The Best Infant Car Seats for Your Precious Cargo
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A car seat is a new baby essential, so you want something safe, secure, comfortable, and easy to install. Infant car seats are all meant to be used rear-facing. They provide support for your baby’s delicate head, neck, spinal cord, and cute little body. Most infant seats come with a base that the carrier can easily be clicked in and out of, allowing you to carry your baby in the car seat or to clip the carrier into a stroller.
No one seat is perfect for everybody, the right one will fit your car, child, lifestyle, and budget. We carefully considered age, height, and weight recommendations, design, material, ease of installation and cleaning, value, and safety when reviewing products.
Here are the best infant car seats to keep your baby safe on the road.
Best Overall: Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat
With a two-stage base that converts from infant to toddler position, it's easier for kids to stay rear-facing for longer.
Pros
Fit preemies and toddlers
7-position headrest
Cons
Seatbelt use only if not using base
We named the Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat our top pick thanks to smart functionality and longevity that allows your baby to be seated safely from day one. It fits both preemies and toddlers, and the base has an anti-rebound bar and well-designed seat belt locking device. The infant seat features a seven-position headrest and padded harness as well as a removable head and body support for newborns and smaller infants.
This seat works well for families who will be taking taxis and rental cars, as the carrier features a European belt path, which allows for the safe installation without a base in almost any car in any country. The two-stage base of the car seat converts from infant to toddler position, making it easier for kids to stay rear-facing for the first two years—good news.
The two-stage base also offers kids over 9 months old the option of sitting much more upright, or continuing to ride reclined as they have been, all with the flip of a lever on the base. The Fit2 is compatible with most Chicco strollers and can be used with adapters on many other stroller brands. The seat accommodates kids longer than many other infant seats in the United States—safely seating kids up to 35 inches tall and 4 to 35 pounds. This car seat would be a great addition to your baby registry.
Price at time of publication: $330
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 11 pounds (without base) | Weight Range: 4 to 35 pounds | Dimensions: 28 x 17 x 16 inches
Best for Small Cars: Clek Liing Infant Car Seat
The European belt path on the carrier is believed to be safer than the American belt path found on many other infant seats.
Pros
Takes up less space
3-position adjustable canopy
Cons
Costly
Recommended by both safety experts and parents, when this car seat is installed with the rigid LATCH and load leg features, its crash test ratings are nothing less than stellar. Features on the seat include a five-point adjustable harness with harness straps that don’t twist, a seat belt tensioning and locking device on the base, indicators to show when the belt is tensioned properly and the carrier is locked into the base, a great fit for preemies, and a load leg on the base.
The carrier offers a European belt path, which some people believe could be safer than the American belt path found on many other infant seats. With the European belt path, the vehicle’s shoulder belt wraps around the back of the carrier for added protection.
Measuring 27.7 x 16.9 x 26.8 inches, Clek Liing takes up less space front to back than other seats, which allows it to safely be placed behind driver or passenger seats (even with tall parents) or fit in smaller cars. Liing is narrow on the outside and roomy on the inside—making it a great option when trying to fit multiple car seats in the back seat. Weighing in at 9 pounds (without the base), the Liing is compatible with many major stroller brands and offers a one-hand release from the Maxi Cosi stroller adapters, making it easy to move from the car to the stroller (and back again).
What the Experts Say: "When searching for an infant car seat, expectant parents should look for ease of use features—like a base that installs with rigid LATCH, and a carrier with harness straps that pull smoothly and don’t twist—as they’ll make baby safer since you’re more likely to use the seat properly each time," says Dr. Alisa Baer, Pediatrician and Co-Founder of The Car Seat Lady.
The car seat offers up to seven recline positions, features a three-position adjustable canopy with SPF 100+ protection, a mesh peekaboo window for airflow and visibility into the car seat, and safely seats kids from 4 up to 35 pounds. It comes with a three-year warranty.
Price at time of publication: $500
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 9 pounds (without base) | Weight Range: 4 to 35 pounds | Dimensions: 27.7 x 16.9 x 26.8 inches
Best Budget: Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat
These three models in the series are well-rated in crash tests and provide a lot of versatility and features.
