Top Rated Car Seats for 2018 – For All Budgets
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Kid Sitting Safe Top Rated Car Seats 2018
The table below highlights the top rated child car seats in the market in 2018 based on our reviews. Our selections cover all the different types of car seats:
BUDGET | MID-RANGE | PREMIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|
TOP RATED INFANT CAR SEATS | |||
TOP RATED CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS | |||
TOP RATED ALL IN ONE CAR SEATS | |||
TOP RATED COMBINATION CAR SEATS |
The table above is intended to help parents looking to purchase a child car seat by giving a snapshot of the Top Rated Car Seats for all the main types. We've split our recommendations into 3 price categories so there is a seat to suit all budgets.
The rating is based on our review of 5 star ratings and reviews which have been placed on each product by different users. Our methodology for doing this considered all of our trusted sources for Car Seat Ratings so you can be confident that these seats come highly recommended from car seat safety experts.
WHERE CAN I FIND TOP RATED CAR SEAT REVIEWS?
- Check out our detailed reviews below of our Top Picks of Infant Car Seats
- Follow the links in the table above for reviews of all of our other Top Rated Car Seats
- If you're looking for a Top Rated Booster Seat then take a look at our Booster Seat Reviews
Top Rated Infant Car Seats - Rear Facing Car Seats
The Chicco KeyFit30 infant car seat base is a nice seat and base that is ultra convenient for parents on the go. The advantage with this seat is that you get an easy installation car seat base that can be used on more than one vehicle (additional car seat bases can be purchased separately here). It is designed to accommodate your baby from four to thirty pounds.
Features
- Secures baby from 4 to 30 lbs
- Energy-absorbing foam for improved side-impact protection
- Removable newborn insert for smaller babies
- Thickly cushioned seat pad and five-point harness for maximum comfort
- One click installation gives you assurance once you have properly installed it.
- Option to buy multiple seat bases for easy installation in all your cars.
- LATCH system comes with push-on latch connectors for easy installation.
- Can be used in conjunction with the Chicco Keyfit Caddy Stroller Frame
Pros
- No.1 rated infant car seat in America
- Transition from your old car to the new one is very easy.
- By just pulling the button located near the base, you can get it to install in the base level in any style car.
- It provides extra base that is invaluable in time of need.
- It has an effective LATCH system which tightens the car seat to the vehicle with only one pull.
- It is easy to use.
- It fits small babies snugly.
- It provides excellent security. It is also convenient for your usage and safe for the kids.
- It works seamlessly with two base stations. If you have two cars, you install a stay-in-car base for each one and then use this car seat between them.
- It has garnered very little user complains so far.
Cons
- Some users actually complained that it is heavy to carry, although at only 9lbs it is one of the lightest seats on the market!
- Only suitable for infants up to 30lbs so you will need to purchase a new car seat once your child grows
Summary
The Chicco KeyFit30 is safe to use and versatile to install in any car. A perfect choice for any parent. If you're interested in this seat, you can see how the latest "Zip" version of it fares against the latest infant car seat from Britax (B-Safe 35 Elite) in our Britax vs Chicco comparison.
the best overall pick for balancing crash protection, ease of use, and vehicle fit for infant seats with greater than 22-pound capacity. It's perfect for driving baby around in style.
Below is the full demonstration of this Top Rated Infant Car Seat from Chicco.
Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat
is available at a discount price on Amazon
The UPPAbaby Mesa is our recommended choice if you want to splash out on some luxury for your loved one. This premium seat offers the best combination of comfort, style, convenience and safety. The SmartSecure system allows the seat to be installed accurately and safely within just 10 seconds using the LATCH Connectors! A visual indicator changes from red to green to confirm proper installation for your peace of mind. This seat achieved a NHTSA ease of use rating of 5 stars and was the first to pass the NHTSA's new proposed standard for side impact protection.
The 2016 UPPAbaby MESA is available in 5 colours. Featured above is the Jake (Black), other options are: Denny (Red), Georgie (Marine Blue), Pascal (Grey), Lindsey (Wheat).
Features
- Compatible with the UPPAbaby Vista & Cruz travel systems
- Adjustable headrest with Side Impact Protection
- SMARTSecure™ system features auto-retracting lower anchor LATCH attachments
- Built-in lockoff for seatbelt installations
- Apdated breathable & washable fabric
- Suitable for infants from 4 to 35 lbs and 32 inches or less
- No-rethread harness with 5-position front-adjustable headrest
- Includes Infant insert for when your baby is between 4 and 8 pounds
- Includes car seat base
Pros
- An absolute breeze to ensure safe installation - super quick & fool proof! The 10 seconds install has been confirmed as accurate by user feedback and independent tests that we have reviewed. A great advantage if you will be regularly taking the seat in and out of the car.
