Best Infant Car Seat Review And Buying Guide
Finding the best infant car seat [year] to suit your needs can be challenging, as there are many factors to consider. We hope our top 10 best infant car seats comparison table can give you more of an insight to helping you choose your infant car seat.
This table should only be used as a guide, the most suitable infant car seat will vary from parent to parent, it can depend on various factors, so when choosing your top infant car seat please take the following into consideration:
- Is your child tall or short?
- Is your child light or heavy?
- Is your car too small to hold a particular car seat?
- Would you require a stroller?
- Do you plan to put your child in a toddler car seat after or a convertible car seat?
After analyzing and researching each individual infant car seat, we have compiled a list of our top 10 infant car seats. We’ve based our rating on several factors:
Safety – This is the most important factor to consider, we look into which infant car seats have been tested to exceed the minimum safety requirements. For guidance on what safety factors to look out for, check out our article on “how to find the safest infant car seat“.
Price – The cost of the product is nearly always a factor, we analyze whether the features which the infant car seat offers is justified by the cost.
Quality – What material the frame and upholstery made of, is it made of tough material so it can withstand impact and not suffer from as much wear and tear. What type of warranty the manufacturers offer to support this.
Convenience – You may also be likely to use the car seat with a stroller, we look at whether the car seat is compatible with a wide range of strollers. Also having a lightweight infant car seat may be a buying factor for some, we also compare the top 5 lightest infant car seat.
Usability – The extent to which the infant car seat can be used. Some car seats only supports your child from 4 – 22 lbs which means you’ll have to purchase a new car seat a lot sooner, whereas other car seats will support your child from 4 – 40 lbs which means you’ll get more use out of it.
1) Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat Review
Finding an infant car seat which good is all round at a reasonable price can be challenging, however the Britax B-Safe infant car seat isn’t far from this. Britax has over 70 years experience in mobile safety and is one of the market leaders in the U.S. market.
Packed with plenty of features to make life more convenient and equipped with all the necessary safety features which is why this is one of the best selling infant car seats on the market today.
Click Here To See How Consumers Rate The Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat
Summary of features:
- Energy absorbing foam liner absorbs crash forces.
- Side impact protection protects your child during a side impact crash.
- 5-point harness seatbelt distributes crash forces.
- Compatible with Britax B-Series strollers.
- LATCH connectors for quick and easy car seat installation.
- Base can be adjusted into five positions to get the right fit.
- Removable headrest pillow and padding.
- Four harness heights and two buckle positions.
- Front harness adjuster allows loosening of the harness system.
- Easy to read level indicators give an indication of whether is seat is positioned at the right angle.
- Adjustable canopy can be positioned to protect sunlight, wind or rain from your baby.
- Ergonomic handle designed to make carrying the car seat easier and more comfortable.
- Certified for aircraft travel.
- Can purchase an additional car seat base to make transferring the car seat from one car to another easy.
- Comes with 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Specifications:
- Child weight: 4 – 35lbs
- Child standing height: Up to 32 inches
- Dimensions – Handle up (inches): 17.5W x 25H x 26.5D
- Weight – Car seat only: 9.8lbs
- Weight – Base only: 6lbs
- Weight – Combined: 15.8lbs
Click Here To See Best Infant Car Seats
Analysis of main features:
Energy absorbing foam
The Britax B-Safe infant car seat comes equipped with energy absorbing foam which is located inside the shells and head restrains of the car seat. The energy absorbing foam deforms during a crash, as the foam has absorbed some of the impact causing less potential damage to your child.
This safety feature is highly regarded as outlined by us in our guide on “how to find the safest infant car seat”. Britax has incorporated energy absorbing foam in its products since 1996, so the Britax B-Safe 35 will also have this safety feature plus more.
It is very convenient to have an infant car seat which can connect straight onto a stroller, this prevents the risk of awaking or disturbing your baby.
