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Best Infant Car Seats of 2023
March 20, 2023
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Best Infant Car Seats of 2023

By Babylist Team
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Best Infant Car Seats of 2023.
Best Infant Car Seats of 2023

An infant car seat is one of the most important items of baby gear that you’re going to need as a new parent. If you plan on ever taking your little one along in your car, it’s a must-have—and most hospitals won’t discharge you without one. But with so many different models, and so much pressure to pick the safest ride for your little one, figuring out which one to choose can be a big decision.

We’ve consulted real parents, our own team of baby gear experts and a Child Passenger Safety technician (CPST) on infant car seats across a range of budgets and styles to help you make the best—and most informed—decision. (Psst: Need help figuring out all the terms? Check out infant car seat glossary to help you decipher it all.)

In this article:

What Is an Infant Car Seat?

An infant car seat is a seat made specifically for infants and younger babies. These five-point harness seats always face the rear of the car and are designed to attach to a base. The base stays installed in your car and the seat clicks in and out, making it easy to get your baby into and out of your car.

Other types of car seats:

  • Convertible car seats: These grow-with-your-child seats transform from rear-facing car seats for babies and toddlers to forward-facing seats for older children up to about 65 pounds. Some convertible seats can be used from birth, but they’re not designed to be easily popped out of your car and are much too heavy to be carried around so you’ll lose some of that convenience factor if you decide to use a convertible seat from day one. (More on that below.)
  • Booster car seats: For kids at least four years old and at least 40 pounds, boosters do just what the name implies—boost your child up higher in your car’s seat. This ensures that your car’s regular lap and shoulder belts cross over your child’s body at the correct points to securely hold them.

Do I Need an Infant Car Seat?

While it may seem like purchasing a convertible car seat would be the most efficient, there are a few distinct advantages to using an infant car seat instead.

Babies can stay asleep during the transfer from car to stroller if the two items are compatible. (This is doable if you purchase a travel system—a car seat and a stroller from the same brand that attach to each other—or create your own set using adapters.) It’s also much easier to click your infant seat, baby in tow, in and out of your car since it attaches to a base that’s permanently installed.

If your baby will be riding in multiple vehicles, transferring an infant car seat is also much easier than uninstalling and reinstalling a convertible seat. Just be sure to purchase an additional car seat base so you can quickly click the infant car seat into the backseat base and go.

Infant Car Seats Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Are Infant Car Seats Good For?

Infant car seats can be used from day one until your baby reaches the seat’s maximum height or weight limit (anywhere between 22-35 pounds, depending on the specifics of your seat).

The “or” is important to remember here. It means that even if your child falls within the height limits of your infant car seat, but has outgrown the seat’s weight limit, it’s time to make the switch to a convertible, and vice versa.

Most babies outgrow their infant seat around one year of age or so.

What Is the Best Infant Car Seat?

Every car seat sold in the US must meet the same federal safety standards set forth by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. While each individual state may have their own guidelines around car seats (many states, for example, now require that children under the age of two ride in a rear-facing seat), any seat sold in the US must meet the same benchmarks around safety and installation. You can be reassured that spending less money on a car seat doesn’t mean it’s any less safe.

So what will a more expensive infant car seat get you? More expensive seats often means more extras like luxury materials, larger canopies, easier installation and potentially some additional safety features not currently required by law.

Here are some factors to take into consideration when choosing the best infant car seat for you and your family:

  • Fits in your car: Car seats range in size and shape. Some are a better fit for larger or smaller cars.
  • Ease of installation: Many car seats can be installed using the regular seat belt or the LATCH system, which is an easier way to secure the car seat using built-in anchors and tethers (available in cars made after 2002).
  • Safety indicators: Some car seats come with built-in leveling systems and indicators to signal they’ve been correctly installed. (Most safety issues with car seats stem from them not be installing correctly. Here’s info on how to get a safe install.)
  • Fabric: Besides looking for a style of fabric that suits your taste, consider its durability and how easy it’ll be to wash if (when) any messes happen.
  • Safety extras: Some car seats include additional shock absorption, padding and higher quality materials.
  • Stroller compatibility: You can snap infant car seats into many strollers or stroller frames. You can buy a prearranged set, like a travel system, or mix and match brands as long as they are compatible via adapters.
  • New vs used: Used car seats might be damaged and may not be up to snuff when it comes to current safety regulations. While we recommend new car seats, if you do end up selecting a used car seat, get it from someone you trust. Be sure to look up the seat’s expiration date and research if that particular model has ever been recalled. If the seat is dirty, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s strict rules around how to clean it. Each car seat has a specific set or rules around how to clean it while maintaining its safety and integrity.

