Keeping your child safe in the car is very important and with the best infant car seats, you really get to have all of that. It all comes down to understanding how you can take good care of your child.
And in this case, investing in a car seat that helps protect your child is extremely important, and it will make quite the difference.
The main focus is to rely on the experience itself and what you can actively do to make the process better and more convenient.
Thankfully there are tons of cool infant car seats out there, and each one of them can command good money.
As long as you have the right amount of patience, you will be quite happy with this one, and it will totally work the way you would expect it to, just take it into consideration.
Top 10 Best Infant Car Seats of 2024
- Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat.
- Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat.
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 Infant Car Seat.
- UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat.
- Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus Infant Car Seat.
- Britax B-Safe Ultra Infant Car Seat.
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat.
- Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat.
- Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat.
- Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat.
Things You Should Know Before Buy an Infant Car Seat
Know About Your Car First
You must read the vehicle manual before you intended to buy an infant seat. A car seat can be attached by applying two systems, which are through seat belt locking or Latch system. You have to decide which option to use before you buy a car seat.
If you decide to lock by a seat belt, make sure your seat belt is in automatic locking mode. As you know, car seat belts have emergency locking mode and an automatic mode, in order to ensure child safety automated method works very well.
If the latch system is your thing to go with, make sure you know how to and where the latch attachments are in your car. Many new generation cars have built-in latch attachment system available.
Take an Accurate Measurement of Rear-Seat Space
Make sure to know very well about how much space available for a car seat at the back seat of your car.
A larger-size car seat may not fit into a car’s smaller-sized car. Take accurate rear seat measurements with measuring tape and order one according to your measured-size.
Pick the Convertible Car Seat
Buying a convertible car seat will save a lot of money as babies grownup very quickly. It will be unpleasant if you have to change a car seat after the end of the first year.
The convertible car seat faces the rear at first, and when the baby grows up, it can be converted towards the front. So, a convertible car seat will last through toddlerhood.
However, the only problem you will face with this category is, it can’t be taken out or in from the car like an infant car seat.
Safety First
Make sure you search for the JPMA stamp on the box, which means it is approved by Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, they test each company’s products and give safety assurance. Make sure they accept your preferred one.
Look for The Unique Features
Every car seat is uniquely differentiated from others, so searching for uniqueness is a smart choice.
Check unique features such as a 5-point harness, compatibility with the latch system, side-impact protection, an anti-rebound bar at the foot, adjustment handles, pull cord between baby’s legs, and many more.
Easy to Clean
Smooth fabrics are the ones that can be easily washable than other textured materials. If you use it a lot, you need to wash it very often, so getting a car seat that is made of smooth fabric is highly recommended to get ease on cleaning.
Save Money
If you want to save money on a car seat, make sure you know about the car seat stroller. It is a 2-in-1 package where a car seat can be attached with a stroller and unplug whenever you want to use them separately. To know more, you can read our best baby strollers review.
Top 10 Best Infant Car Seats 2024 Reviews
#1. Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
One of the best things about the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat, Orion is the design and the price itself.
It was created for the travel system in general so it will bring in lots of portability. It also has a newborn head and body support system that you can remove.
You will be able to keep babies anywhere from 4 to 30 LBS in this unit. The height limit on the other hand is around 30 inches.
This is good because you will have a clear understanding of when you won’t be able to use this anymore, so try to take it into account if possible.
Another thing to note is the overall amount of security they add to the baby here. What they are doing is they add a 5 point harness system that comes with an easy pull tightened to deliver great results all the time.
If you do want to carry this, there’s a 2 position carry handle and the grip was very comfortable based on our experience with it too.
Moreover, the overall materials used for the product are very nice. They don’t overdo it, but at the same time, you will notice the plastic is durable and super convenient without pushing it too much to begin with.
The fact that it’s suitable for travel and so secure really makes quite the difference and you will want to use it again and again.
The Pros
- Great for travel.
- Proper support for kids.
- 5 point harness.
- 2 position carry handle.
- Removable head and body support.
The Cons
- The plastic compound could be better.
- Some customers consider it unsafe
- Not the best sunshade.
#2. Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
When it comes to the design, Graco nailed this one. It looks really nice and the most impressive thing is that it actually gives value and a great experience to the customer.
It delivers rear facing support and it also has a lot of legroom too, which a lot of kids really need in a situation like this. There’s also 40-pound rear-facing support which we found very impressive.
To make things even better, there are 4 position extension panel adjustments. That means you can easily adjust and adapt everything to be sure that your child will not have to worry about safety issues.
According to the company, they tested this a lot to bring in front some really nice design options and we found this to be very interesting and cleverly implemented.
The material is great, comfortable for your child but the unit itself can be really hard to wash on its own. That means you have to rely on regular cleaning which may be good or maybe a bit bad.
It’s up to you to figure out how you choose to handle this, but with enough care, this can become a very good product and you should consider giving it a try if you can for the best experience and results.
