If there is one baby gear that you MUST have, it is the baby car seat. Infant car seats, in particular, are specifically designed for newborns to ensure baby is well tucked in and secured in the right position, giving the assurance that they are safe and comfortable.
Unlike a convertible car seat where baby has to be removed from the seat every time, infant car seats can be popped out of the base and into a stroller to make for a travel system (or carry as a carrier) due to their lighter and smaller nature. Many parents consider this a huge convenience, hence the continuous high demand for infant car seats.
Figuring out which is the best for your little one can feel like a gigantic task though. After all, every model seems to claim themselves to be the best infant car seats. Fret not, this guide will help you navigate the process. Read on to find which is the best infant car seat for your little one – we promise there is a huge range of budgets and styles to choose from.
What is the best infant car seat for most families? Our top pick is the Chicco KeyFit 35 – it has everything you’d expect a top-notch infant car seat to have, all at a reasonable price point. For those with a smaller budget, the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX is an excellent choice for the best value of money while the Clek Liing is the absolute go-to if you’re looking for the best infant car seat for small cars.
The Best Infant Car Seats – A Quick Summary
Read This First
Before we start, here are a few things you should know about infant car seats:
- They are meant for newborns/younger babies only (toddlers have their own convertible car seats).
- Infant car seats always only face the rear of a vehicle.
- They can be used from day one until baby reaches the seat’s height or weight recommendation – up to 32 inches or 30-35 pounds generally.
- Most infant car seats attach to a base which is installed in your car – the seat clicks in and out only for easy portability. There are some which can be used without, in which case the seat belt is used to keep it in place instead.
- A newborn requires a semi-reclined position – anywhere between a 40-to-45-degree angle – when travelling in a car seat so a good car seat will offer multiple recline positions for an adequate installation.
- All infant car seats sold in the US must pass the same federal safety standards.
In this article:
Our Top 8 Best Infant Car Seats Reviews
BEST INFANT CAR SEAT OVERALL
Dimensions: 28 x 16.5 x 22.5 inches
Weight: 10 pounds – Carrier / 8.5 pounds – Base
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Easy to install
- Machine-washable seat pad
- LATCH compatible
- No-rethread harness
- 5 reclining positions
- Extendable headrest
- Anti-rebound bar adds stability and extends legroom
- UPF 50+ canopy with zip-open mesh panel
- Travel system compatible
- Heavier than other models
Why We Love It
It takes a lot to be voted the Best Infant Car Seat but the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat is every bit deserving with its outstanding ease of use and excellent safety features all-around.
An upgrade of the ever-popular KeyFit 30, it is able to accommodate baby even longer so you can get more use out of it. Aiding to that is an extendable headrest system and a no-rethread harness for easy adjustments, which make it the best Chicco infant car seat to date.
LATCH compatible, the base is super easy to install with just one tightener in the middle to pull it securely in place. There are two bubble level-indicators to confirm it has nailed the correct recline angle, and the car seat gives out a trusty “click” sound when it is properly inserted into the base.
The anti-rebound bar gives extra stability and more leg room for baby and there is a removable ergonomic newborn positioner to cater to smaller babies. If you get the version that comes with a ‘Zip Privacy Shield’, you don’t have to buy a car seat cover separately – the shield zips up all the way to give full coverage, with mesh sides are mesh panels to ensure adequate ventilation.
Things To Take Note Of
The KeyFit 35 is on the heavy side so that decreases its portability a little compared to other models. Also, it is only compatible with Chicco strollers so there’s some limitations there for parents who’d like to use their infant car seat as part of a travel system, but prefer a stroller from a different brand.
And while you can install it without the base, doing so is rather tricky so we wouldn’t say it makes for the best infant car seat for travel (ride-share, air travel etc.).
VERDICT: If you don’t have any specific or particular requirements (e.g. car size restrictions, air travel purposes etc.), the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat will be your best bet in terms of securing that best infant car seat.
BEST AFFORDABLE INFANT CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 25.5 x 17.2 x 21.25 inches
Weight: 7.2 pounds – Carrier
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Easy to install
- Affordable
- Anti-rebound bar
- 360-degree extra impact protection
- Headrest and harness can be adjusted together
- Travel system compatible
- Heavier than other models
Why We Love It
No infant car seat reviews will be complete without a Graco feature. One of the best infant car seat brand options in the industry, its SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat is easily the best Graco infant car seat out of all models, as voted by parents across the world and our Mommy Tea Room team.
