Finding the best infant car seat isn’t just a matter of seeking out the best deal – your child’s safety is on the line. Fortunately for parents, car seats sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards, making it hard to go wrong. But even a quality car seat is unsafe if you install it improperly or choose the wrong type of seat for your child.
In this review, we recommend several safe infant car seats suitable for children up to three years old. Our review team has tested each of these car seats for ease of use, quality of materials, and adjustability. Uncover how to select the best infant car seat and explore options at multiple price points.
In this article:
- 5 Best Infant Car Seats
- Our Review Standards
- Editor’s Pick: Bugaboo Turtle Air
- Easiest To Use: UPPAbaby Mesa
- Most Comfortable: Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35
- Most Adjustable: Chicco KeyFit 30
- Best Value: Baby Trend EZ Ride
- Infant Car Seat Buyers Guide
- FAQ: Best Infant Car Seats
5 Best Infant Car Seats
While comfort is a subjective measure, our review team evaluated the quality of the materials in each car seat we recommend. We also based our recommendations on the consensus of Amazon reviews. We believe these car seats are a good place to start looking for the perfect car seat for your child and budget.
Our Review Standards
The infant car seats in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices.
For testing, our team ordered the five infant car seats that fared best in these categories. We installed each seat in a sedan and tried every adjustment mechanism.
Every car seat we recommend complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. To determine our rankings, we compared adjustability, material quality, and ease of use. We also considered customer opinions represented by reviews on websites such as Walmart.com, Target.com, and Amazon.com.
Ease Of Use
All car seats sold in the U.S. must pass federal safety standards. But even an approved car seat is unsafe if you install it incorrectly. The easier a car seat is to install, the lower the likelihood of making a mistake.
Most infant car seats feature a base (that you leave attached to your car) and a carriage that snaps in and out of place to serve as a baby carrier or stroller when you reach your destination. An infant car seat that you can easily detach from its base scores higher in this category.
Anchor clasp design is important for ease of installation. The two primary types of car seat anchor clasps are a plain metal anchor and a buckle anchor (both displayed below). The buckle anchor is easier to use, so we gave a higher score in this category to the car seats with this type of anchor.
Plain Metal Anchor
Buckle Anchor
Adjustability
You’ll want to adjust your car seat so it’s properly aligned in relation to your car. Features such as a built-in-level can help you perfectly set up your infant car seat. Car seats with more harness positions and incline positions scored best in this category
Quality Of Materials
Each of our best infant car seats use strong and secure straps for safety. However, not all safe car seats are equally comfortable. Infant car seats with soft materials, extra padding, and quality stitchwork scored best in this category.
Infant Car Seat Testing Process
To test each infant car seat, our review team installed each product into a sedan. In addition to inspecting the materials of each seat in person, we noted the ease or difficulty of the installation process. We also tested each adjustment mechanism to ensure it worked smoothly.
We could attach each of the car seats using the car’s built-in infant seat anchors or the seatbelt. For our testing, we installed each seat using the built-in lower anchors when possible.
Editor’s Pick: Bugaboo Turtle Air
The Bugaboo Turtle Air is a luxuriant infant car seat lined with high-quality merino wool. The detachable infant carrier has a shade canopy and is compatible with the Bugaboo stroller. It meets FAA requirements, meaning you can use it on commercial aircraft.
As a Bugaboo product, the Turtle Air is compatible with a number of baby gear accessories, such as a detachable changing bag, parasol, seat liner, and a footmuff (a baby sleeping bag). Most of these accessories are designed for use with the stroller and not while the Turtle Air is in your vehicle.
Key Features
- Cost: $450
- Weight range: 4.0 to 32.0 pounds
- Height range: 32.0 inches or less
- Car seat weight (excluding base): 8.6 pounds
Our Experience
The quality of the materials stood out the most when testing the Bugaboo Turtle Air. Not only are all the belts and buckles easily adjustable, but the lining material is the softest of any car seat we tested.
The base of the Turtle Air has an extendable load leg that adds extra stability. We were unable to attach the base to our vehicle’s anchor hooks and needed to install the Turtle Air using the car’s seat belt. This method worked well, and the seatbelt easily tucked into its required spot.