The Pros
- Great for rear-facing infants.
- Supports a variety of toddlers.
- Went through rigorous crash testing.
- Convertible.
The Cons
- Really hard to clean.
- Fully tightening the straps can be hard.
- Plastic could be better.
#3. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio – 4/35 Infant Car Seat
The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SL Child Car Seat Horizon is one of those products that you will like just because it’s so powerful and different at the same time.
It’s not the most complex infant car seat, true, but it has the features you want without being too challenging to use or anything like that.
A lot of people like this one because it offers you a convenient approach and it will not push the boundaries in a clever manner. That’s the type of thing that you will like quite a bit and in the end, it will totally be worth it.
When it comes to the interior, it works nicely, it’s dependable and interesting. But it delivers comfort for your baby and that on its own is what you really have to achieve.
The cleaning process is great too, as the design just makes it a pleasure to clean all the time without having to worry about any issues or hassles, to say the least.
It does take some trial and error to get used to this, and if you tackle it right the payoff itself will be second to none every time.
The product is easy to strap in, although it’s not exactly the safest to strap in there, to begin with. But if you get past that, you will notice it’s great for what it is, and at the end of the day, that’s the thing that really matters.
It’s not the perfect infant car seat but it’s also far from the worst. The only issue for some of us might definitely be the price, but if the price is not an issue this is certainly a worthwhile product, to begin with.
The Pros
- Clever design.
- Easy to strap in.
- Very dependable and reliable.
- Portable and easy to use.
- Cleaning is a breeze.
The Cons
- It takes a bit to get used to how it works.
- Fitting everything will be hard at first, but then it gets easier.
#4. UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat
It’s always exciting to get your baby a new infant car seat and the 2018 UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat – Jak seems to really deliver on its promises.
You will like the design of this unit just because it’s so cool and different but also enticing and a pleasure to try out all the time.
Adaptability is key and once you start using this wisely you will find that nothing is impossible here. The smart security system makes it super easy to install.
They also have a soft band in the front to ensure that your baby will not have to deal with all the impact, in fact it will protect his head from any issues here.
The product also comes with storage pockets for the harness buckles, although you can feel free to use anything else you would want in there, that’s up to you and it can bring in some great results.
Unlike other models in this list, this one will be suitable for kids up to 35 lbs and up to 32 inches in height. That’s more than enough and actually better than many other options presented here.
The carrier itself has under 10 lbs, and it will surely offer the type of benefit and quality that you may need without any major worries.
That’s definitely one of the best aspects to think about, and in the end it will be a tremendous and fun experience to use.
They put a lot of emphasis on security and that’s more than fine considering the overall product and the price point they want for it too.
The Pros
- Friendly to use, very adaptable to your needs.
- Adjustable no-rethread headrest.
- A light unit.
- SPF hideaway canopy.
- It can attach to some strollers without adapters.
The Cons
- Due to the materials, the baby can overheat.
- Sometimes straps can be too short.
- Very uncomfortable.
- Somewhat toxic.
#5. Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus Infant Car Seat
The Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix Group 0+ Car Seat, Origami Black product is definitely exciting to use and a lot of people want to try it out for that reason alone.
It’s extremely interesting but also different and the fact that there are so many clever ideas here is what really pushes the boundaries and makes the experience more worthwhile all the time. The installation is very simple and convenient.
They also have side protection systems to offer assistance in case your child is impacted from the sides.
The belt hooks will make sure that the harness stays away and that alone can be a really good option to have.
We like how much attention to detail was placed into creating this product and they did a stellar job at making it insanely portable but still super safe and convenient at the same time.
When you want a good and dependable infant car seat, this is a good option and you will like it. It will also work for kids up to 12 months, which is actually more than okay more often than not.
It will take a bit of time for your child to get used to the unit itself and how it works but as long as you step away from that you will find it more than interesting and convenient all the time.
The Pros
- Great minimalist design.
- Side protection system.
- The practical belt hooks very well.
- Easy to install and use.
The Cons
- Build quality could be a bit better.
- It doesn’t have any additional features like storage.
#6. Britax B-Safe Ultra Infant Car Seat
With the Britax B-Safe Ultra Infant Car Seat – 4 to 35 Pounds – Rear Facing – 2 Layer Impact Protection, Noir you really get stellar protection for your child.
What you have to keep in mind is that this product gives you astounding protection and you will find the experience itself to be really good for what it is.
There are 2 layers of side impact protection, an impact-absorbing base, steel frame and quickly adjusting systems for head protection.
The relax and recline system is really impressive and just an amazing tool that you can use and cherish all the time.
The installation is also simple, not overly complicated and we appreciated the entire process as a whole. You can take the area where your child is located and use it separately if you want.
That’s nice because you have more convenience and a higher quality result if you choose to use it that way. There’s also no rethreading too.
The Pros
- Great safety systems.