This is exactly what the Britax B-Safe is designed to do, as it’s compatible with any Britax B-Series strollers.Britax B-Series Stroller compatibility
Britax has several B-Series strollers to choose from and they all operate on a “click” and “go” system. Once your baby outgrows the car seat, the Britax stroller can still be used as it generally accommodates children up to 55lbs.
LATCH connectors
Comes equipped with lower LATCH connectors which allows you to install the car seat quick and easy. You will hear a click sound when the connector is securely attached. This system ensures a tight and secure installation, however if you prefer you can still use the seatbelt to install the car seat.
For guidance on the maximum weight allowance to use the LATCH system read Britax’s guide.
Easy to read level indicators
The level indicators makes installing the base easier but more importantly ensures it’s installed correctly. The base is level when the green marker is in between the two white lines on each level indicator.
Best Infant Car Seat:- Conclusion
Our final thoughts on the Britax B-Safe infant car seat is that it comes with all the standard safety features plus energy absorbing foam which we feel is a really important safety feature to have. The price is reasonable compared to our other top 10 best infant car seats.
The car seat itself (without the base) isn’t the lightest infant car seat but it’s certainly not the heaviest either, if you’re after a lightweight car seat then the Graco SnugRide Classic Connect DLX is one of the lightest infant car seats. You can also check out our top 5 lightest infant car seats.
Having the stroller compatibility is also a big factor, as the Britax B-Safe will just click straight onto any Britax B-Series stroller without having to move your baby out of the car seat. The Britax strollers are well built and sturdy but the price on average is higher than competitors such as the Graco strollers.
2) Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 Infant Car Seat Review
The lightweight Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 infant car seat comes at a very reasonable price. The features offered by this infant car seat makes it very competitive, however one of the downfalls is the maximum weight allowance is only 30 pounds and maximum height is 30 inches.
Manufactured by Graco who specializes in baby products, this infant car seat is one of the top rated not only by Graco themselves but also by consumers who has actually used the product.
Summary of features:
- Energy absorbing foam to help absorb the impact of crash forces.
- Rigorously crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards.
- 5-point harness keeps your child secure.
- Very lightweight, making it easier to carry around.
- Compatible with the range of Graco Classic Connect strollers.
- LATCH system can be used to install the car seat.
- Removable head support allows for more room.
- Machine washable seat pad.
- Easy to read level indicator.
- Canopy rotates to shield your baby from sunlight.
- Carry handle can be adjusted into several positions.
- Stay-in-car base means you don’t have to install it every time.
- Additional car seat base available, handy if you often have the car seat in more than one vehicle.
- Comes with 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Specifications:
- Child weight: 5 – 22lbs
- Child standing height: Up to 29 inches
- Dimensions – Handle up (inches): 17.5W x 24.2H x 26.7D
- Weight – Car seat only: 7.5lbs
- Weight – Base only: 5.2lbs
- Weight – Combined: 12.7lbs
Analysis of main features:
Lightweight
With the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 infant car seat being one of the lightest infant car seats, it makes carrying the car seat so much easier whether it’s up and down the stairs or into the gas station. The car seat itself only weighs 7.5 pounds which is pretty light when compared to another top rated infant car seat such as the Chicco Keyfit 30, the weight of the base is kind of irrelevant as this will likely remain in the car.
Energy absorbing foam
The energy absorbing foam is located inside the shell of the car seat, this is designed to provide effective energy management. The foam will crush upon impact taking away some of the potential damage to your child.
Graco Classic Connect stroller compatibility
All Graco infant car seats will have stroller compatibility. The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 can be used with any Graco Classic Connect stroller, there are quite a few choices available and the price of the Click Connect strollers are also cheaper than the Britax B-Series stroller which is compatible with the Britax B-Safe infant car seat.
The maximum weight limit of the stroller allows is between 40 – 50 pounds depending on the model, it also operates on a “click” and “go” basis just like the Britax strollers.
Additional car seat base
Having another car seat base does come in really handy if your baby with frequently ride in more than one vehicle. Having to take out the car seat base to install in another vehicle, then to take it out again to put back in the original vehicle can be really inconvenient.
The car seat base for this infant car seat is also pretty cheap so hopefully the cost wouldn’t be a major factor.
