What is an Infant Carrier Seat?
When choosing a car seat parents have two choices: infant car seats or convertible car seats. Infant car seats are only designed for rear-facing use, which means they last a little longer.
Infant carriers can be used with strollers. (Adapters are sold separately). This creates an entire travel system. This lets parents easily take their baby out of the car and into a stroller without disrupting their sleep.
Safety
Many parents are concerned about the safety of an infant carrier seat, particularly when they buy one for their first time. Like all car seats, the infant carrier seat was created to safeguard your child as safely as possible in a crash. Typically they are set with the infant facing to the rear. This makes them the best option for infants with the highest risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
These seats also feature extra padding to provide additional head protection, and lower anchors to secure the seat to the vehicle's chassis in the event of an accident. This is especially important for young infants, who have large necks and heads that are easily injured by the force of a collision or sudden stop. The majority of infant carriers can be used in conjunction with strollers, creating a travel system that allows you to easily transfer your baby from your car to the stroller without having to worry about them.
Furthermore, the majority of infant car seats have a base that can be installed in other vehicles to permit you to take your child with you wherever you go. This is great for those who use taxis or ride-sharing services often. It can also make traveling with an infant on planes much easier.
Some infant carriers are designed to be used on strollers that do not have a base, allowing you to ensure your baby's safety during all kinds of trips and adventures. This is an excellent option for grandparents who want to help with the transportation of your child.
It's also important to remember that an infant carrier seat should never be left unattended outside of a vehicle, as babies could tip or roll over on soft surfaces, leading to injuries and possibly suffocation. It is essential to follow the instructions prior to using an infant seat in a new place.
Portability
Many infant car seats come as part of a "travel system" that is an amalgamation of the car seat base and stroller frame. They are able to snap together for seamless transitions. Travel systems are great for babies since they allow parents to transfer their child from the car to the stroller and back without needing to get them up. This feature is the main reason why more than 80% of Babylist parents buy an infant seat.
In addition, many infant car seats work with a wide range of strollers. The stroller compatibility feature permits parents to remove their child out of the car and put it on a frame for a stroller so that they can stroll through a park or a grocery store. This is also an excellent feature to consider when you're considering using a ride share or taxi service, since most of these services require the child be in a car seat.
Pushchairs & Prams are usually smaller and lighter than convertible car seats. They are an ideal choice for families who like to be active. Additionally, some infant car seats come with a carrying handle that parents can use to carry the seat around by themselves. This is especially helpful if you have any trips planned that you don't want to wake your sleeping baby!
Some convertible car seats are designed to be rear-facing for newborns and then convert into a forward-facing seat for older children. These seats all-in-one are ideal if you want to keep your child in a secure seat for as long as it is possible. You can find a convertible car seat that can be converted into an high-back booster seat once your child outgrows its harness (or is over the weight and height limits). Be sure to look for this feature when looking through options!
User-Friendliness
An infant carrier seat is a rear-facing car seat which connects to a base in your vehicle. They are designed to keep newborns and young babies secure until they reach the height and weight requirements for a booster seat. Many infant car seats are also compatible with strollers, which can make it easy to move the baby from the car to the stroller and continue your journey without disturbing their nap time.
Look for an infant car seat with a detachable car seat that easily attaches to the base or a stroller. This will let you quickly move your baby in and out of the car, especially when their nap is coming to end or they're thirsty, hungry or bored. Check the shoulder strap slots to ensure they're positioned correctly for your child. If the straps are too low or high, they aren't used correctly and can cause injury in a crash.
Some infant car seats come with lower anchors which can be used without or with the base. This is perfect for taxi rides or traveling by plane. It is important to ensure that the lower anchors are on a European routing path and are simple to install and release and look for a click that sounds like an alarm when the seat is properly secured. It's also beneficial to locate seats that have an easy-to-use harness and adjustment features, like Graco's Click Connect or the UPPAbaby SmartSecure option.
Convertible car seat is the next step after an infant carrier. They can be used until your child meets the weight or height requirements for the booster. They can be used with strollers, but they don't offer the infant-like fit and convenience of an infant car seat. Some convertible seats can be converted into boosters however they are generally bigger and more difficult to transport which makes them difficult to maneuver in small cars or when transporting children in busy areas.
Installation
Car seats, particularly infant car seats, are difficult to install. It is crucial to do so in a safe and secure manner. Some factors that can impact this include the position of the seat, the angle of the base and the best way to use the handle.
Most infant car seats can be attached to a base in the vehicle. This is commonly called"travel system" or "travel system". These seats are made for rear-facing use and are safer than forward-facing. Many car seats come with a built-in angle indicator that can be used to verify that the seat is at the correct semi-reclined angle for your baby. The base might also come with an adjustor to change the angle.
Another feature to look for is if the seat has a way to adjust the height of the shoulder strap without the need to remove and reconnect the straps. This is a huge time saver, as you will need to do it several times throughout the child's car seat use.
Additionally, certain cars have hard points on the back of the seat specifically designed to hold infant car seats. These are usually tucked deep into the crease between cushion back of the seat and the bottom. These hooks are made specifically for the particular seat and will snap into place with only a little effort. They could also make distinct sounds when they are connected securely.
It's also a good idea to try the car seat on the child first to ensure it works well for your family. If the car seat doesn't fit into the base, or your child isn't comfortable, it's time to look for a different option.
Some car seats can be put in without the base, which is helpful if you take public transportation or rely on taxi service like Uber. Check the manufacturer's instructions on how to remove and install the carrier without the base, but most will permit you to do this by pressing the lever or button. Many will provide the "click" to inform you when you're safe.