- Works really well with the UPPAbaby travel systems - no adapters required.
- Users love the ease of use and particularly the no-rethread harness
- The carrier is lightweight at under 10lbs
Cons
- When the sunshade is down, you cannot put the handle into the down locked position without the handle hitting the sunshade.
- Expensive, but many users have remarked that the price is worth it.
The video below provides a full demonstration of the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat. This shows how easy and quick it is to install using either the seat belt or LATCH connectors with or without the car seat base.
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat
Next up in our top rated car seats is the SnugRide Click Connect 35. This baby car seat has the advantage of being very lightweight, making it easy for you to carry baby from car to stroller and everywhere in between. This seat is the lightest seat we have found that is designed for babies rear-facing from 4-35pounds. Furthermore, it is also equipped with Click Connect technology providing one-step attachment to all Graco Click Connect strollers. Best of all, the seat is less than half the price of some of our other top rated infant car seats!
Features
- Weight without base: 9.7 lbs; weight with base: 16.7 lbs.
- Dimensions: 30.7D x 18.7W, x 15.6H inches
- For infants 4-35 lbs. and up to 32 inches
- Safe Seat Engineered - includes side impact testing, testing at twice the car seat standard, and testing to extreme car interior temperatures
- EPS, energy absorbing foam for effective impact energy management
- LATCH-equipped stay-in-car base with one-hand dial adjustment. The base also includes an integrated belt lock-off for easy seat belt installation.
- Easy-to-read level indicator to help ensure proper installation.
- Cushioned with GracoPedic™ luxury foam for extra padding and added comfort
- Compatible with most Graco Strollers using Click Connect System
- Removable infant body support cushions baby.
Pros
- The infant seat is lightweight at under 10lbs
- Very easy to install with or without the included base and with either seat belts or LATCH.
Cons
- The design of the infant car seat is such that you cannot have the canopy open and the handle in the carry position at the same time.
- A few users have remarked that the padding is not as thick as on some other car seats.
Check out this quick video from Graco which shows off all the features of this great lightweight infant car seat:
Safety 1st Onboard 35 Air Infant Car Seat, Estate
This Top Rated Infant Car Seat from Safety 1st has all the essential features required to protect your baby. The Air Protect® technology in this seat provides advanced side impact protection around your little one's head. Furthermore the car seat base provides 5 different angles so you can find the perfect fit for your car.
Features
- Weight without base: 9 lbs; weight with base: 16 lbs
- Dimensions: Base width 15 inches; carrier width 17 inches; length 28 inches; height 21 inches .
- Suitable for infants rear-facing from 4-35 pounds and 32 inches or less in height.
- Air Protect® Side Impact Protection: advanced air cushion system protects your child’s head in a side impact crash.
- One Click™ LATCH equipped with LATCH storage
- Machine washable seat pad.
- 5-position base for best fit to car
- Infant insert for newborns
- Additional leg room for baby's comfort.
- 4 harness heights and 3 buckle locations to accommodate your growing child
- 5-point harness with up front adjustment
Pros
- Excellent padding throughout. Particularly the side impact padding.
- Easy to remove and install on the base.
- Compatible with several Safety 1st Strollers.
Cons
- Cannot install this seat without the base. So if you plan to install in more than one car, it would be a good idea to buy an additional base.
Conclusion
These are our top rated infant car seats in the mid-range and premium categories. An infant car seat is a popular choice for many parents due to the compatibility of these seats with stroller systems. All of these top car seats have a number of strollers that they fit onto quickly and easily.
However the drawback with infant car seats is that they have only a short life-span. The maximum weight limit for most of these seats is 35lbs and some babies will reach that weight before they are 1 years old. It's important to note the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics that you should keep your child rear facing until at least the age of two.
A convertible car seat is a good choice to move onto after your baby has outgrown their infant car seat. Although most of the top rated convertible car seats can be used for infants from 4lbs in weight, they are not compatible with strollers. This is why most people opt for an infant car seat in the first instance for their newborns.
The ability to move baby from car to stroller seamlessly without having to remove them from their seat is a huge benefit. The other major difference is that the top rated infant car seats are much lighter than convertible car seats. They are much more versatile and really handy to have around when your baby is small enabling you to move them around with ease while keeping them safe and comfortable.