The unbeatable price tag is certainly one of its biggest selling points but the SnugRide 35 is pretty solid in all other aspects. For one, the base offers 4 adjustable positions with level indicator and the LATCH-compatible seat gives a resounding “click” to ensure an accurate installation. Models that offer this usually come at a higher price tag, so we’re pleasantly surprised with this discovery.
Another feature that stood out to us is that the headrest and harness can be adjusted together while baby is in the seat, which makes getting the right fit much less of a struggle than other car seats. It comes with a two-piece infant head and body support which is great if you’re bringing home a preemie or a smaller baby, and there is 360-degree extra protection built in to absorb impact in the event of a crash (as well as an anti-rebound bar).
Things To Take Note Of
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT INFANT CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 28.5 x 19 x 24 inches
Weight: 8.17 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Super lightweight
- 4 reclining positions
- Very affordable
- Full coverage canopy
- Ergonomic handle
- Not stroller compatible
Why We Love It
For parents looking for a lightweight infant car seat that will make carrying easy and effortless, the Evenflo LiteMax Infant Car Seat is the perfect choice for you. At this price, it comes with a 4-reclining-position base so you don’t need to buy one separately, which is why it is also regarded as one of the best affordable infant car seat options.
Its installation is quite different from what we’ve described so far with a one-step vehicle belt lock-off that is pretty straightforward and easy to do. The seat has an ergonomic handle for you to carry it in the bend of the arm, in fact, it is easily the best infant carrier car seat to carry and we particularly like how the seat has buckle pockets that keep buckle tongues neatly tucked away for easier loading and unloading.
The entire unit has been tested at twice the federal crash test standard so you can be sure safety is not compromised by the affordable price point. Other features include a full-coverage canopy, machine-washable pads for easier clean-ups, and removable head and body pillows for smaller babies.
Things To Take Note Of
BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR SMALL CARS
Dimensions: 26 x 17 x 26 inches
Weight: 9 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Space-saving design (3-across seating possible)
- Lightweight and LATCH compatible
- Up to 15 degrees of adjustable recline (adjustable after installation)
- 7 recline positions
- Energy-absorbing metal load leg reduces crash forces by up to 40%
- Compatible with most stroller brands (Click & Go)
- One-handed quick release
- Aircraft approved
- Manufactured in Canada
- Pricier than other models
Why We Love It
Weight is not the only determining aspect when it comes to infant car seats – size matters, too. Engineered to take up the least front-to-back room in its class, the slim profile of the Clek Liing Infant Car Seat lets passengers in the front enjoy extra leg room and the < 17 inches width makes 3-across seating possible.
Boasting to be the best safety rated infant car seat, there are up to 7 recline positions to ensure baby is in the proper angle – a bubble indicator will show EXACTLY where baby needs to be – with the recline being adjustable while the base is installed. The two-piece energy-absorbing shell is lined with EPP foam to provide maximum side-impact protection, and the 13-position metal load leg increases stability to significantly reduce risk of injury up to 40% in the event of a collision.
All these, together with the included newborn body support system make it the best car seat for infant who is born premature in our opinion. Aircraft approved for air travelling, it is compatible with most top stroller brands with a Click & Go mechanism that works with the base too without which it can be securely installed with a European belt path. It otherwise uses the LATCH system for an easy installation.
Things To Take Note Of
BEST INFANT CAR SEAT STROLLER COMBO
Dimensions: 39 x 17.3 x 32.2 inches
Weight: 16.5 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Car seat to stroller in seconds
- Adjustable handlebar that doubles up as anti-rebound bar
- 3-layer side impact protection
- Washable car seat
- LATCH base
- FAA Aircraft Approved
- Expensive and heavier than other infant car seats
Why We Love It
Usually, one has to wait until baby is at least 3 to 6 months old before they can use a baby stroller because baby is not strong enough to support themselves yet. For newborns, your best bet is to use an infant car seat-compatible stroller if you’d like to push baby around, but you’d still need two gears: a car seat, and a stroller. That is, until the Doona is invented.
Being the very FIRST car seat to stroller combo on the market, you can transform it from a car seat to stroller in seconds without any attachments. Tuck the wheels in and it sits in the backseat of your car, spring them out and you have your stroller – just one piece of gear to manage, and it can all be seamlessly done with baby inside the carrier.
