Buckle Up Your Baby in One of These Cozy Car Seats

Editor's note: This list was checked on 16 February, 2023 to make sure that you have the best information possible. We made sure the prices are correct and that these are still the best models on the market.

Having a great car seat is absolutely essential — and typically, it's one of the first things you buy as an expectant parent. Not only are they wonderful to carry your child in and protect your child in the event of a collision, but infant car seats are also an immediate necessity because hospitals won't discharge a child without making sure you have one. Choosing one feels like a huge deal — and it is — but we're here to help you pick the perfect model for your family.

With so many infant seats on the market, knowing which one you should choose can be pretty overwhelming. Not to mention the fact that the price range for these seats is absolutely staggering — from under $100 to close to $500. What makes each one uniquely suited to your needs? Let's figure this out.

Best Infant Car Seats

Why Do You Need an Infant Car Seat?

You're probably wondering why it is that you need a dedicated infant car seat when so many convertible seats are on the market that fit even the tiniest babies? The thing is, an infant car seat is as much about convenience as it is for safety. With a convertible seat, you can't just take it out and go. There's also no ability to move the seat with the baby in it. Infant car seats are designed to do just that. When baby is resting or happy, you can easily go from the car to the stroller to the living room floor with click-in infant car seats — and there's really nothing more convenient than that.

They're designed to be rear-facing, which is recommended by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) because that position helps to protect their necks and skulls in the event of a crash.

How We Chose

I have personally tested several models on this list, spoken to manufacturers from Clek, Graco, Chicco, and UPPAbaby about their designs and processes, and I've spoken to parents who use these seats every day. I made sure to find the best infant car seats on the market right now, but we do encourage you to look up a car seat installation expert in your area to make sure it is installed properly after your purchase.

We did not list any car seats that are subject to recent recalls or that have been recalled multiple times. Unfortunately, this can and does happen, so we've chosen to eliminate these from our list in the interest of choosing only the seats we believe are the absolute safest.

What to Consider

Every car seat on this list passes the guidelines put forth by the NHSTA and is not facing any recalls from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. (Which, unfortunately, happens with sort of alarming regularity.) Other than safety, though, there are several things you're going to want to think about before you click "buy."

• Size: Infant car seats can be surprisingly bulky, which can be a problem if you're loading up kids three across in the backseat of your Subaru Outback. However, car seats like the Clek Liing, and the Chicco KeyFit 35 are narrow enough to do just that.
• Stroller Compatibility: Not all infant seats are compatible with all strollers. Many strollers are only compatible with a few (or only one) or require additional adapters. With a popular-model car seat like the Maxi-Cosi, you can get an adapter for pretty much any stroller.
• Fabric/Cleaning Ability: This is low-key one of the most important things you need to consider. I can tell you from personal experience that if it's hard to clean, you'll want to throw it in the dump. Another note about fabric is breathability and durability. Babies sweat like you wouldn't believe, and a swamp-bootied baby is a crabby baby, so it's best to lean toward breathability.
• Weight: Infant car seats can get heavy, so if you have a bad back or you know you'll tire of lugging it, go with a lighter model like the Graco SnugRide.
• Seat Belt Connectivity: You may not always be in the car with the base of the car seat installed. If that's the case, you need to know if and how it can be safely installed using only a car's seat belt. How easy is this to do?

The Cybex Aton previously appeared on this list, but we have removed it because on 16 February, 2023, the Cybex Aton car seat was recalled. At Best Products, we continue to monitor all recalls, and update our lists as soon as we learn of them.