New parents want the best for their new baby, and that applies especially to equipment designed to keep the baby safe, such as car seats. Though the best car seat really is the one that fits your car and child correctly and that you use properly every time you drive, some manufacturers offer seats with features that make them stand out from the pack.
Graco Snugride 35
Bucket seats are a popular choice among parents because they make it easy to move a sleeping baby from the car to the house or store. Bucket seats can also snap into many types of strollers and provide a safe place during a walk for newborns with little muscle control. The Snugride 35 allows parents to use it from 5 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches tall, making it one of the few bucket-style seats that works for longer than a few months. It also features Lower Anchors and Tethers installation, a removable infant head support and energy-absorbing foam. The Snugride 35 retails for about $180 in 2010.
Britax Advocate CS
Britax has long been a leader in car-seat safety with high weight limits and numerous safety features, such as the Harness Ultra Guard system that reduces head movement in a crash and energy-absorbing foam. One of the benefits of a convertible seat over an infant carrier is that it is more comfortable and will last for years, as opposed to months. The Advocate features an infant positioning insert to allow the best fit for infants from 5 to 35 pounds rear-facing, and it also accommodates children up to 65 pounds forward-facing. Soft, fun fabrics allow parents to showcase their child's personality. Britax seats are easy to install, and the Versa-Tether allows parents to anchor the seat at two points for stability. In 2010, the Advocate retails for $370.
Sunshine Radian XTSL
With the highest weight limits in the industry, the Radian could very well be the only seat you ever buy for your child. It fits children from 5 to 45 pounds rear-facing and harnesses children up to 80 pounds in the forward-facing position. The Radian also features energy-absorbing foam, memory-foam infant-support pillows and easy installation. Because it has a low profile and a narrow base, the Radian is ideal for parents who need to install two or three car seats in the same row. It retails for $300 in 2010.
Cosco Scenera
Proving that expensive items are not always superior, Cosco offers a budget convertible seat that fits rear-facing babies from 5 to 35 pounds before converting to a forward-facing seat for toddlers up to 40 pounds. Though the seat has minimal padding and no side-impact protection, many car-seat safety technicians suggest it to parents because it is inexpensive, easy to use and install and works well as a back-up or travel car seat. It also has a high shell, which means that kids are not likely to outgrow it in height before they reach the weight limit. The Scenera is available in several gender-neutral and specific prints, and it comes with a removable cup holder that attaches to the side of the seat for easy access, as well as a travel bag to protect the seat during airline travel. It costs around $45 in 2010.