The adjustable handlebar is cleverly designed to double up as an anti-rebound bar to give extra security in addition to the 3-layer side impact protection, and the seat can be installed with or without a base making it a great option for travel. Speaking of which, it is FAA Aircraft Approved for air travel (one of our top best travel stroller for flying picks) so you can even bring it to your overseas travel (get the Travel Bag for a seamless experience).
Things To Take Note Of
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the Doona is more expensive than other competitors, after all, it truly is one of its kind. Some may find the price unjustifiable given they will still need to get a second stroller when baby outgrows it, and the shorter stature makes it a little difficult for taller parents to manoeuvre.
Still, the convenience of having a car seat that transform into a stroller makes it a majority’s favourite.
BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR AIRPLANE
Dimensions: 31 x 18 x 18 inches
Weight: 19.7 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 3 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Infant car seat stroller combo
- Detachable wheels for a lighter infant carrier
- Smaller minimum weight – accommodates preemies and smaller babies better
- Easy to install
- Anti-rebound bar
- Integrated SensorSafe technology
- Removable carry bag and cup holder included
- Heavier than the Doona
Why We Love It
Being one of just two car seat/stroller combos on the market, the Evenflo Shyft DualRide Infant Car Seat and Stroller Combo is another strong competitor in the “best infant car seat with stroller” department.
The wheels on this car seat stroller combo are detachable and can be left in the base so it is lighter to use as a standard car seat carrier. This isn’t an option with the Doona, incidentally, it eliminates the problem of the wheels getting in the way when securing it in car seat mode.
Another distinguishing aspect is that it can fit babies as small as three pounds which makes it the best car seat for infant that are born premature, or smaller babies. To date, it is probably the only infant car seat that has such minimum weight capacity. The SensorSafe technology is another niche where parents will be alerted of outliers such as unexpected chest clip unbuckling, unsafe temperature in the car, baby is seated too long, and child unattended in the car.
Aircraft-approved for travel as well, we think the Shyft makes for a better, if not the best infant car seat for airplane travel compared to the Doona due to it using a no-rethread harness that makes it easier to raise and lower the straps. It comes with a carryall storage bag too which makes it easier to navigate the airport, aside from giving a little more value for money.
Things To Take Note Of
EASIEST-TO-INSTALL INFANT CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 27.5 x 16.95 x 24 inches
Weight: 9.9 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Easy to install and clean
- Improved safety and comfort from old version
- No-rethread five-point harness
- Greenguard Gold Certified
- Travel system compatible
- Slightly more expensive than other options
Why We Love It
While most of the car seats we recommend above are generally pretty straightforward to install, nothing beats UPPAbaby’s Mesa V2 Infant Car Seat in the ease-to-install department.
Its SMARTSecure system combines auto-retracting LATCH connectors and a visual indicator that turns from red to green to give a secure installation literally in seconds – even the most anxious parents will feel confident that they have gotten the installation right. All guesswork is eliminated and there is no need to tug or pull at the straps like with many other seats. Like the Clek Liing, it also uses the European routing for a base-less installation.
This new version has a few improvements that we really like: an increased headrest size for greater head containment (to improve side impact protection), a 4th anti-rebound handle position for increased safety in rebound and rear-impact collisions, 20% larger UPF canopy for extra sun protection, and a one-crotch buckle position for adjustment-simplicity.
For naturally-minded parents, you’ll be happy to know that the Mesa V2 is made with fabric that is free from fire retardant chemicals and is Greenguard Gold Certified to support healthier air quality and low chemical emissions. Not just that, the premium quality and easy-to-remove design also makes it one of the easiest to clean.
Things To Take Note Of
VERDICT: This car seat will be a particularly good choice if you plan to get an UPPAbaby stroller and use it as part of a travel system – it is compatible with both Vista and Cruz models (which are amongst the best baby strollers) without any additional adapters.
BEST INFANT CAR SEAT THAT WORKS WITHOUT A BASE
Dimensions: 28 x 18 x 18 inches
Weight: 23.2 pounds
Child weight/height limit: 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Thread for rideshare belts
- RAPIDLOCK base installs in seconds
- LATCH compatible
- Premium fabric with black perforated leatherette handle
- One-hand adjustable headrest
- No-rethread harness
- Adapters not included
Why We Love It
For those who mostly use their infant car seat on rideshares (taxi, Uber and the likes), we found you the Baby Jogger City GO 2 Infant Car Seat. This one here a taxi-safe belt path that eliminates the need for a car seat base altogether, letting you hop into a taxi with your car seat without worry.