Best Infant Car Seat [year]:- Conclusion
For how cheap the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 infant car seat is you wouldn’t expect it to have all the features it does. Despite being a light car seat, the dimensions of this car seat is still similar to other infant car seats which have a higher weight and height allowance.
This car seat only allows your child to weigh a maximum of 30 pounds and must be no taller than 30 inches. With that in mind, you’ll probably have to switch to a toddler car seat or convertible car seat a lot sooner than you think. Despite this, this car seat is still rated as one of our best infant car seats.
The cost of the Graco strollers may just seal the deal, there are quite a few options to choose from and the price is quite a bit cheaper than other competitors. You’ll also still be able to use the Graco stroller once your child outgrows their infant car seat, as the weight allowance of the stroller is greater than the infant car seat.
3) Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat Review
Another one of Graco’s top rated car seat, the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat will last you a little longer than 
many other infant car seats as it has a maximum weight allowance of 35 pounds and maximum height allowance of 32 inches.
Despite being able to accommodate your baby for longer, the car seat itself is still very light weighing 7.5 pounds which is the same weight as the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30. Being able to keep your baby in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible is recommended by the AAP as mentioned here.
Summary of features:
- Energy absorbing foam for effective impact management.
- Safe seat engineered ensures safety testing at a higher standard.
- Side impact tested in addition to the standard crash test to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards.
- 5-point harness keeps your child secure.
- Lightweight car seat, for easy transportation.
- One step secure attachment to all Graco Click Connect strollers.
- Convenient LATCH system for quick and easy installation.
- Car seat base has a 6 position dial adjustment to ensure proper installation.
- Removable newborn head support allows more room for growth.
- Includes boot for all weather protection, though can be removed.
- Adjustable 5-point harness which makes getting your baby in and out easier.
- On base level indicator to eliminate guess work.
- Machine washable seat cushion.
- Rotating canopy to shield your baby from weather conditions.
- Adjustable comfortable carry handle.
- Stay-in-car base conveniently allows the car seat to click back onto the base.
- Additional car seat base available.
- Comes with 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Specifications:
- Child weight: 4 – 35lbs
- Child standing height: Up to 32 inches
- Dimensions (inches): 18.7W x 15.6H x 28D
- Weight – Car seat only: 7.5lbs
- Weight – Base only: 6.7lbs
- Weight – Combined: 14.2lbs
Analysis of main features:
Safe seat engineered
Graco’s infant car seats undergo a series of testing protocols this includes side impact testing which is in addition to meeting or exceeding U.S. safety standards.
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 infant car seat will undergo a test which simulates a collision with twice the amount of force of current federal standards for testing car seats. This is designed to help in the event of a high speed or high impact collision.
The car seat is tested to withstand extreme car interior temperature, as the temperature inside your car can vary significantly, it is important the structural integrity of the car seat is maintained.
Energy absorbing foam
This will help distribute crash forces to the energy absorbing foam located inside the shell of the car seat, the foam will then crush and may have to be replaced.
Lightweight
Considering this car seat allows your child to weigh up to 35 pounds and be as tall as 32 inches, it’s still surprisingly a light car seat. Check out our top 5 lightest infant car seats to see how this compares to other lightweight infant car seats.
The overall size is also bigger than a car seat such as the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 yet the car seat weighs the same, the base of the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 weighs slightly more but the base will remain in the vehicle most of the time anyway.
Graco Click Connect stroller compatibility
This can be used with any Graco Click Connect stroller, do not get mixed up with click connect and classic connect strollers. As the name suggests, the car seat will just simply click straight onto the stroller making it a smooth and easy transfer.
Boot
The boot is designed to protect your baby from all types of weather conditions as well as trapping heat to keep warm. It can be removed if your baby becomes too hot or is starting to outgrow the car seat.
Best Infant Car Seat:- Conclusion
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 infant car seat can accommodate children up to 35 pounds or 32 inches tall, however this isn’t guaranteed to last longer than a car seat such as the Britax B-Safe, this also has a maximum height of 32 inches and weight of 30 pounds.
