Infant Car Seats: Reviews

Updated September 2009

December 19th:
Car seats and travel systems recalled due to breaking handles
From: ConsumerSearch
March 1st:
NHTSA crash tests reveal car seat flaws
From: Chicago Tribune

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Best car seat, more options

*Est. $80 to $150, depending on model Compare Prices

Most experts choose the Graco SnugRide as the best infant car seat, and parents consistently give it top marks for its ease of use and installation. The Graco SnugRide comes in a wide variety of options. The pricier… versions have fancier fabric, nicer canopies and a cold-weather boot and/or a blanket, but the basic seats in the $80 to $100 range are just as safe. All Graco SnugRide car seats include EPS padding for extra protection. It can secure using your car's seat belts or LATCH anchors. The top-rated Graco SnugRide is rated for newborns up to 22 pounds in weight and 29 inches tall.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org includes 11 models in its latest report on infant car seats. Each car seat, including the Graco SnugRide, is ...

Baby Bargains: The popular baby gear book Baby Bargains covers a good range of infant car seats including the Graco SnugRide. Ratings are based ...

Chicago Tribune: The testing cited in this report really focuses on cars -- the car seats are not tested evenly. For instance, the Graco SnugRide ...

Target.com: Most of the more than 300 reviews on Target.com give the Graco SnugRide perfect scores. Parents are enthusiastic about the ...

Amazon.com: More than 130 parents have posted reviews here for the Graco SnugRide car seat. Feedback is mainly positive with some varied ...

ToysRUs.com: ToysRUs.com has more than 100 parent reviews of the Graco SnugRide infant car seat spread among pages for various model colors. ...

About.com: While no formal objective testing is apparent, Heather Corley is About.com's guide to baby products and a child-passenger safety ...

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Good basic infant car seat

Baby Trend Flex-Loc

*Est. $90 to $120, depending on model Compare Prices

We didn't find as many parent reviews for the Baby Trend Flex-Loc as we did for the Graco SnugRide, but this car seat also performs well in crash testing and is a favorite of parents. Its triangular handle looks… unconventional, and while most parents say it's very comfortable, others disagree -- so it's worth checking out this seat in person. The Baby Trend Flex-Loc car seat comes in nine patterns -- not nearly as many variations as the Graco SnugRide. But if you don't care about extras like a boot or peek-a-boo canopy, the Baby Trend Flex-Loc does come with an adjustable crotch strap -- one feature that's missing on the Graco SnugRide. The Baby Trend Flex-Loc is rated for infants from 5 to 22 pounds, and up to 28.5 inches tall.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org' latest report on infant car seats includes the Baby Trend Flex-Loc along with 10 other models, each of which ...

Baby Bargains: Denise and Alan Fields include the Baby Trend Flex-Loc in their well-researched coverage of infant car seats. Ratings are based ...

Walmart.com: Most of the over 50 reviews of the Baby Trend Flex-Loc on this site are positive, but a couple say they find the seat cushioning ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com has just over 20 owner-written reviews of the Baby Trend Flex-Loc. Along with compliments about comfort and ease of ...

About.com: There doesn't appear to be formal lab testing, but Heather Corley is About.com's guide to baby products and a child-passenger ...

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Infant car seat for heavier babies

Graco Infant SafeSeat Step 1

*Est. $130 to $185, depending on model Compare Prices

Most infant car seats are designed for babies up to 22 pounds, but manufacturers are beginning to make seats with higher weight and height limits, allowing taller or heavier babies to remain rear-facing until they are at… least 1 year old (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 2 years). If your child has exceeded the 22-pound weight limit of other infant car seats, the Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1) is rated for babies weighing up to 30 pounds. It also has a taller than typical 32-inch height limit. This car seat doubles as a carrier.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org crash tests 11 infant car seats including the Graco SafeSeat for its latest round of reviews. There's not ...

Baby Bargains: Baby Bargains has excellent coverage of infant car seats. The only major problem is that some of its recommendations are based on ...

ToysRUs.com: The more than 100 parent-written reviews of the Graco SafeSeat Birkshire on ToysRUs.com mainly say the SafeSeat is comfortable, ...

Amazon.com: Most of approximately 80 Graco SafeSeat reviews on Amazon.com are positive. As on other user review sites, some owners here say ...

About.com: Heather Corley is About.com's guide to baby products and a child-passenger safety technician, but there's no indication of a ...

ConsumerGuide.com: This "expert review" seems to be a recitation of specifications rather than a hands-on evaluation, which is not unusual for ...

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Chicco KeyFit *Est. $170

4 picks including: Amazon.com, Chicago Tribune…

Chicco KeyFit 30 *Est. $180

3 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…


	Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat with Base from Amazon.com New: $186.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat, Fuego from Amazon.com New: $179.99 $144.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Infant Car Seats: Reviews

Best car seat, more options

Good basic infant car seat

Infant car seat for heavier babies

Infant Car Seats by Price Range