Best Infant Car Seat Reviews

At under $150 with all Amazon discounts applied, it’s quite possible that the Safety 1st car seat could be one of the greatest investments you ever make as a parent. If you are tired of being confused by all the infant car seat reviews out there and just want your baby to be safe, and for a fair price, look no further. While there are nappies and wipes to keep your baby clean, formula milk and baby food to keep your baby fit and healthy, you also have to think about your baby’s safety when you are taking him or her on trips to the doctor for checkups, for instance. At the same time, you don’t want to break the bank, and that’s where the Safety 1st car seat fits in perfectly. As its name suggests, it is geared towards maximum safety value while also having the basic functions characteristic of other high quality infant car seats.

Buy the Safety 1st car seat now on Amazon for a 16% saving over the list price.

The features of the Safety 1st car seat include:

Good for children from 5 pounds to 35 pounds, keeping the baby rear-facing for longer.

Side Impact Protection rated for the best safety standards.

Car base for the seat has a belt lock device for easy installation.

Harness design is one of the best rated for preemies and provides almost one-fifth more leg room than the vast majority of rear-facing car seats made for infants.

5-point harness with front harness adjustment for easy changing

Removable and machine washable pad.

Curvy handle for easier carrying and rubber safety patch so it does not slip in your hand.

Personally, I have purchased three other car seats over time and read so many of the very best infant car seat reviews but I have never had a newborn car seat that fit so well with the little baby. The inserts made it comfortable for the baby and I believe it will last my baby through the whole first year. I have had base seats before and have always found them very heavy when I am taking the seat around with the baby in it. The Safety 1st onboard 35 is a seat that is easy to carry, I can actually see being able to carry it even when the baby reaches that kind of weight. In addition, I like how easy it is to put in the car even if you don’t have the base.

I find the straps of the Safety 1st car seat onboard 35 easier to adjust than any of the other seats I have used before, being able to adjust the height from the front is so much easier than other types car seats. Of course, first I looked into the safety ratings, but after comparing those to find out whether this one really was the best infant car seat for safety I looked at the other options. This one seemed to have everything I wanted, the safety rating that I wanted and then the extras that I considered. I found this seat easy to install with the base and I never had the trouble I had with other seats. I also enjoy the decision to put the release latch on the base in the back. Most people don’t think about this, but because this is meant to be a rear facing seat, it is much easier to work with than a front release system.

The canopy on the Safety 1st car seat is very strong and allows you to work in all different direction. From what I can gather from infant car seat reviews I’ve read on Amazon, other seats have limits as far as how you can block out the sun, but this one is self supported so the sun is never at an angle I can’t work with. I do find this seat has some trouble fitting into some of the generic strollers and shopping carts. The size seems to be slightly different. But it works really well with the stroller I have and I have heard good things about the Aerolite LX as well. I wanted to use a stroller I already had.

Overall I am very pleased with the Safety 1st onboard 35. I believe it is well designed and made with the busy mom in mind. I think this seat would have lasted through all my kids had I known about it earlier. It is quite sturdy and is working really well for my family. I do find the Safety 1st car seat a bit hard to get in the backseat of a two-seater if you are using the base, but the direct insert option makes it work just fine.

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon about Safety 1st car seat.

The Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat has long been one of the most popular car seats in Europe and now has finally made it to the American market with similarly positive responses. Among the 13 infant car seat reviews left by customers of the Maxi Cosi Mico on its Amazon product page, 10 customers rated the seat a 5/5 stars and on average the seat boasts an average review of 4 ½ out of 5 stars which puts it up among the best infant car seats you can buy. Below the features, our first hand reviewer shares her own personal experience as to why this seat has accumulated such positive reviews, and she also outlines a few of her own tips as to how to get the most out of this particular model.

Click here to buy the Maxi Cosi infant car seat now on Amazon for under $200.