Once installed, the basket easily clicks into and detaches from the base. We found this to be among the easiest infant car seats to use.
| Our Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 4 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon has only a few customer reviews for the Bugaboo Turtle Air, but they all give the product 5 out of 5 stars. Google also rates this seat highly, awarding it an average score of 4.7 out of 5 stars from more than 80 reviews.
Users are happy this seat is easy to install, includes useful safety features, and is made from quality materials. Among the most common praises users heap on the Turtle Air is that it’s exceptionally light.
One of the few common complaints we found pertains to the attached sun visor. Some people believe it’s bulky and difficult to tuck away when not in use. We didn’t have any issues with the visor during our testing.
Easiest To Use: UPPAbaby Mesa
The UPPAbaby Mesa is an infant car carrier designed for quick and easy installation. Suitable for infants up to 35.0 pounds, the Mesa features an adjustable headrest and side-impact protection. The lining material is a soft wool blend.
The Mesa is compatible with Vista and Cruz strollers and available in three colors.
Key Features
- Cost: $350
- Weight range: 4.0 to 35.0 pounds
- Height range: 32.0 inches or less
- Car seat weight (excluding base): 9.9 pounds
Our Experience
The SmartSecure® latch system makes the Mesa one of the easiest infant car seats to install. Holding a button loosens the straps, which automatically tighten once you release the button. A handy indicator window shows you when the base is properly installed.
The Mesa features soft materials and quality stitching. The attachment mechanism works well, and the base is simple to install and remove from the car seat base. Everything feels like it clicks firmly into place.
| Our Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 4 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
The UPPAbaby Mesa infant car seat has more than 950 ratings on Amazon and an average score of 4.9. About 93 percent of reviews give this infant car seat 5 stars.
Satisfied customers say the Mesa is easy to install. Parents have peace of mind that the seat is properly secured, and the durable materials seem to last for many years.
A few reviewers say the angle of the seat is too steep. Their babies are uncomfortable in a seat unable to recline further.
Most Comfortable: Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35
The Graco SnugRide® SnugLock® 35 is a mid-priced infant car seat that installs easily and securely. The adjustable base offers four incline positions for optimal safety and comfort. Like many of the best infant car seats on this list, the SnugRide is attachable to a stroller without any adapters.
This infant car seat has undergone rigorous testing and includes a five-point harness system that has been side-impact tested for baby retention.
Key Features
- Cost: $205
- Weight range: 4.0 to 35.0 pounds
- Height range: Up to 32.0 inches
- Car seat weight (excluding base): 7.5 pounds
- Machine-washable padding
Our Experience
Despite its lower price tag, the SnugRide is comparable to any top-tier infant car seat. It features soft, energy-absorbing foam padding and removable inserts that ensure your child is snugly secured.
We had no problems installing the SnugRide, and the entire process took around a minute. The seat anchors clip into place and are easy to adjust. The straps and buckles secure easily, and the Click Connect™ system works well.
| Our Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon reviewers give the Graco SnugRide an average score of 4.8 based on more than 2,500 global ratings. About 90 percent of reviewers award the product 5 stars.
Some reports from parents say this car seat saved their infant’s life after a crash. Many positive reviews also mention the comfortable lining and excellent head support the SnugRide offers.
A few parents don’t care for the canopy attachment, which some say is bulky and cumbersome and gets in the way of the carrying handle.
Most Adjustable: Chicco KeyFit 30
The Chicco KeyFit is a highly adjustable infant car seat that attaches securely to most any back seat. The leveling system is spring-loaded for easy use, and the carrier base features a bubble level to help parents ensure they have the proper setup.
You can detach the infant carrier from the car seat base and insert it into a Chicco stroller. This lightweight infant car seat can accommodate infants up to 30 pounds and includes a removable canopy and machine-washable lining.
Key Features
- Cost: $200
- Weight range: 4.0 to 30.0 pounds
- Height range: Up to 30.0 inches
- Car seat weight (excluding base): 9.5 pounds
- Machine-washable padding
Our Experience
Of the car seats we tested, the KeyFit was the simplest to install. The instructions were simple to follow, and the adjustment mechanisms work well. It’s easy to properly tighten the straps because of the SuperCinch® force-multiplying tightener.
It’s also easy to adjust the angle of the KeyFit once attached, making it a solid choice if you want a high-quality car seat with a straightforward install process. The padding is made from EPS foam covered with a soft lining.
| Our Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
The Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat has over 4,700 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.9, and 93 percent of users giving the product 5 stars.