The other installation method is via the RAPIDLOCK Base which installs in seconds using a belt-tensioning technology (LATCH compatible also), and the base has 4 positions to adjust to ensure a level installation. In both cases, the SecureStop anti-rebound bar gives another layer of safety assurance and the one-handed adjustable headrest and no-rethread harness add to the convenience of it all.
For those of you enthusiastic joggers, the City GO 2 easily click in to your Baby Jogger stroller to create a travel stroller that you can stroll with baby from day 1. Remember, you should refrain from running with a newborn until they grow older.
Things To Take Note Of
How We Chose Our Best Infant Car Seats (and the things you should look for)
All car seats sold in the US market are inherently safe, after all, they must adhere to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety standards or else they won’t be approved for sale. Therefore, expensive or cheap, know that price is not a factor that will jeopardize a model’s safety levels.
That being said, it doesn’t mean all infant car seats are the same. They still come in a wide range of prices with the expensive ones giving more cushioning, using more premium materials and enabling an easier installation etc. compared to the more affordable options.
The following are the criteria we based our reviews on when we shortlist, evaluate and eventually select our top best infant car seats:
1. Ease of Installation
2. Size and Weight
3. Weight and Height Limits
4. Price
5. Travel System Compatibility
Some Safety Features (and Terms) That You Should Know
There can be quite the long list of intimidating terminology you come across when shopping for the best infant car seat, especially those surrounding safety features. Here are some of the most common ones, if they’re all still a blur to you:
1. LATCH
2. Anti-rebound bar
3. European belt path vs American belt path
4. No-rethread harness
Other FAQs
We’ve briefly touched on this at the beginning of this article but if you’re still confused, here are some of the major differences that distinguish the two:
- Infant car seats: they are rear-facing only and have a lower weight limit (usually up till 35 pounds and 32 inches). They certainly won’t last as long as convertible car seats, but they win in the portability department. Parents can carry it by the handle or use it as a travel system by clipping it into a stroller to move baby from one spot to another without removing baby from it.
- Convertible car seats: can be both rear and forward-facing – a newborn can use it until they are eligible for the forward-facing position so that certainly gives better value for money, as it can last you till the preschool years (or even longer). Cost-efficiency is certainly one of their top appeals but they won’t give the same portability, and you won’t be able to use it as part of a travel system.
This depends on two things:
(1) the maximum weight or height requirements of the specific make and model of your car seat, and
(2) how quickly your baby reaches these requirements.
Most infant car seats have a height limit between 30 and 35 inches and a weight limit between 30 and 35 pounds but do check your car seat’s manual to be sure. When baby reaches either milestone i.e. if they’ve reached the height limit but is still under the weight limit or vice versa, you should stop using the infant car seat. Most babies outgrow it around one year of age or so.
- Easier and a more straightforward installation. You can just quickly click it into the backseat and off you go unlike convertible car seats which need to be uninstalled and reinstalled every time you remove it from the car. The heavier and bulkier design don’t help to that too, but do make sure you purchase the car seat base (if it doesn’t already come with one) if you want to enjoy said convenience.
- On the same note, it is easier to transfer a sleeping baby from car to stroller (and vice versa) using an infant car seat that is compatible to the stroller – or you can create your own travel system using adapters.
Speaking of transferring a sleeping baby, it is generally not advisable for babies to sleep in a position other than a firm, flat surface (such as their crib/bassinet). The infant car seat falls out of that scope so it is generally considered an unsafe place for babies to sleep in (especially for long stretches) because they may slump down and end up in a chin-to-chest position that could potentially cause suffocation.
But do not panic, it’s natural that babies fall asleep in their car seats. Have another rider sit next to baby to ensure they do not fall into said chin-to-chest position and just move them to a crib when you’ve reached your destination.
Most of you may not know this but all car seats are marked with an expiration date. This is generally between 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture so do take note of the expiration if you plan to use your seat for multiple children, and never use a car seat that has previously been in an accident. And that brings us to our next point.