For more details about car seats, read our How to Choose a Car Seat guide.

Where Is the Best Place to Put an Infant Car Seat?

The middle of your vehicle’s back seat is statistically the safest place to install your child’s car seat. That’s because many crashes involve a side impact, so a middle position will help to avoid direct impact.

However, not all vehicles allow for a car seat in every spot that has a seat belt. Always check your specific vehicle’s owner’s manual prior to installation. The Safe Kids’ Ultimate Car Seat Guide Installation Tips is a great resource for car seat installation.

How We Chose Our Best Infant Car Seats

  • We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey, which polled almost 3,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
  • We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including infant car seats.
  • We consulted a Child Passenger Safety technician (CPST) and researched information on infant seat safety and reviews from several leading car seat experts, including Car Seats for the Littles and The Car Seat Lady, as well as information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  • We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.

Best Infant Car Seat Overall

The Scoop
  • Parent and car seat safety expert favorite
  • Slim profile, works well three-across
  • Good LATCH install but tough to install with seat belt
What Our Experts Say

From excellent safety features to ease of use, the KeyFit 35 is a fan favorite. It’s an upgrade to the also popular KeyFit 30, with the same look and feel—but the KeyFit 35 has the added benefit of accommodating your baby even longer. The KeyFit35 works up to 35 pounds and 32 inches, versus 30 pounds and 30 inches with the KeyFit 30, which means you can safely rear-face your little one even longer.

The base of this seat is simple to install and has just one tightener in the middle that pulls it securely in place. A built-in, easy-to-read level indicates when it’s been correctly positioned—plus you’ll always hear the trusty “click” sound when the carrier is properly inserted into the base.

Other much-loved features include an anti-rebound bar (to prevent extra movement in the event of a crash), a no rethread harness, a removable, washable cover and a narrow profile that can work well in smaller cars or three across. The KeyFit adapter works on most strollers, so you can go from the car to running errands without disrupting your little one’s snooze.

What’s Worth Considering

Installation without the base can be tricky (not ideal if you plan on using your seat in ride shares or for air travel), and getting the right fit for some infants can be challenging.

If you’re in the market for a GREENGUARD Gold Certified car seat (which means that the product is certified for low chemical emissions), check out the KeyFit 35 Zip ClearTex Infant Car Seat. The fabric contains no added chemicals. But there’s another huge bonus of this seat: it’s one of the easiest to clean infant car seats around. The seat pad zips off in seconds and is machine washable.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Safe, easy to use, highly recommended by Consumer Reports, affordable.” -Claire M.

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 10.1 lbs

Best More Affordable Infant Car Seat Overall

The Scoop
  • Popular + well-priced pick for Babylist families
  • Anti-rebound bar and good side impact protection
  • Headrest + harness adjust together
What Our Experts Say

Part of Graco’s SnugFit line, this rear-facing infant car seat is easy to install and another popular pick among Babylist families, all at an affordable price point.

There are more than a few things to love about this seat. The headrest and harness can be adjusted together while your child is in the seat, making getting just the right fit much less of a struggle than with other similar car seats. There’s also a low weight limit (four pounds, which is great if you’re bringing home a preemie or a smaller baby), four recline positions, and extra protection built in to help absorb impact in case of a crash, including an anti-rebound bar, a nice perk at this price point.

What’s Worth Considering

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, check out the same seat’s DLX model. Upgrades include a one-hand adjustable handle, better head support and side impact protection and a five-position adjustable base, among other features.

There’s also the brand’s SnugRide 35 Lite LX seat, which weighs a little over a pound less than the SnugFit 35.

What Babylist Parents Say

“We bought this for our newest baby and I couldn’t be happier with it. Love all the features and the feel of the fabric. Great car seat.” -Niki

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 8.5 lbs

Best Lightweight Infant Car Seat

The Scoop
  • Weighs under 8 lbs
  • Modern design + lots of extra safety features
  • Easy installation
What Our Experts Say

This sleek, lightweight infant seat is more than just good looks. The Pipa Rx is one of the lightest infant seats around, weighing in at under eight pounds. It’s also one of the easiest seats to install. The True Lock safety system uses color-coded indicators to signal proper installation, giving extra peace of mind to nervous new parents.