Features of the Maxi Cosi Mico:

• Holds babies from 5 to 22 pounds with a height of 29 inches.
• Newborn insert is made for smaller babies, can even be used with smaller newborns.
• Fits with all Quinny Zapp and Quinny Buzz travel systems such as the stroller and the various bases.
• Recommended for babies from birth to 12 months, but you should be aware of the sizing limitations.
• You can buy a weather shield and bug nut, both are sold separately.
• Large handle for easy positioning. Lightweight basket for ease of use.

I studied all the safety ratings and features and ended with the Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat for many reasons. First, I was sold on the long handle because I love purses and bags that allow me to hang them further off my body. Second, I really liked how cozy the little interior looked with the extra padding and the wrap-around look of the head piece. Keeping the newborn’s head in position, especially when I can’t see her when she’s rear-facing was quite important to me. As a nurse, the idea of the baby spitting up and aspirating has always been an issue with the rear-facing position and I was much more secure when looking into the Maxi Cosi Mico.

The price might seem a bit high at first, although among some of the other infant car seat reviews I’ve read, it’s by no means the most expensive, with some of the other high-end infant car seats coming in at around $300. Nevertheless, when you think of safety, there really isn’t a price you can put on it. I walked around with this carrier for a brief period before I tried a friend’s and I quickly appreciated how much lighter the Maxi Cosi Mico is than others. It doesn’t feel any less secure, just easier to carry. I did find it was a bit harder to lock into the base than the other brands, but I quickly learned the proper clicking sound and once I got the motion down it seemed silly that I ever had an issue with the Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat.

One thing I cannot rave about enough is how easy it is to adjust the straps. I have watched people struggle in this process with other brands and the Maxi Cosi Mico has a simplified push button system making it a secure lock without all the frustration others feel. I always know the baby is secure and I don’t have to worry about when the next time I need to adjust the straps will be.

I was a little disappointed price wise in the fact that the base of the Maxi Cosi infant car seat is sold separately. It makes it come in a little costlier than some other brands, but probably the same as other car seats which cost up to $300 which do include a base. It can be hard if you are on a tight budget, especially if you are planning on purchasing the other travel products. I would consider how long you will be able to use it and if you will be able to work it through multiple kids. For us, this is our first child of hopefully three or more so the price is more than worth it to us. This seat is safe, easy to use and keeps the baby comfy and safe no matter where we travel. She is happy and doesn’t seem to cry when we put her in the Maxi Cosi Mico, which is the biggest relief when you are hitting the road.

Take the time to read more reviews on Amazon about Maxi Cosi Mico by clicking this link.

Although the Peg Perego car seat may be one of the more expensive infant car seats out there, the manufacturer’s aim is not only to complete with the best infant car seat brands like Graco and Britax, it also wants to challenge the very safety oriented Safety 1st 35 car seat for title of the best car seat with respect to safety. While you would end up paying double what you might for the Safety 1st infant car seat, the features and sheer quality of the Peg Perego infant car seat make it a viable competitor to some of the top infant car seats in the market today.

Click here to buy the Peg Perego car seat on Amazon now for a $20.99 saving off the list price.

You will get the following features in the Peg Perego car seat: 

• Comfort dry pad lining that does not absorb spills or throw up. Makes it much easier to clean.
• Safety padded wings around the head of the child for extra protection.
• Side Impact Protection tested and approved.
• Handles babies from 5 to 22 pounds and up to 30 inches tall.
• Five-point harness with a single hand adjustment for tension and height.
• Adjustable base with the LATCH system allowing it to work with other like products like the stroller and the swing.
• Built in level to ensure proper installation.

Even though reading the infant car seat reviews on Amazon and seeing them be overwhelmingly positive for this car seat, I was still apprehensive, as anyone would be, about shelling out nearly $300, considering the vast amount of other costs associated with bringing a new baby into the family. Luckily, I couldn’t be happier with my choice of the Peg Perego car seat. After much research, this one won out in the safety ratings, even (although arguably) above the Safety 1st Onboard 35 car seat, and ease of use. I am a germaphobe, so the comfort dry pad lining that is easy to machine wash was a big selling point after studying the safety features. I really find the Peg Perego infant car seat easy to use and I am glad I went with a smaller seat that fits the baby snuggly. I have used the seats made for a wider range of child and the baby is just too small to fit properly in those seats!