Pros
Budget-friendly
Compatible with several strollers
Cons
Platinum has a no-rethread harness
This budget-friendly infant seat series (these three models only) are well-rated in crash tests and provide a lot of versatility and features—like the SnugLock seat belt tensioning and locking device, a European belt path, an adjustable base with four recline positions, a rotating canopy with window and visor, and more, all at a budget-conscious cost. The DLX and Elite carriers both have a rethread harness, while the Platinum has a no-rethread harness, so it allows the crotch buckle to be j-looped, better fitting preemies and smaller newborns.
Taking up less space front to back than many other infant seats, these Snuglock models can often be installed behind tall drivers and can work well for putting three car seats across in the back seat. Compatible with most Graco and Baby Jogger strollers (or other stroller systems with an adapter), the Platinum carrier weighs 9 pounds (without the base), so it's lightweight enough for parents who plan to tote it around.
All three models safely fit infants from 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches tall.
Price at time of publication: $225
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 9-10.5 pounds | Weight Range: 4 to 35 pounds | Dimensions: 29.09 x 18.31 x 16.22 inches (Elite), 18.07 x 16.02 x 27.72 inches (DLX), 28.5 x 17.75] x 15.59 inches (Platinum)
Best Budget Runner-Up: Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat with Base
Compatible with almost all Chicco strollers, the seat also works with an adapter for other stroller brands.
Pros
Affordable
Easy installation
Cons
Lower weight/height recommendation
This stylish seat provides good value for the price. Appropriate for babies from 4 up to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches tall, it's a top performer in crash test ratings. Parents find the LATCH system easy to install, and a bubble indicator on both sides of the base provides a quick way to double-check if it’s reclined properly.
While the LATCH installation is notably easy, the seat belt installation is also easier than that of many infant car seats. Without the base, the seat is much harder to install, so it's best suited for parents who plan to use it regularly in a single car.
The Chicco KeyFit seat features a five-point harness with a one-pull tightener system, a carrier shell lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved impact protection, an easy-to-install American belt path, a removable canopy, and a removable head and body support for newborns.
Dr. Baer advises parents to be extra cautious when opting for an American belt path over a European one. "While easy to install, keep in mind that the American belt path doesn’t yield a tight installation in many cars—where a European belt path is much more likely to be secure," she said.
The seat’s padding is quite thick and plush, but the actual fabric is a bit coarse and can make some kids overly sweaty. Compatible with almost all Chicco strollers, the seat also works with an adapter for other stroller brands.
Price at time of publication: $230
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 16.6 pounds | Weight Range: 4 to 30 pounds | Dimensions: 27.50 x 16.75 x 24 inches
Full Review:I Tested Out the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Most Innovative: Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
This innovative infant car seat turns from a car seat to a stroller with one simple motion in a matter of seconds.
Pros
Car seat/stroller combo
3-layer side impact protection
Cons
Costly
This innovative infant car seat turns from a car seat into a stroller with one simple motion in a matter of seconds. Fitting most kids until around their second birthday, this unique hybrid seat is truly one of a kind but should only be considered for certain families.
According to Dr. Baer, because the Doona has lower crash test ratings when used with the base than other infant seats, it is recommended to install the carrier without the base using the European belt path, which is safer and maximizes the protection the seat has to offer.
For families using taxis or barely spending time in a car, this innovative choice provides a lot of flexibility. The car seat features a five-point harness, adjustable handlebar, three-layer side impact protection, removable and washable fabric, and fits babies from 4 up to 35 pounds. It weighs 16.5 pounds (without the base), so parents should keep in mind that it's on the heavier side.
Price at time of publication: $550
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 16.5 pounds (without base) | Weight Range: 4 to 35 pounds | Dimensions: 23.6 x 17.3 x 26 inches (folded)
Full Review:Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller Review
Related:The 11 Best Car Seat and Stroller Travel Systems of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Best for Parents Who Do Not Own a Car: Clek 2020 Liingo Infant Car Seat
Parents who do not own a car can purchase the Liingo carrier for safe on-the-go travel without spending money on a base.
Pros
Compatible with many major stroller brands
Lightweight
Cons
Base must be purchased separately if you need one
The Liingo is the Clek Liing carrier sold without the base. Parents who do not own a car and prefer getting around with taxis or other means of transportation will rarely, if ever, end up using a base. So instead of wasting money and space on a base they don’t need, Liingo is the perfect option.