A fold-down stability leg, which extends from the base of the seat to the floor, is designed to absorb impact in an accident. (Stability legs, also called load legs, reduce the amount of force on a car seat and reduce the rebound of a seat. They’re an excellent safety feature to look for in an infant car seat.)

Parents also rave about the quality materials and extendable Sky drape canopy that provides full coverage from the elements, as well as the many different strollers the seat is compatible with with the use of an adapter. For those who frequently take taxis, the Pipa Rx is a breeze to install in any car without the base.

What’s Worth Considering

When it comes to cleaning, it’s a pain to remove the seat cover for the PIPA because you have to unthread the harness. Some parents also find the magnet closures on the canopy tricky to maneuver.

Looking for an even lighter seat? The Nuna PIPA Lite Rx with Relx Base weights less than the standard PIPA, clocking in at only 6.9 pounds.

What Babylist Parents Say

“We absolutely love our Pipa Rx! What sold me were the extra safety features (anti-rebound bar and load leg) as well as the fact that it’s lightweight! It truly makes such a difference. It’s beautifully made and I love that they use high quality materials without flame retardants. I couldn’t recommend this car seat more!” -Laura D.

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-32 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 7.6 lbs

Best Affordable Infant Car Seat

The Scoop
  • Affordable
  • Features load leg for extra support
  • Works for very small babies
What Our Experts Say

The LiteMax is our clear favorite for an infant car seat that’s both extremely safe and extremely affordable. The load leg, a safety feature often found in much more expensive seats like the Nuna Pipa or Clek liing, is an impressive addition considering the seat’s price. This seat is also one of the lighter on our list and has the lowest weight allowance on the market at three pounds (with physician’s approval, per Evenflo)), making it a great choice if you’re bringing home a preemie or a smaller baby. Other features to love include an adjustable headrest, no rethread harness and LATCH install.

What’s Worth Considering

It can be a little tricky to get a safe, secure install with this seat so be sure you read the directions carefully. Evenflo also offers one-on-one video installation support with a certified car seat tech (US and Canada only), free of charge.

Looking for an even more affordable seat? Check out the entry-level model of this seat, the LiteMax 35. There’s no load leg, but at a little over $100, it’s still a reliable, safe option and a really good deal.

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbsm (3-35 lbs with physician approval), up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 8.7 lbs

Easiest to Install Infant Car Seat

The Scoop
  • Easy to both install and check if installed correctly
  • Improved safety + comfort from V1 version
  • No-rethread five-point harness
  • Beautifully designed
What Our Experts Say

Since UPPAbaby strollers are some of the most popular and well-loved on the market, it makes sense that the brand’s Mesa car seat follows suit.

Installation is one of the top selling points of this well-designed rear-facing infant car seat. It’s super easy: just clip the LATCH connectors and push the base down with your body weight. There’s no need to tug or pull at straps like with many other seats, and indicators turn green when the seat is level and tight. Improvements to the V2 include a larger, hideaway canopy, increased headrest size for better side impact protection, better fit for smaller infants and an update to the anti-rebound handle.

The seat clips into the Vista and Cruz without the need for any additional adapters and can be used with lots of other stroller brands too. (You will need adapters for that, though.) Another awesome perk: you’ll never have to rethread the harness (a huge pain) as your baby grows.

What’s Worth Considering

The Mesa clocks in on the heavier side when compared to other similar seats at about 10 pounds. It can be tough to install on certain car models using LATCH where the buckles are farther back in the seat. It’s also on the pricier side for a seat that doesn’t have any extra safety features like an anti-rebound bar or a load leg.

If you are interested in these added safety features—and have the budget to spend a bit more—check out the brand’s new Mesa Max model. It features a load leg and an anti-rebound+ panel on the base

What Babylist Parents Say

“It’s very plush and feels like our baby is well protected each time we use it. I wish it were a little lighter, but when you consider the functionality of the car seat I wouldn’t trade a thing.” -Tessa L.

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 9.9 lbs

Best Infant Car Seat and Stroller Combo

The Scoop
  • Car seat + stroller hybrid
  • Perfect for city dwellers and frequent travelers
  • Will need a second stroller as your child grows
What Our Experts Say

The Doona is the first of its kind: an infant car seat that instantly transforms into a stroller with the click of a button. When it’s time to get in the car, stroller legs and wheels pull up and fold under the car seat.

Why is this a big deal? It makes the Doona the ultimate, all-in-one system for frequent travelers. It’s also ideal for city dwellers who need to quickly get in and out of public transportation, parents who live in an apartment complex and have a long way to walk between their apartment and their car or if you’re in and out of the car a lot dropping off older siblings and don’t want to disturb your sleeping baby.