If you are even considering getting a child seat without a base, I beg of you to realize that all of us who use these daily are the reason it was invented. Even if it’s the best infant car seat in the history of mankind, if it doesn’t have a click function with a base, I am not going near it! Being able to click the seat in and out without having to readjust the seat belt every time and being able to let the little baby sleep in the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP protected car seat has been a life saver. If I had to wake the baby every time I might be more crazy than I am. I also love the pad for newborns as it snuggly fits the baby.

The rubber grip on the handle makes the Peg Perego car seat feel secure no matter where I am carrying it and it fits perfectly in the Peg stroller so I can go from car to shopping with zero issues. I do find the seat a bit heavy and I worry about when the baby gets bigger, but I think I am building up my arm muscles and stamina, so we shall see. I like how sturdy the Peg Perego infant car seat feels because of the weight. It is also narrow which helps it take up less space in the car. I think this will be nice when we have more children.

There is conflicting information on the market. I have read both versions of the weight limit as some people refer to the seat as the 30/30 meaning 30 pounds and 30 inches, but the manufacturer seems to say 22 pounds and I don’t think I will take the chance. I would advise all parents to always err on the side of caution. Overall this seat is easy to install and no problem at all to adjust. I have dealt with friend’s seats and I don’t know how they contort themselves to get the straps changed. This is a simple one-handed process with the Peg Perego car seat and I always feel like the baby is safe and secure. The additional bases are a little expensive but if you have multiple cars you use I would say totally worth it so you don’t have to install all the time. The Peg Perego car seat has been the right choice for our family.

For additional information and reviews about the Peg Perego car seat on Amazon, click here.

The Baby Trend Flex-Loc infant car seat is the perfect balance between safety and affordability. It is a difficult decision when you begin looking for newborn car seats because safety is your first concern, but all the items for baby are expensive and you have to make choices. This low cost Baby Trend car seat has very good safety ratings and comes it at a lower price than many of the high end car seats that just seem a bit out of reach for parents on a budget. It is constructed of steel, forming a protective cage lined with the EPS foam to protect the little one from any impact. We would recommend this as the best infant car seat for those parents who are really pressed for cash, but who still want quality and safety for their new child.

Buy the Baby Trend infant car seat now on Amazon for 16% savings off the list price!

The core features of the Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat consist of:

• Steel construction for a solid crash cage of safety.
• EPS shock absorbing foam protects the baby in case of an accident.
• 5-point safety harness that is easy to adjust.
• Push button base adjustment for easy leveling and proper installation.
• Built in level indicator so you know when the base is in the right position on the seat.
• Handles babies up to 22 pounds and as tall as 28.5 inches.
• The buttons are fabric covered to keep them soft if baby rubs against them.
• Turn-knob adjustment for the harness height and tension so you don’t have to undo the 5-point harness to make the changes.
• Padding is entirely removable and machine washable.
• 3-way ergonomic handle grip so you can carry the Baby Trend Flex-Loc infant car seat at an angle comfortable for you.

In buying a car seat I was most concerned about being able to install it properly. I had heard from numerous infant car seat reviews many nightmare stories about going around a corner and realizing the car seat was rocking in the back because the base was too loose. The Baby Trend infant car seat was easy to install. Instead of pages of instructions it is a simple 2-click system and then you tug the straps to make everything snug. I got it right the first time.

My second requirement was finding something with a canopy that actually worked when it came to protecting the baby from the sun. The Baby Trend car seat has a self supported canopy that can go in any direction. I also like that you can easily use the lap belt to lock-in the rear-facing seat if you don’t have the base with you.