Liingo is the same carrier as Liing. It has the same great fit for preemies, same straps that pull smoothly and don’t twist, and same European belt path for a secure installation in almost any car in any country. Liingo comes with a lower anchor strap (due to a government rule), but it’s recommended that parents remove it (it’ll make the carrier lighter) and install the seat with the seat belt using the European belt path—an easy way to make baby safest.
If your plans change and you end up getting a car or want a base for whatever reason, you can always buy a Liing base to use with Liingo. Weighing in at 9 pounds, Liingo is compatible with many major stroller brands and offers a one-hand release from the Maxi Cosi stroller adapters. The Liingo car seat will hold babies from 4 up to 35 pounds, or up to 32 inches tall.
Price at time of publication: $280
Key Specs:
Product Weight: 9 pounds | Weight Range: 4 to 35 pounds | Dimensions: 27.7 x 16.9 x 26.8 inches
Related:The 8 Best Convertible Car Seats of 2023
The Chicco Fit2 (view at Amazon), which earned our Best Overall pick, can grow with your child from infancy to toddler years. The seat accommodates kids longer than many other infant seats in the United States—safely seating kids up to 35 inches tall and 4 to 35 pounds. There’s also the Doona Infant Car Seat (view at Amazon) that doubles as a stroller. While it is costly, it features a five-point harness, adjustable handlebar, three-layer side impact protection, removable and washable fabric, and fits babies from 4 up to 35 pounds.
What to Look for in an Infant Car Seat
Safety
All seats must meet the same United States federal safety standards and include the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, which is a way to install a car seat without using the vehicle’s seat belt. LATCH is typically just on the base of the infant car seat.
The key is making sure the car seat is installed safely. One study found that 9 out of 10 infant car seats are not installed correctly. Consider how easy the car seat it to install as it’s imperative that a car seat is installed correctly to keep your baby safe. If you want to use your infant car seat in a taxi or friend’s car, you'll have to install the carrier without the base (which is possible for almost all infant seats) and use the vehicle's seat belt to fasten.
At home, fully reading the car seat manual and vehicle manual is a great source of help. For outside assistance, get a local Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to teach you how to safely install your car seat. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or other local resources to make an appointment for installation.
Size
To choose the right size car seat, you need to consider not only how big your child is but also how big your car is and how many other car seats you need to fit in the car. Some car seats are much bulkier than others and are not allowed to touch another car seat installed in the same backseat. You’ll want to read up on the car seat and your vehicle’s manufacturers’ recommendations.
Also, consider the weight of the car seat if it’s one you’ll travel with or frequently move between vehicles. If you’re often on the go, you’ll want something lightweight that’s easy to install.
Versatility
Some infant car seats are made to work with other baby gear, such as strollers and joggers, while others are meant solely for use in the car. If you travel frequently, you’ll want to select one that meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards for air travel or consider a car seat that fits into a stroller as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I use an infant car seat?
How long you’ll be able to use an infant car seat all depends on your child’s weight and height and what the manufacturer allows. You’ll want to read the car seat’s guidelines to ensure your child can safely ride in the car seat. All children grow at different paces, so it's possible your child will outgrow it quickly or be able to use the seat for a longer period of time.
Typically, most infant car seats can support babies from 4 to 35 pounds and up to around 32 inches tall. Some brands will allow more room for height, but that’s a general recommendation. Check what your infant car seat’s protocols are to get a definitive answer.
When can I switch from an infant seat to convertible car seat?
If you have not yet bought an infant car seat, you may not actually need to buy one. Many convertible car seats are safe to use immediately after baby is born unless they don’t meet the seat’s weight requirements. Whether you want to use an infant car seat is solely up to you.
Infant car seats typically can last a child up to a year old or maybe further, but after that age, they’ll need a convertible seat as they’ll outgrow the weight and height limits. You don’t have to switch your child from an infant seat until they’ve reached those limits. However, many parents and caregivers find babies enjoy a larger seat once they’re more mobile.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She's also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year-old daughter. She's gone through her fair share of car seats, and right now all three kids sit in different types of seats.
