The Best Infant Car Seats

Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat

Enjoy the Ride

This infant car seat is a perfect fit for cars and strollers alike.

Best Overall

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This excellent car seat from Chicco not only has you covered in the safety department, but it’s also spacious, comfortable, and easy to install, reducing travel-time stress for baby and parent alike. Built-in level indicators ensure you can achieve the proper positioning for the most secure installation, while premium latches, an integrated stabilizer bar, and Chicco’s SuperCinch tightener make sure your baby is safe and secure. There’s also no need to worry about your child outgrowing this gadget anytime soon, as the seat adjusts to accommodate toddlers up to 24 months. As a bonus, this seat can pop out of your car and snap right into most Chicco strollers to create a cohesive travel system.

Pros:

• Compatible with most Chicco strollers
• Adjustable for infants up to 24 months old
• Simple to install
• Cleans easily with nothing more than soap and water

Cons:

• Although the seat is adjustable for toddlers up to 24 months, it can still feel somewhat small or cramped
• Stitching isn’t of the highest quality

Britax Infant Car Seat With Reclinable Base

Lighten Your Load

Taking your sleeping baby in and out of the car will be a breeze with this lightweight option.

Most Lightweight

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Light in weight but strong in safety, this is one car seat that knows how to keep your child safe while alleviating some of that parental anxiety. With a layer of side impact protection, steel frame, and collision absorbing base, Britax puts the welfare of your child front and center. Adding to the appeal is that this seat can accommodate children up to 35 lbs, and it’s compatible with Britax strollers if you plan to create a complete travel system for your family.

Pros:

• Side impact protection, steel frame, and collision absorbing base
• Easy to install
• Snaps into Britax strollers
• Holds children up to 35 lbs

Cons:

• Harnesses run large

Graco SnugRide Baby Car Seat

Safety and Comfort

With four adjustable positions, this seat ensures your child will be in for an easy ride.

Best Value

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Graco makes the hard part easy with this seat that can be installed in less than one minute. After that, rest assured that your littlest loved one is in safe hands. The base features four reclining angles and an easy-to-read leveling system to ensure safe installation. Graco is even looking out for their skin, as this seat comes equipped with a built-in canopy to shield them from hazardous UV rays. In addition, this carrier features newborn head and body support for when the road gets a little bumpy.

Pros:

• Built-in rotating canopy
• Installs in one minute or less
• Newborn head and body support
• Adapts to matching Graco Click Connect strollers

Cons:

• Rotating canopy doesn’t cover entire opening of seat
• The handle has a tendency to jam

Maxi-Cosi Convertible Car Seat

Grows With Your Child

Add a little vibrancy to your child’s life with this standout car seat.

Longest Lasting

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Available in five different colors, this car seat stands out amongst the competition. Adding to the charm is that it can fit children up to 10 years of age or 120 lbs, making it stand out among the car seat crowd. Plus, with a headrest that can adjust to 14 different positions, it’s got a configuration to keep virtually any infant comfortable so you can keep your eyes on the road. Also taking this seat up a notch is the machine-washable fabric — most infant car seats on the market don’t have that option.

Pros:

• Available in five bold colors
• Fits children up to 10 years old, or 120 lbs
• Machine-washable fabric
• Rear-facing and forward-facing

Cons:

• Chest buckle can be difficult to tighten
• Larger than the average car seat

Diono Radian 3-In-1 Car Seat

Safe and Stylish

There’s no rule that says your child’s car seat can’t come equipped with style.

Most Stylish

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Featuring a bold design and a slim fit, this carrier will add a little gusto to your backseat. The stylish aesthetic becomes even more appealing when you consider that this is a seat built for the long haul — it can fit rear-facing children up to 4 years of age, and its high back booster mode can accommodate up to 120 lbs. If it’s something you’ll be living with for years, why not opt for a bit of style? When it comes to the all-important brass tacks of safety, Diono Radan has you covered with their signature reinforced steel core that ensures high levels of safety and security as well as style.

Pros:

• Booster mode that can hold up to 120 lbs
• Assorted colors available
• Reinforced steel core
• Slim fit design

Cons:

• Can be challenging to install
• Better suited for spacious back seats

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some key elements I should look for when purchasing an infant car seat?

Safety is the most critical factor. You’ll want a seat that firmly latches into place and securely, yet comfortably, harnesses your child. Side impact protection and a collision absorbing base are also available to alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with driving a little one around. A reinforced steel core can’t hurt either. Machine-washable fabric is also a plus — as we all know, kids can get a tad messy.

Aren’t all car seats pretty much the same?

We know they might all start to look the same after a while, but there are important differences among all those similarities. Some are just for infants, while others can stretch out and expand to accommodate children up to 10 years of age. A few of these carriers are available in a slim fit look with bold colors. Some come with a built-in canopy or easy integration with a corresponding stroller. Of course, safety is the priority, and none of these seats are lacking in that department.