When you’re in your mid-30s, wedding registries turn into baby registries, and it’s easy to get caught up in all the stuff you need to care for a tiny human.
But perhaps the most important purchase you’ll make as a new parent is an infant car seat. After all, in most places, you won’t be able to leave the hospital without one. And it can be overwhelming to find the best infant car seat, especially in the age of user reviews.
BEST BUDGET FOR REAR-FACING-ONLY
- Less expensive than similar models
- Oversize canopy
- Can be challenging to buckle
- Buckle can pinch legs
- Users had problems with adjusting straps
Key Specs
- Convertible: No
- Minimum Weight: 5 lb.
- Maximum Weight: 35 lb.
- Product Weight: 18.1 lb.
This Baby Trend model boasts an oversize canopy that comes in handy during sunny walks or when traveling to and from the car in a rainstorm. Users love the comfort-grip handle for toting the seat around, as well as the extra cushion for baby’s comfort, including a newborn insert for lower weights. At 18 pounds, this seat is heavier than similar seats—and that’s without a baby in it.
The price is appealing, some $100 cheaper than other brands, but we did see complaints about the seat’s straps. Users noted they were difficult to adjust, and in some cases it was challenging to get each strap even with one another.
- High quality
- Easy installation
- Lightweight
- Hard to wash shoulder strap pads
- Small canopy
- Some users found it to be long for shorter cars
Key Specs
- Convertible: No
- Minimum Weight: 4 lb.
- Maximum Weight: 22 lb.
- Product Weight: 9 lb.
Aside from its max weight of 22 pounds, Keyfit’s Infant model is identical to its more expensive sibling, the Keyfit 30, whose max weight is 30 pounds.
We used this model for both kids, and the only reason we opted for this one versus the Keyfit 30 was because it was rated slightly higher in a buyer’s guide. But it didn’t disappoint.
It’s pretty light at just nine pounds, and the click feature left no doubts as to whether the seat was properly installed in its base. The bases are fairly inexpensive on their own, so you can purchase an extra for a second car. We love the feature that indicates if the base is level, for added confidence in installation.
As a mom of two spit-uppers, I wish the shoulder padding had Velcro to remove for easy washing. Instead, I had to unthread the straps to slide the pads off, and rethreading them properly was confusing.
Like most infant car seats, with the proper insert, this worked with a stroller—we bought a Chicco Bravo stroller. While universal bases are available that allow mixing and matching of seats and strollers, don’t assume. Check with the manufacturer of a stroller to make sure your seat will work with it.
