Infant-only car seats face the rear of the vehicle and are suitable for newborns and young babies. Based on my experiences as a child passenger safety technician, these infant car seats are among the easiest to install in many vehicles, hold up well over time and are easy to adjust to fit your growing baby. Please note: all of these car seats have passed U.S. government crash test standards. If you read the instruction book and take care to use the car seat properly every time, these car seats are all safe for your baby.
1. Britax Companion Infant Car Seat
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The anti-rebound bar on the Britax Companion base is the standout feature of this infant car seat. This bar reduces the amount of movement possible in a crash, therefore reducing the risk of serious injury. The Companion is easy to install in most vehicles and is well-cushioned for baby's comfort. I also like the added side-impact protection, which is not present in many other infant car seats. The thicker harness straps don't twist and tangle, so they're easier to use properly over time. Britax Companion can be used for babies 4-22 pounds.
2. Chicco Key Fit 30 Infant Car Seat
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The Chicco Key Fit is incredibly easy to install in many vehicles, which can help make it a safer choice since proper installation is key to safety.The Key Fit 30 can be used for babies up to 30 lbs., so you should get a longer useful life out of it. Key Fit has liquid leveling indicators, an easy to find belt-routing area and a secure locking system that makes it easy to get a tight fit without LATCH. The center-pull LATCH adjuster makes LATCH installations incredibly easy. Chicco Key Fit is also fairly lightweight, which is nice if you intend to carry it outside the car a lot.
3. Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat
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The Flex-Loc car seat is particularly easy to install if your vehicle has LATCH anchors. The connectors on the car seat base are perfectly designed to make it easy to secure the base, while built-in level indicators help you be sure the car seat is installed at the proper angle. The four base height positions make it easier to install without using towels or pool noodles for proper recline. If you don't want to take the harness straps out of a car seat to change the harness height, the Flex Loc is the car seat for you. All you have to do is turn a knob to change the harness height. The harness tightness is also very easy to adjust on the Flex Loc infant seat.
4. Graco SafeSeat Step 1 Infant Car Seat
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Graco's SafeSeat infant car seat was the first infant-only car seat to go beyond the usual 20-22 pound weight limit. The 30-pound weight limit and slightly taller shell makes this a good choice for larger babies, or for parents who want to get a little more use out of an infant car seat. Installation is fairly easy with the Graco SafeSeat. A belt-locking mechanism helps keep the seat belt where you need it during installation, and the one-hand dial for leveling is particularly nice. The only downside to the higher weight limit infant seats is that carrying the car seat outside of the car becomes a rigorous workout by the time your baby gets close to the weight limit.
5. Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat
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The Graco Snugride is one of the most popular infant car seats ever made, and for good reason. It's easy to use, fairly low in price, and comes in many colors and patterns. Graco also makes some nice strollers that go with this car seat as a travel system, if matching gear is important to you. This car seat is rated for babies from birth to 20 pounds, and has Graco-pedic foam lining the shell for comfort. Some parents have trouble installing this car seat with a lap/shoulder seatbelt, so you may need to try installing it with LATCH, a lap belt or with a locking clip on the lap/shoulder belt.
6. Orbit Baby Infant Car Seat System
The Orbit Baby infant system is an incredible car seat for those who are willing to pay top dollar for their car seat and stroller system. The infant system, which includes the car seat, base and stroller, costs about $900. However, the base is truly easy to install properly, and the designers have done an amazing job of creating a system that scores major points for safety and comfort. The car seat can be docked in the base from any angle, but won't lock until it's properly aligned. The soft carry-handles make parents more comfortable, too. The infant seat can be docked onto the Orbit stroller and rocker. You'll need to buy an Orbit toddler seat later on, so be sure to budget for that, too.