How to Pick an Infant Car Seat: Install, Fit, and Expiration
Choosing an infant car seat comes down to a few factors: how you’ll use it (your own car vs. mostly rideshares), how it installs and fits your car if you own one, compatibility with your stroller mix, and how long you’ll be able to use it before it expires. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the factors to consider before choosing your infant car seat.
TLDR
Choosing the right infant car seat isn’t about brand - it comes down to fit-to-car, fit-to-stroller, and fit-to-child. Confirm your install method first (base with LATCH or seatbelt, or baseless with integrated LATCH or European belt routing), and if you’re using a base, look for one with a load leg. Get the fit right - harness at or below shoulder height, chest clip at armpit level, no bulky clothing under the straps, and about a 45 degree recline for newborns - then check the expiration date on the manufacturer’s label. Before you buy, confirm the seat works with both your full-size or mid-size stroller and your lightweight, since not every brand is cross compatible.
Table of Contents
-
It’s Not About the Brand
-
Confirm Your Install Method First
-
Installing the Base with Load Leg
-
Getting the Fit Right
-
Reading the Expiration Date
-
Checking Your Stroller Compatibility
-
Troubleshooting
It’s Not About the Brand
The right car seat isn’t about chasing a specific brand, it’s about fit to your car and fit to your child. If you have a car, it’s most important that your chosen car seat can be tightly installed in the back seat. If you don’t, look for a model that is easy to install in most cars that is compatible with your full or midsize stroller and your lightweight stroller.
Look for European belt routing either way, as that’s a crucial feature if you’re on the go. If you do have a car, make sure you choose a car seat with a base that features a load leg for extra safety and stability.
Confirm Your Install Method First
When it comes to installation, there are several ways that an infant car seat is installed. Let’s take a look.
Base with LATCH
The most common way a car seat is installed is by installing the base of the infant seat with LATCH. Basically, the two prongs on the base will click into the lower anchor points in the car, keeping the base in place. The car seat itself just clicks in and out of the base.
Base with Seatbelt
Another installation method is to install the base with the seatbelt. Many car seat bases have “lockoffs” to lock the seatbelt in place and tight. Most seats use one or the other — LATCH or seatbelt — but not both.
Baseless with Integrated LATCH
If you have chosen a baseless car seat it may have LATCH built right into the shell of the seat. If this is the case you can click the latch right into the lower anchor points in the car for a very secure installation.
Baseless with Seatbelt
Lastly, you can install your baseless car seat with the seat belt, running the lap belt over the front of the seat and the shoulder harness around it through the seat’s European belt routing. See our article Base vs. Baseless for more information on this method.
Installing the Base with a Load Leg
If you do have a base and that base has a load leg, before you install it, you can pull out the load leg and make sure it anchors on the floorboard. Note that if there’s a bump in the middle seat, you can not use the base in that position.
Getting the Fit Right
There are a few more things to keep in mind when installing your infant car seat.
Harness Height
First of all the harness straps should be placed at or just below your baby’s shoulders. This way the harness supports your little one’s chest and hips without pulling on their neck or belly, and isn’t loose which could allow them to fall out.
Chest Clip Position
As for the chest clip, make sure that’s at armpit level, over the collarbone, so that the harness stays in the right position. After you buckle your child in, pinch the harness strap at the shoulder. If you can pinch a fold, it’s too loose and must be tightened.
No Bulky Clothing
Be sure your child is dressed in snug clothing that is not puffy or bulky. This is because bulky clothing can make it so the straps of the car seat are not tight enough, allowing for too much movement in a sharp stop or crash. If your little one is chilly, get a footmuff that is built for car seats that covers them outside the straps rather than inside. The 7AM Car Seat Cocoon is one such option we love.
Recline Angle for Newborns
Newborns should recline to about 45 degrees in an infant seat. This angle will make it less likely that baby’s head slumps forward which can obstruct their breathing. Check that the seat is properly reclined by looking at the bubble level or other indicator on the seat.
Reading the Expiration Date
You may not realize this, but car seats have expiration dates. This is because plastics and foam can weaken over time. In addition, older seats may not meet the updated standards. You can find it by checking the manufacturer’s label on the seat which lists the manufacture date as well as the expiration. Typically, expiration is from six to 10 years from manufacture.
When your seat has expired, you should cut the straps of the seat and dispose of it so that no one uses it accidentally.
Checking Your Stroller Compatibility
Many seats are cross compatible with a range of strollers by using an adapter. Before you settle on an infant car seat, double check that your chosen model can work with both your full-size or mid-size primary stroller as well as your lightweight. Keep in mind, not all brands play well with others. For a full breakdown, check out our post on compatibility.
Troubleshooting
Seat Wobbles more than an inch
A properly installed seat should not move more than one inch front-back or side-side when you tug on the base. If it moves more recheck, tighten and adjust the LATCH anchor points or seat belt.
Can’t Get a Tight Install in your Car
There are some cars and seats that just don’t work well together and a tight fit is nearly impossible. Your car may have a very pitched seat or something unique about its design. If you find it doesn’t work, you should get professional help or choose another seat.
Straps Look Twisted or Uneven
If the straps are twisted or uneven you may not be able to properly buckle the seat or it may not fit properly. You may have pulled one side more than the other, or one strap may be routed differently. Untwist the strap using the Triangle Fold Method and check for any routing or fit issues: Create slack near the buckle, fold the strap over itself at a 45 degree angle, slide the buckle tongue over the doubled up area and pull the strap through to flatten it.
Calling for Help (The Car Seat Lady is our Go-To!)
If you’re having trouble getting the right fit with your seat in the NYC area, The Car Seat Lady can help. Contacting an expert can save time, stress, and make baby’s trips safer overall.
The Right Car Seat with Babesta
Finding the right car seat for you means not only do you want to find a model with the features you need, but you also need to understand how to install it, how it fits in your car and on your stroller and when it expires. At Babesta, we sell infant car seats with exceptional safety ratings that work with the strollers we carry so you can easily make a seamless travel system.
At Babesta we won’t let you lose your cool shopping the baby market. We’ll always have your back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tight should the install actually be?
Less than an inch of movement, side to side or front to back, when you grab the seat at the belt path and give it a shake. That “one inch test” is the standard way to confirm a tight install, whether you’ve used a base or gone baseless.
Can I install it myself or should I get it checked?
You can absolutely install it yourself but it’s worth getting double-checked by a certified technician at least once (unless you don’t have a car, in which case you may get a certified technician or expert to check your process). First time installs are commonly a little off in ways that are easy to miss on your own. We recommend the Car Seat Lady in the NYC area. She charges a fee but is a trusted expert who can ensure you’re doing it right.
What voids a car seat’s safety certification?
A few common ones: the seat’s been in a moderate to severe car crash, it’s past its expiration date, or you’re using aftermarket accessories like strap covers, seat protectors, extra padding - that aren’t made or approved by the seat’s manufacturer. Altering the harness or shell in any way voids it too so stick to what came with the sweat or what the manufacturer explicitly sells for it.
It’s also worth noting that car seats are to be used in the market they’re certified for. That means if you’re taking a US seat off to Europe, you may not be covered by insurance in the case of an accident. Likewise, if you take a European model to the US. Be sure before traveling to check the certification of the seat and your insurance policy. (*This is separate from European belt routing, which is a hardware feature and has nothing to do with which market a seat is certified for.)
Related Reading