Several reviewers like being able to adjust the carrying handle and unclip the seat from the base without waking a sleeping infant. Others praise the ease of installation.
One reviewer didn’t applaud the release handle’s location. If the KeyFit is installed so it’s jammed against the front seat, the release handle can be hard to reach.
Best Value: Baby Trend EZ Ride
You can attach each car seat on this list to a stroller made by the same company, but the Baby Trend EZ Ride sells as an all-in-one travel system that includes a stroller. This combo package is cheaper than other car seats.
Though it doesn’t feature wool lining or removable, machine-washable paddings, the EZ Ride is a safe infant car seat for children up to 35.0 pounds.
Key Features
- Cost: $140
- Weight range: 4.0 to 35.0 pounds
- Height range: Up to 32.0 inches
- Car seat weight (excluding base): 8.8 pounds
Our Experience
We found the EZ Ride more difficult to install than the other infant car seats on this list. While we could attach the seat in under 10 minutes, the straps weren’t easily adjustable compared to other infant car seats. The anchor latch connectors are also hard to remove. But even so, the EZ Ride is a great option for its price.
While you only need to install the base once (and leave it in your car), you’ll likely end up regularly detaching the carrier from the base, especially if you plan to use the stroller. While not particularly difficult, the EZ Ride doesn’t easily detach from the base and requires some jiggling. We also found it tough to adjust the seat angle.
| Our Rating | 3.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 3.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
The EZ Ride has more than 8,800 Amazon ratings and an average score of 4.7. About 83 percent of reviews give this car seat 5 stars.
As with many of the best infant car seats, at least one verified review is from a parent who experienced a wreck while using the product. Real-life crash tests show the EZ Ride is safe in the event of the worst.
Other, less-extreme positive reviews mention the light weight of the carrier and the utility of the included stroller. We thought the materials were of a middling quality, but many reviewers say their children find the EZ Ride comfortable. While the padding isn’t removable and machine-washable, you can easily wipe it down to clean.
Some parents report the vehicle seat is uncomfortable for their little one, and others find it difficult to attach the harness buckles around a struggling infant.
Infant Car Seat Buyers Guide
Every car seat sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards. However, it’s still possible to buy untested car seats online. The best way to determine if a seat meets federal standards is to look for labels that clearly indicate a seat has been properly tested. Don’t buy an infant car seat if you’re unsure if it meets these standards.
Type Of Seat
In addition to ensuring your seat meets federal safety guidelines, you need to buy the best infant car seat for your child, based on their height and weight. Infants typically require a rear-facing car seat. Consult this chart, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to determine which type of car seat you need.
Materials
Better materials can mean an easier installation process and a more comfortable ride for your child. Look for car seats with machine-washable padding that’s plush and well-stitched.
Extras
Most infant car seats are designed as carriers that attach to a base you keep installed in your vehicle. Many seats come with stroller-compatibility, transforming your car seat from road to sidewalk use. Consider whether you want a car seat that attaches to a stroller, and if you prefer a seat with a shade hood.
Installation
After purchasing your car seat, make sure it’s properly installed. To check your installation, a professional can inspect your car seat. The NHTSA website features a handy tool for locating the nearest child passenger safety technician.
FAQ: Best Infant Car Seats
What is the safest baby car seat?
The safest car seat for your baby depends on your child’s weight and height. You should place a newborn baby in a rear-facing, infant car seat such as the Bugaboo Turtle Air, UPPAbaby Mesa, Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35, Baby Trend EZ Ride, or Chicco KeyFit 30. Each of these car seats meets U.S. federal safety standards. Doona, EvenFlo, and Maxi-Cosi are also considered to be safe baby car seats, though not on this list.
What is the top-rated infant car seat?
Our top-rated infant car seat – after testing several infant car seats – is the Bugaboo Turtle Air. This car seat features soft, comfortable materials, and it’s easy to install and adjust.
What type of car seat do babies need?
Babies need a rear-facing car seat. Don’t place an infant in a forward-facing car seat or a booster seat.
How long do car seats last?
A high-quality car seat can last until your child is too big to use it. If you’re in an accident with a car seat, you should replace it. The best infant car seats can last at least until your child reaches 30.0 pounds or 32.0 inches. A convertible seat can serve as a forward-facing or rear-facing car seat and last for many years.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