The high safety ratings from the existing infant car seat reviews were definitely considered and I love the weight of this baby seat. So many are heavy and you don’t notice at first, but when you have to walk a long distance it takes all your energy. I do feel this handle is a bit thin and at first I was worried about it being flimsy. It has held up well and I have had no trouble with it. My only other issue is the base release button. I find it hard to reach on the Baby Trend Flex-Loc infant car seat because it is so close to the back of the seat. It seems like a good place for a button until you realize that is the side of the seat that faces backwards and it can be a bit tricky getting in the car to push the button, especially when I am in the 2-door vehicle. Overall I am quite pleased with the Baby Trend Felx-Loc infant car seat and would recommend it highly.

Some other good reviews on Amazon for the Baby Trend Flex-loc infant car seat can be found by clicking here.

Backed by the name of arguably the leading name in baby products, the Graco Snugride 35 is the ideal combination of high quality, safety and value for money. While it is not the cheapest infant car seat available at the moment, it is not as expensive as some of the other comprehensive solutions e.g. the Peg Perego yet many new mothers still recommend this as the best infant car seat, certainly the best for under $200. Unfortunately Amazon does not offer any significant discount at the moment however this is mostly attributable to the fact that its price is already rather low for its features.

Buy the Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat now for under $200 on Amazon.

The main features of the Snugride 35 are:

• Handles babies from 5 pounds to 35 pounds and as tall as 32 inches. This gives a little more leeway for children staying rear-facing.
• Five-point harness for safety and better protection from internal damage during restraint.
• Voted best overall value in many parenting magazines.
• Click in base for easy transfer of baby from car to home.
• Easy to adjust harness for all the various heights of your child.
• Self-supported canopy so you can fully block the sun from your baby no matter the angle.
• Adjustable angle base for the comfort of the baby as they age.
• Extra handle position giving you three options for carrying the seat.
• Rubber on the base to keep the seat from sliding when placed on the ground, a chair or other surface.
• Fits with the SnugGlider Swing

The Graco Snugride 35 has been the perfect seat for our family. We love the safety features of it as well as easy it was to install. After comparing my experience with a lot of other infant car seat reviews on Amazon, I totally agree with the best value rating because while it costs a bit more than some others, it seems more sturdy and easy to use, yet it comes in at less than some of the higher priced items that don’t offer any additional safety features than the Snugride 35. Overall, this seat seems like it will be able to handle our son for a long time to come, making me happy to not have to buy a new seat for awhile.

I can’t lie, one of the main reasons I looked into the Graco Snugride 35 was because it worked with the SnugGlider Swing. The ability to put the baby in the swing and in and out of the car without having to disturb him was intriguing. We went towards the 35 because of the length of time we could keep the baby rear-facing. The additional five pounds will hopefully last a few more months adding to the safety.

I really like the side clips being separate so I don’t have to work with both sides at the same time. I don’t seem to disturb the baby at all and can often get him in or out without causing any trouble or disturbance. I found the seat very easy to install, one of my biggest fears. The SnugRide 35 was easy to get locked into place and the adjustable know allowed me to level it properly with ease.

The interior of the seat is soft and the material is incredibly easy to clean. I was concerned at first because the Graco Snugride 35 had such a soft interior, it looked like it might be hard to get stuff off the surface, but it comes off quickly and easily and keeps the baby cozy while he is riding around. I do find this seat a bit wider than other seats. This is fine for our large car, but when I put the base in my Mom’s car, the backseat was hard to use. That was the first time I thought about the potential leg issues later on. I am afraid the baby might become a little cramped being rear-facing if his legs grow too long. The Graco Snugride 35 infant car seat is also a bit heavy, hard to get used to at first but also what makes it feel so secure. My arms have caught up with the need, so don’t worry, you will get used to it, although some of the Snugride 35 infant car seat reviews online have still found the weight inconvenient. On my part, however, I am very pleased with the Graco SnugRide 35.

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon about the Graco Snugride 35 written by real customers.

