Best Car Seat for Newborn: Complete Infant Car Seat Guide
Trying to find the right car seat for your newborn can feel like stepping into a whole new world of baby gear. Between different styles, feature, and price points figuring out what actually works best for your car and family isn’t always straightforward.
That’s where I come in! I’m Kelly Stumpe, also known as The Car Mom! As a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), car reviewer, and mom of four, I’ve spent years helping families navigate the intersection of cars and car seats. My goal is to make this process simple and stress-free so you can feel confident driving home from the hospital and the years that follow.
Kelly, I'm Expecting... What Do I Buy First: A New Stroller, or Car Seat?
First off, congratulations! Once you find out you’re expecting, it’s so tempting to jump straight into shopping mode. Most parents start eyeing new cars, car seats, or strollers right away and it’s one of the first items on the registry. However, it’s worth slowing down and thinking through what features are important to you before making a decision on a
My advice? Start with the car seat. It might not sound as exciting, but it’s the piece that ties everything else together. Your car seat will determine which stroller you’ll need and help you figure out if your current car still works for your growing family (spoiler: it probably will).
What To Know Before Car Seat Shopping
When it comes to car seat shopping, you should keep two crucial factors in mind: how to install the car seat correctly and understanding what a newborn car seat is.
What Classifies Is An Infant Seat?
An infant seat, also sometimes called a pumpkin seat, is the car seat your baby will use during their first several months, usually up to about a year, depending on their height and weight. It has a handle and doubles as your baby’s carrier, making it easy to move them in and out of the car. You can buckle your baby into the seat inside the house, then simply carry it out and click it into the base in your car within seconds.
Infant seats click in and out of a secure base that stays in your car, so you don’t have to unbuckle your baby every time you get out the car. Instead of leaving the seat in the car, the seat stays with your baby, making getting in and out so much easier.
While newborns can go straight into a convertible car seat (as long as it’s rated for their weight), those seats stay installed in the car.
One important note: car seats are designed for the car, not for sleep. The general rule is that babies shouldn’t stay in their car seat, whether in or out of the car, for more than about two hours at a time without a break. Even if your baby falls asleep on the drive, once you’re home or at your destination, transfer them to a safe sleep space. It’s perfectly fine (and safe!) for them to nap in their seat while you’re driving.
The Base Of It All!
What makes infant seats different is that they come with a base. All car seats can be installed using a seat belt, but part of the convenience of an infant seat is that it includes a base that stays in your car.
You can also buy extra bases for other cars your baby will ride in, so the carrier can stay with your baby and easily click into any base.
Infany Car Seat Installation
One of the most important aspects of car seat safety is proper installation. You've probably heard the term "LATCH" thrown around, but what does it really mean? LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren, and it refers to a system that makes installing a car seat easier without using the car's seat belts.
LATCH is the built-in hardware inside your car that makes installing a car seat easier. The base of your infant seat connects directly to this hardware. It simply clicks into two small metal anchors located at the base of the seat, sometimes even inside the crease of the seat. Each seat position with LATCH will have two lower anchors, one on each side, making installation quick and straightforward.
Almost every car made in the last decade (or longer) with have LATCH, but not every seat in the vehicle will have it. Be sure to check your car’s owner’s manual to see exactly where the LATCH anchors are located, and plan to install your car seat base in one of those designated spots.
If you want to see an in-depth guide on LATCH installation, check out my post: Car Seat LATCH System What It Is & How To Use It.
Baseless Seats Are Gaining Popularity
Baseless seats are becoming more popular, and after trying a few myself, I can see why. I’ve been using the Joie Mint Latch with my fourth and I’m loving it! It’s so convenient and clicks right into my car’s LATCH system without a struggle. It’s very lightweight that carrying it around is a breeze. It might not be the right fit for everyone, but I’m definitely a fan.
Are All Car Seats On The Market Safe?
Yes! As a Certified Child Safety Technician, the safety of both your children and mine is my top priority so I take car seat safety talk very seriously. When it comes to protection, every car seat on the market has been tested and approved for its ability to comply with regulatory standards.
Manufacturers must comply with crash testing, structural integrity, and flame resistance to name a few tests to be able to go on the market. So rest assured your child will be protected no matter what car seat option (at whatever price point) you choose.
Kelly, What’s the Best Car Seat for Newborns?
There’s no one-size-fits-all car seat that I can crown as the "best." The right car seat for you will depend on your budget and the space available in your second row. That being said, rear-facing car seats are more alike than they are different.
My Favorite Infant Car Seats:
Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35: A solid choice that offers excellent value for the price. It’s lightweight and easy to install, making it a parent favorite.
Chicco KeyFit 35: Known for its ease of use, the Chicco KeyFit 35 is a top contender. It’s straightforward to install, and the padding ensures a comfy ride for your baby.
Nuna Pipa RX: Stylish, safe, and easy to carry, the Nuna Pipa is popular for good reasons. Its high-end design doesn’t compromise on safety or convenience.
Evenflo LiteMax 35: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, this seat delivers good quality without breaking the bank. It’s lightweight and comes with a generous canopy to shield your baby from the sun. One note to keep in mind with this seat is that Evenflo requires 1.5” of space between the car seat and the front vehicle seat, making its overall footprint much larger than other seats listed.
Evenflo Shyft Dualride: One last option to consider if the Doona seems to be a good fit for your lifestyle. This Doona competitor checks more boxes at a lower price, without compromising on quality. The biggest difference is the wheels can be detached from the car seat frame. A downside to the stroller-car-seat combos is their weight. The Dualride gives you the option to shed several pounds and leave the wheels in the car for when they’re not needed. The handlebar also comes up much higher, so it’s far more comfortable to push for average-to-tall parents.
How To Install Your Newborn Car Seat
No matter which car seat you choose, it doesn’t provide complete protection unless installed securely. To make sure you’ve installed your car seat correctly, here are a few tips:
Practice!: I recommend practicing installing your car seat 6-8 weeks before your due date. Get familiar with the process, but then uninstall it until you’re about 2-3 weeks out from delivery. Why? If you’re in a collision with an empty car seat in the car, it still needs to be replaced. It’s just easier to keep it out until you need it.
Get Comfortable with Buckling: Practice buckling in a stuffed animal so you can do it confidently with your baby at the hospital. Ensure there are no loose or twisted straps, and always read your manual. Everyone who will be driving your newborn needs to feel confident in how to use the car seat properly and buckling is a major step in this process.
The Pinch Test: After buckling your baby in (or the practice stuffed animal), remove all the slack from behind their hips. Slide the chest clip up so it’s even with their armpits. Finally, do the pinch test—try to pinch the harness straps together. If you can, it’s too loose. Tighten it up until you can’t pinch the straps.
The “Best” Car Seat For Newborns Is What Fits In Your Second Row
Choosing the right car seat for your newborn can feel overwhelming, but it all comes down to finding a car seat that can correctly be installed in your second row. While it’s not as fun of a purchase as a stroller or your dream mom car first, finding a seat that fits makes your life easier in the long run. Rear-facing car seats are more alike than they are different so the best option is the one that fits with your car, and lifestyle, and keeps your baby safe.
Do you have a newborn car seat you love for your family car? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the tips for your family car, check out my recent posts:
