
High quality sturdy steel frame plus impact absorbing base foam provide utmost protection to your child in the event of a collision. While Britax B Safe weight is 9.8 lbs without the base, it supports babies weighing between 4 lbs to 35 lbs and up to 32 inches tall.
Britax B Safe and Elite versions both connect to the car seat by latch system as well as through seat belt. Comes with additional infant insert for holding very young babies of 4 lbs. Infant insert along with the extra head padding are removable at any time as your baby grows. Britax B Safe 35 Elite includes adjustable head protection and adjustable straps that do not required rethreading.
Maxi Cosi Mico is a premium infant car seat that includes most advanced features not to be found in above discussed car seats.
Embedded with air protection safety system along with anti-rebound bar provide maximum protection in event of collision. Cozi-Dozi infant insert provides extra head and neck support required for very young infants of 4 lbs.
The unique design allows removing the seat pad without unthreading the harness. The fabric is made from premium durable material and hence is machine washable. Flip out visor along with extendable canopy provides maximum protection to your baby from UV rays.
Evenflo Embrace LX is “nationally recognised” and chosen by safety advocates as the best infant car seat for low weight babies. It is a rear-only facing car seat designed for babies weighing between 4 lbs to 30 lbs and up to 30 inches height.
5 point harness system including 3 shoulder height adjustments and 2 slots for crotch buckle. Adjustable base recline to suit your babies height.
Very similar to Maxi Cosi Mico 30, Evenflo Embrace also has removable and machine washable seat pad along with removable head pillow. The base is auto-adjustable that is also designed to work as stay-in-car base model. Comfortably fits in Evenflo strollers but for other strollers you might need adapters.
Budget friendly, includes all requisite features and best fit for even small cars. It supports 5 lbs to 30 lbs babies with height limit up to 30 inches. Weighing just 10 lbs, it is even easy to carry around.
It is also known for easy installation, in fact, very easy installation process with a flexible latch system that easily connects to the car seat.
The carry handle comes with a triangular holding that is rubberised, allowing you to hold it in multiple ways.
Compatible with Baby Trend strollers but to it on other strollers, you need to have seat adapters.
The energy absorbing EPS foam is the key takeaway as it protects from high impact side crashes. It has successfully cleared all requisite federal test crash requirements.
UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat boasts of industry first SmartSecure™ System. It provides an easy and secure way of connecting the base to the seat. During installation process, the latch connectors’ auto-retract while the visual indicator turns green from red upon proper installation thus removing the annoying guess work.
It is rear-facing car seat that is designed to support babies weighing 4 lbs to 35 lbs and height adjustability is up to 32 inches. While the seat weighs around 11.2 lbs, the base weighs additional 10 lbs.
It is compatible with both Cruz and Vista brands strollers but needs adapters to fit in other stroller brands in the market.
Conclusion
Most other reviewers highlight one or two brands and try hard to influence and make you buy one. However, here I am strictly not going to drive you to buy any one particular brand.
I will give you my reason as well. Most importantly, you are buying a product for your young and tender baby and it’s most important to select one that is high on safety plus comfort. And as there is a safety clause which is of utmost priority, I will leave the judgement to you to decide what best fits your requirement and what makes your baby comfortable on a long or short drive.