The Britax Chaperone gets the same high quality reviews everyone has come to expect from the Britax seat line. The safety ratings are through the roof, rivaling arguably the best infant car seat for safety and that is the Safety 1st Onboard 35. The seat is specifically made for small children. It is the type of car seat you can use as soon as you are bringing the baby home from the hospital all the way until they reach 30 pounds. The rear facing car seat comes with a detachable base making it easy to ensure your baby is always properly inserted in the Britax Chaperone infant car seat, you only have to belt the base in once. It is really easy to work with the system and make sure the baby is secure prior to putting him in the car.

Buy the Britax Infant car seat on Amazon now at a 25% discount, saving you over $50 off the list price.

The Britax Chaperone product features are as follows: 

• True side impact protection for both the head and body.
• Anti-rebound bar helps to minimize rotational forces on the baby and the car seat adding to the safety rating of the Britax Chaperone.
• Tangle-free five-point harness so it is easy to latch the baby in and out.
• 7 different harness heights so the seat fits your baby properly.
• 2 buckle positions so your baby is safe but not pinched.
• Energy absorbing foam liner helps to keep the impact from reaching the baby should you experience an accident.
• Quick adjust head restraint makes it easy for the head rest to always be right.
• No-disassemble harness so it is easy to adjust the harness even when you are out and about.
• Works for babies as small as 4 pounds and as large as 30 pounds.
• Ergonomic handle makes the car seat easy to carry.
• Can accommodate babies in the rear-facing position as tall as 32 inches.
• Fits with all Britax B-series bases including joggers and strollers.

This was our first baby seat and we found ourselves totally overwhelmed by the crazy number of choices out there. Although we did consider many infant car seat reviews, in the end, we went with the Britax brand because of the great safety ratings, the brand’s excellent reputation. In the end, the higher price tag was worth it. The selling point was really the anti-rebound bar as many other car seats experience problems with rebound during a collision. The videos sold us on the safety of the Britax Chaperone.

The Britax Chaperone infant car seat can be a little cumbersome given that it is a little more heavy than other seats. To me, this makes it feel more sturdy and probably adds to the safety of the car seat itself. While it will get harder to carry as the baby gets larger, I think this is worth the effort. It does take up a lot of room in the car and I worry about space for our second child in our smaller vehicle.

I really enjoy how easy it is to adjust the harness. While I have never owned another car seat, I have worked with them and I have never found one that is so simple to change the height on. Our baby seems to grow so quickly, it is nice to ensure that the harness is as snug as possible. I do worry because it does not seem to click into carts and restaurant high chairs as easily as other car seats, but I just work with the basket and the chairs at the table. It seems to work just fine and I am so happy with the Britax Chaperone safety features, I will deal with a few inconveniences.

Click here to read more Britax Chaperone infant car seat reviews on Amazon.

The Graco Snugride 30 car seat is a great seat for a newborn baby, and surely one of the best infant car seats for the very smallest babies. It is rated for children as small as 4 pounds which makes it nice even for preemies. While you might think you want a car seat that will last for longer, the 4-30 pound size range means the baby snuggly fits inside the seat and can be adequately protected in the event of an accident. The Graco Snugride allows you to keep baby rear-facing for longer than other seats and adds to the safety value.

Buy the Snugride 30 now for under $150 on Amazon. The price can’t be beat and you can even get free shipping.

Here are the main features of the Graco Snugride 30:

• Fits babies as small as 4 pounds and as large as 30 pounds.
• Seats babies up to 30 inches in height, an added 5 inches over most newborn car seats.
• One of the consumer reports top rated car seats for newborns.
• EPS side impact foam helps keep the baby safe no matter what type of impact you encounter.
• Latch-equipped base makes it easy to latch the seat in and out without having to reposition and settle the seat belt each time.
• Built in level in the base so you can ensure the seat is properly installed.
• Comes with insertable body support for smaller babies. Helps keep the baby’s head in the right position.
• Can purchase extra bases by buying the Snugride 35 base as it is the same base size for the car seat.