If your child exceeds the maximum height but only weighs 25 pounds then you’ll have to change car seats anyway. A car seat which will accommodate your child for much longer is the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40.
The removable boot is a major plus as this can be used to really keep your baby warm, combined with the canopy your baby is pretty much fully protected from weather conditions.
The car seat base is compatible with Click Connect 30/35 LX models as well, so if you needed to buy another infant car seat having one which uses the same car seat base as the Click Connect 35 could be an option.
4)Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat Review
You won’t have much difficulty installing this in your back seat, the small and compact design of the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat will fit into most vehicles. Chicco is the largest baby brand in Europe but has a presence in more than 120 countries, so this can give you a piece of mind knowing your car seat is manufactured by a well respected brand.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is the only well known infant car seat designed by Chicco on the market, but this one car seat alone has done well enough to compete with our top 10 infant car seats.
Summary of features:
- Lined with energy absorbing foam for increased safety.
- Side impact protection.
- 5-point harness seatbelt helps keep your baby secure.
- Small and compact allowing the car seat to fit most vehicles.
- Compatible with a wide range of Chicco strollers.
- Removable full body insert to protect newborns.
- Thickly cushioned seat provides extra comfort.
- Reclinesure base operates on a push button adjustment mechanism to help achieve proper base angle.
- LATCH connectors with SuperClinch one pull tightener for a tight and secure fit.
- Two bubble level indicators located on the base to indicate the correct angle in vehicle seat.
- Rotating canopy can be positioned to help shield your baby from weather conditions.
- Ergonomic carry handle can be adjusted to multiple positions.
- Additional Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat base purchasable for convenience.
- Comes with 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Specifications:
- Child weight: 4 – 30lbs
- Child standing height: Up to 30 inches
- Dimensions – Handle up (inches): 17W x 27.5H x 24D
- Weight – Car seat only: 9.6lbs
- Weight – Base only: 6.8lbs
- Weight – Combined: 16.4lbs
Analysis of main features:
Energy absorbing foam
The car seat is lined with energy absorbing foam to help increase the side impact protection. The thickly cushioned seat can also help reduce the impact of crashes as this could cushion the impact slightly.
One consumer states how this car seat has saved their 5 month old baby’s life.
Full body insert
The full body insert will securely hold babies anywhere from 4 – 11 pounds, once your child has exceeded that weight then he body insert can be removed.
It is really important newborns are held securely in their car seat, the tighter they are strapped and secured to the car seat the safer they’ll be.
SuperCinch LATCH system
Equipped with LATCH connectors for safe and secure car seat installation, this is now made even easier now with the SuperCinch one pull LATCH tightener.
Stroller compatibility
Chicco has a wide range of strollers available for the Keyfit 30 infant car seat. Unlike Britax and Graco infant car seats which go by stroller range compatibility in correlation to the car seat. For example the Britax B-Safe is compatible with Britax B-Series strollers and the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 is compatible with Graco Click Connect strollers.
You’ll just have to check the product description to see whether it’s compatible with the Keyfit 30. Currently the compatible Chicco strollers are: Bravo, Urban, Activ3, Neuvo, Liteway Plus, Cortina, Cortina Magic and Cortina Together strollers.
Best Infant Car Seat:- Conclusion
Although an infant car seat should be small enough to fit in most cars, you’ll struggle with a small hatchback. The Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat however does have a small and compact design where it’ll even fit into a small hatchback such as the Mini Cooper.
This car seat does support children up to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches, the problem is the average child will only weigh roughly around 23 pounds when they’re 30 inches tall so the car seat probably won’t last you as long as you’d like.
Despite this car seat being smaller than most others, the weight is slightly on the heavy side when compared to our other top infant car seats. It is also our most expensive infant car seats out of our top 10 but it is the quality that you’re ultimately paying for, so it’s not money wasted but we do feel the Chicco Keyfit 30 is slightly overpriced.
Best Infant Car Seat [year] Buying Guide
