Graco Infant SafeSeat Step 1

Experts say the Graco Infant SafeSeat Step 1 car seat is a good choice for taller, heavier babies. Because it can be used for babies up to 30 pounds in weight and 32-inches in height, you can keep your child facing the rear of the car longer (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this up to age 2). If you don't need the extra capacity, the Graco SnugRide (*Est. $80 to $150, depending on model) gets top marks for safety, convenience and ease of use, and it comes in a wide range of colors and styles. At 7.5 pounds, it also weighs a lot less than the SafeSeat (9.8 pounds), which gets criticized by some parents for being too heavy and too bulky to really be useful as an infant carrier.

The most credible review of the Graco Infant SafeSeat comes from ConsumerReports.org, which tests and compares 11 infant car seats for crash protection, ease of use, and fit to vehicle. Baby Bargains also has excellent coverage. Although authors Denise and Alan Fields don't test the seats themselves, they do take crash testing into account along with more subjective factors like parent feedback and brand reputation.