What’s Worth Considering

Once your child outgrows this rear-facing car seat, you won’t be able to use the stroller anymore. The sleek design doesn’t have any storage space for a diaper bag (or anything else, really). The handle on the Doona is fairly low, so it can be awkward to push if you’re taller.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Since we don’t own a car and live in a city this stroller is perfect as it allows us to easily take Uber/Lyft or use friends/family cars without having to take both a carseat and stroller. Perfect for navigating small restaurants and stores as well as travel.” -Francesca

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 14.3 lbs

Best Infant Car Seat with Extra Safety Features

The Scoop
  • Packed with safety features
  • Expensive
  • Slim profile, eco-friendly fabrics
What Our Experts Say

Safety and style meet brilliantly in this high-end seat from ultra-modern (and ultra safety conscious) Canadian car seat brand Clek. There are three different (and easy) ways to install the Liing: base with Rigid-LATCH, base with seat belt or no base with seat belt. The seat performs just as well in crash tests in any install configuration. There’s also a metal load leg built into the base that provides extra support in the event of an accident.

What else do we love about the Liing? There’s a giant canopy that provides almost full coverage with SPF 100+ protection. There’s also a two-stage infant insert that gives snug support for newborns, lots of recline options and three eco-friendly fabric options.

What’s Worth Considering

There’s no getting around the price of this car seat—it’s expensive. But it’s built to last. The Liing has a nine-year expiration date so you can definitely use it for multiple kiddos.

What Babylist Parents Say

“This car seat is chemical free and one of the top, safest car seats on the market.” -Nichol

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 9 lbs

Best Narrow Infant Car Seat

The Scoop
  • Slim profile
  • Lots of safety features
  • Easy to install, but no European belt path
What Our Experts Say

If you’re looking to save space in your backseat or looking for a seat that works three across, the B-Safe offers a slim profile alongside standout safety features—all at a great price point. The deep, narrow seat has sidewalls with energy-absorbing foam for side-impact protection along with a steel frame and an impact-absorbing base. It’s also a cinch to install. If you’re using the LATCH system, you’ll tighten it using straps that extend from the middle of the base, not the sides, a feature that lots of parents really like. Just note that installation isn’t so simple without the base, so if you’ll need to use this seat rideshares or in friends’ cars, the B-Safe may not be your best bet.

What’s Worth Considering

This seat is on the heavier side. (But that’s because of the steel frame, so at least you know it’s for a good reason.) And as we mentioned above, it’s not a great choice if you’ll need to install it without the base; check out the Flexfit model if you’d like that option.

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 32”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 10.9 lbs

Best Infant Car Seat for Small Cars

The Scoop
  • Compact front-to-back, works well in smaller cars
  • SensorSafe technology
  • Lots of safety features
What Our Experts Say

Finding a compact car seat that works well in a smaller vehicle can be daunting, but the Cybex Aton 2 fits the bill. As one of the most compact front-to-back seats on the market, it easily fits in sedans and other smaller cars, and is also a good choice if you’re on the taller side and in the market for a seat that will allow for more legroom in the front seat.

And while this seat’s size is a great perk, don’t overlook the awesome safety features, either. The Aton 2 has a load leg and really easy installation. It also features SensorSafe technology, a kit that attaches to the seat’s harness and alerts your phone if your child unbuckles, has been seated for too long or has been left alone in the car.

What’s Worth Considering

This seat is on the pricier side. Some parents also comment that the canopy is shorter than most and that the straps can be a bit stiff and tough to tighten.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Very pleased with this car seat features and safety rating.” -Bryana

Additional Specs
Child Weight/Height Guidelines 4-35 lbs, up to 30”
Car Seat Carrier Weight 9.5 lbs

Other Infant Car Seats Worth a Look

  • If you own an Bugaboo stroller, you’ll want to check out their collab with popular car seat brand Nuna. The Bugaboo Turtle One By Nuna and the Bugaboo Turtle Air By Nuna are two lightweight car seats designed to be compatible exclusively with Bugaboo strollers. (Some will require adapters, sold separately, and others do not.) Both are beautifully designed, sleek and safe seats.
  • Baby Jogger, known and loved for their amazing one-handed fold stroller (among other things) is now in the car seat space. The City GO 2 Infant Car Seat features an anti-rebound bar, is easy to install and is on the lighter side. It also attaches to all Baby Jogger strollers.
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