When I was browsing infant car seat reviews in search of a new seat, I had some considerations I never had before. With three children, I needed to be able to fit three types of car seats easily in the back seat of my husband’s car when I wasn’t using my minivan. All the added safety precautions help to keep kids safe but make it hard to have enough room in your car for multiple children. The Graco Snugride 30 is only 17 inches wide making it take up much less space than some of the other newborn car seats, yet with the same safety ratings and considerations.

The Graco Snugride 30 infant car seat can recline at three different levels. I found this very helpful when finding the right way to make my baby happy. The soft and fuzzy interior snuggles around the baby and seems to be comforting. The Graco Snugride infant car seat can be a little difficult to clean, but if you keep up with wiping it down, it seems to stay clean. Being able to click the seat in and out makes it easy to just wipe it down at some point during the day because you bring it in with you.

I loved the reasonable price of Graco Snugride considering how much some of the other car seats cost. This one was in our price range with a great safety rating and made it the right choice. I do find it a bit heavy to lug around and wonder if my muscles will be able to take it once the baby weighs more. It does make Snugride 30 feel sturdy than some of the others. I thought the padding in the seat area seemed a little scant at first compared to the back. A friend then pointed out that the baby has a diaper on so in order to fit properly and make the padding the same below and on the back, the padding is meant to be thinner under the butt area of the Graco Snugride 30.

You can read more reviews on the Graco Snugride 30 through this link on Amazon.

Searching for the best infant car seat for your needs is a complicated process full of all types of choices you may have never made before, and it’s not like searching for the best toy for Christmas – properly taking in infant car seat reviews is vital to your child’s safety. It is tempting to get a car seat that the child can keep for a long time, but this might not be the safest or most comfortable for a newborn baby. You also have to remember, if you are planning on having more than one child, you can reuse the baby seat and then buy a bigger seat as the first child grows. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a great choice for a rear-facing infant seat made for newborn babies.

Buy the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat on Amazon now for 18% off!

The Chicco Keyfit 30 boasts the following features: 

• Base with a clip in car seat so you can have bases in multiple cars and just move the car seat in and out. It is nice when the baby is asleep in the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat and there is need for you to go inside.
• Five-point harness for safety with a single hand adjustment option.
• Full body inserts to make the seat snug for the smallest of newborns.
• EPS absorbing foam for impact protection.
• Spring adjust level foot to make the baby comfortable and level in the seat without having to reposition the base.
• Fits in small backseats, great for two door vehicles as well as larger ones.
• 30-inch height limit is more than some other newborn seats allowing you to keep the baby in the safer rear-facing position longer.
• Fits babies from 4-30 pounds in size.

This Chicco infant car seat works well from the minute you leave the hospital. It is easy to install and the ability to clip out the seat means not having to manuevere to get the baby inside. You can get the baby all snug and comfortable before you even walk to the car. This gives you free range to deal with the clips and the belt adjustments without having to be in a hot or cold car.

The Chicco Keyfit 30 holds babies up to 30 pounds, making it a good fit for smaller children. Some people do not like that it does not work with larger children, but the fact it is so small makes it the best infant car seat for small babies. The seat conforms to the little bodies and makes sure they are securely locked in place. The ability to keep a baby backwards facing all the way to 30 pounds helps keep the baby in the safer position for longer. The full body baby inserts made me feel secure when my guy was small as I always worried about him creeping down in the seat and being rear-facing so I couldn’t see. I never had to worry about this with the Chicco Keyfit 30.

The Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat has a base that is slightly larger and seems not to work as well with many shopping carts. This can be a bit of a pain when you are out shopping alone and have to take up the basket space with the car seat itself. Some of the carts are starting to have a bigger baby area, even equipped with clips, but you should know you might have trouble for awhile. I liked the fact it was easy to find an extra base. Despite how easy it is to get the car seat installed properly, way easier than other models, being able to switch cars with ease is particularly nice when the baby is fussy or I am in a hurry.

You can read more Chicco Keyfit infant car seat reviews on Amazon by clicking here.