- No rethreading.
- Reclining is very simple.
- Travel system ready.
The Cons
- It doesn’t work well with some cars.
- A bit iffy.
- The design can be improved.
#7. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat
Having your child with you in the car is exciting, and you will find the experience to be very exciting and interesting all the time.
The installation process is convenient and straightforward, and it will work great for kids up to 35 pounds at most.
That being said, you will notice that even cleaning up the product can work very nicely, and that’s something to take into consideration if you use it adequately.
It’s a good idea to note that they also have a rotating canopy with both visor and window that looks great and which provides some pretty exciting features.
The adjustable base has four recline positions in total, exciting, and just a pleasure to check out all the time.
At the same time, the safety adjustment harness can be used very quickly without a lot of hassle.
That’s something a lot of people dream of when it comes to delivering the value that’s expected, so you really have to know what you are getting into with this and what you can expect from it.
We like the way it works, so you will surely get a good experience from it.
The Pros
- Great rotating canopy.
- Adjustable base with four recline positions.
- Great harness system.
- Snuglock technology.
The Cons
- Harnesses could be better.
- Doesn’t click into the base with ease.
- It can be confusing to use.
#8. Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat
There are many things to like about the Baby Trend EZ Flex Loc Infant Car Seat, Carbon, the primary one being that it has a 5 point safety harness.
That alone really makes the unit very good at protecting your child. Also, they also have a four-position push button height-adjustable base.
Being able to adjust the base height really makes all the difference for a lot of people, and you should totally consider giving this a try if you can. Once you get past that, the payoff can be impressive.
The carrying handle is smooth, it’s very polished, and you will find that it works great for what it is. While it can be a bit tricky to adjust and adapt all the time, it will give you a pleasant experience, and that alone can be totally worth the investment.
The one-hand easy-access seat release is stellar for what it is, and if you choose to use it wisely, you will find yourself to be very happy with it and the process itself.
Once you use that and start seeing the EPS energy-absorbing foam in action, you will notice that this is an excellent and reputable, powerful product for you to check out all the time.
Just consider giving it a try, and in the end, it will be the best purchase you could make for your child, that’s for sure.
The Pros
- 5 point safety harness.
- Four-position height-adjustable release.
- One hand seat release.
- Great carrying handle.
- EPS foam.
The Cons
- The plastic is not the best.
- The design can be unsafe for small kids.
#9. Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat
When you use the Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat, you will be very impressed with the experience and the process itself.
The most crucial aspect when it comes to this product is an excellent value for money. The base has two stages that you can use it in, and you can modify the way your child is facing if you want, without major hassle.
The installation process has a recline sure leveling foot, and it’s fascinating and a pleasure to use all the time.
The adaptability of this product is impressive, and there are all kinds of customization features.
There’s no storage to be had, but at least you have a canopy that will keep your child safe and that on its own can be very exciting and a pleasure to use regardless of the situation.
That’s going to push the boundaries and just offer you a great experience without hassle or challenges.
It’s a great idea to use this product if you are very passionate about keeping your child safe all the time and making sure that there are no issues.
Based on our experience, it went well, and it will eliminate any of the hassles related to this. That’s what you want, great attention to detail, and a genuine focus on offering you the best results no matter the situation.
The Pros
- 2 stage base.
- Reclining is very good.
- Compatible with some strollers.
- Adjustable and portable.
The Cons
- It can be small for a toddler.
- The carrying arm doesn’t stay in the locked position.
- Rather heavy.
#10. Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat
The Evenflo LiteMax 35 stands out a lot because it’s different, rewarding, and a pleasure to use every time.
You will like how reliable it really is, and the attention to detail that it brings to the table always pushes the boundaries and makes the process very convenient.
The seat itself is effortless and easy to use. They made it super easy to install, so you won’t really care about any of the hurdles that can arise with the installation process. It’s one of those tools that really help bring safety to your child.
The material that’s used where your child seats are very breathable. That means there won’t be any issue with overheating.
Some infant car seats have that, and it’s the type of thing that you really want to avoid in this case if you can do such a thing.
Also, the parent-friendly features are great since you can easily have this as a portable unit without any major worries.
It’s a great idea to use this unit, especially since it’s so convenient and versatile all the time. The installation is staggering, and the fact that you have a very light car seat for your child that keeps him safe is well worth it.
The Pros
- Lightweight.
- Very easy to install.
- Versatile and super convenient.
- Parent-friendly features.
The Cons
- Some people found it very narrow.
- No belt pockets.
- Installing it backward is a pain.
Conclusion
There’s always a bit of a hurdle as you try to buy the best infant car seats. But at the end of the day, what really matters is the convenience you get and the results you can achieve with it.
We are thrilled with all the models presented here, and you will be quite amazed by the way everything works.
Of course, it will take a bit of testing to figure out what works, but if you do it right, nothing is impossible, and you will be delighted with the results and the outcome as a whole.