Tested: The Best Infant Car Seats of 2022, Chosen by the Experts at Good Housekeeping

The knowledgeable folks at the Good Housekeeping Institute tested dozens of infant car seats to determine the best for you and your family. Here's what they found.

• The Best Infant Car Seats of 2022
• What Is an Infant Car Seat?
• What to Look For When Shopping for an Infant Car Seat
• Height and weight limits
• Carrier weight
• Stroller compatibility
• Ease of installation
• Harness type
• Why Trust the Good HousekeepingInstitute?

Expecting parents often find themselves in a conundrum: Buy an all-in-one or convertible car seat right away, or start with an infant car seat? Most convertibles and all-in-ones claim to be appropriate for newborn babies all the way up through childhood, but infant car seats are designed with newborn-specific needs in mind.

To help expecting parents decide on an infant car seat, we turned to our colleagues at the Good Housekeeping Institute. When it comes to advice for keeping your children safe in the car, we know it’s safe to trust the knowledgeable parenting and product experts at Good Housekeeping, which, like Road & Track, is part of Hearst.

The Best Infant Car Seats of 2022

• best overall infant car seat KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat Chicco $270 AT AMAZON Read More $270 AT AMAZON
• best value infant car seat SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat Graco $180 AT AMAZON Read More $180 AT AMAZON
• BEST LIGHTWEIGHT INFANT CAR SEAT Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base Nuna $320 AT NORDSTROM Read More $320 AT NORDSTROM
• BEST INFANT CAR SEAT STROLLER COMBO Infant Car Seat & Stroller Doona $550 AT AMAZON Read More $550 AT AMAZON
• EASIEST TO INSTALL INFANT CAR SEAT MESA Infant Car Seat UPPAbaby $300 AT AMAZON Read More $300 AT AMAZON
• BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR SMALL CARS Liing Infant Car Seat Clek $400 AT BUY BUY BABY Read More $400 AT BUY BUY BABY
• EASIEST TO CLEAN INFANT CAR SEAT Mico XP Max Infant Car Seat Maxi-Cosi $275 AT AMAZON Read More $275 AT AMAZON
• BEST INFANT CAR SEAT WITH BUILT-IN SENSOR Aton 2 SensorSafe Cybex $300 AT WALMART Read More $300 AT WALMART
• BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR SMALL BABIES B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit Infant Car Seat Britax $270 AT AMAZON Read More $270 AT AMAZON

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The GH Institute tests hundreds of baby and child products every year, and that includes dozens of child car seats. Clearly, GHI lab technicians are experts in the field, and we trust their research and data to be complete, thorough, and correct. This roundup of the best infant car seats you can buy is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise, and real-life consumer feedback.

What Is an Infant Car Seat?

While there are a variety of child car seat types, styles, and brands for new parents to consider, an infant car seat will likely be the best option for the first few months following the child’s birth. Not only are infant car seats generally a bit smaller, most double as baby carriers and sync with popular strollers, allowing parents to keep their child safe and secure (and hopefully asleep) while moving them from car to stroller and back again.

Infant car seats are always rear-facing. They use a five-point harness to keep babies secure, and lie nearly flat to accommodate infants who aren’t yet able to hold up their head. To find the best infant car seats, GHIevaluated multiple criteria, including safety, company customer service, ease of use, installation, angle and harness adjustments, and removal of the carrier from the base.

Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how to pick the right infant car seat for you and your lifestyle. Looking for a car seat to last your child for years, from toddler through booster? Check out our favorite convertible car seats. Here are the best infant car seats of 2022:

best overall infant car seat Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat

Amazon

$270 AT AMAZON $270 AT WALMART $270 AT BUY BUY BABY

This infant car seat is the newer version of the KeyFit 30, which has long stood out to GH Lab experts for its ease of installation, crucial to ensuring the safety of your child. While the KeyFit 35 is slightly heavier and more expensive than the 30, it includes an anti-rebound bar and is able to accommodate slightly larger infants up to a height of 32 inches or a weight of 35 pounds, allowing you to keep your baby in a rear-facing seat longer. The carrier also clicks from the car seat base directly into a range of compatible strollers, making the entire transportation process a breeze.

Good Housekeeping’s experts found that this pick has “all the things you want in an infant car seat,” including a large canopy, machine washable seat pad, the previously mentioned stroller compatibility, and more. In their assessments, Lab testers particularly liked how easy it was to install using LATCH and to secure your child inside the seat. However, it is worth noting that at 10 pounds, this carrier is on the heavier side when compared with similar options.

Spec sheet

best value infant car seat Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat

Amazon

$180 AT AMAZON

If you’re looking for an option that won’t be so rough on your wallet, the SnugRide SnugLock 35 by Graco will please both you and your budget. While testing, GH Lab pros found this car seat easy to install and loved the expanded weight range it accommodates—from four pounds with a removable newborn insert to 35 pounds. It also offers a four-position recline and can be installed with or without a base using a European belt path.

Easily turn this car seat into a travel system by clicking it into a compatible Graco stroller, or simply use it as a car seat with one-step secure attachment to the car seat base. Best of all, this seat offers a great value at just over $150.

spec sheet

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT INFANT CAR SEAT Nuna Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base

Nordstrom

$320 AT NORDSTROM $320 AT THE TOT $320 AT BLOOMINGDALE’S

At just 7.6 pounds, this lightweight car seat is as easy to carry as it is to install into your vehicle. The adjustable Relx base includes a fold-down stability leg, meant to absorb a bit more impact from the bumps of the road and give your baby a smoother ride, but the car seat can also be installed using just a seatbelt when traveling in other vehicles. GHI experts particularly loved how easy the setup was for this car seat, the high adjustability for the stability leg, stroller compatibility, and its sleek design. The removable magnetic UPF 50+ canopy features an extension drape, and magnetic holders make it easy to keep buckles out of the way when putting baby in.

Plus, colored indicators let you know whether or not your car seat and base are correctly installed, removing all the guesswork. It’s also certified Greenguard Gold, ensuring it has been vetted for low chemical emissions. Experts noted that they found this car seat to be a bit harder to clean than others.

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BEST INFANT CAR SEAT STROLLER COMBO Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller

Amazon

$550 AT AMAZON

GHI experts loved this unique two-in-one design that offers an easy transition from car seat to stroller without requiring any additional parts. You can also install the car seat with or without a base, making this a great option for travel or city living. The adjustable handlebar doubles as a rebound bar when in car seat position, and takes a few seconds and just three steps to transition between car seat and stroller (which can seamlessly be done with baby still inside the carrier).

The GH Institute testing pros found this travel system easy to maneuver and liked that it could fit into tight spaces and around sharp corners. The carrier is heavier than stand-alone car seats at 16.5 pounds since it includes all stroller components as well. However, the only necessary lifting will typically be when going into and out of the car. Though it’s great for those with limited space, testers found the stroller to be a bit short for tall parents.

spec sheet

EASIEST TO INSTALL INFANT CAR SEAT UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat

Amazon

$300 AT AMAZON

The stylish Mesa car seat takes the guesswork out of installation with its SmartSecure System. While testing, our experts liked how easy it was to understand the level guide: It uses a tightness indicator that changes from red to green when the base has been installed correctly, along with self-retracting LATCH connectors for a secure fit that our pros found easy to install. The car seat also has a no-rethread harness that adjusts with the headrest for your growing babe, minimizing the chance for faulty installation. The adjustable headrest with side impact protection keeps your baby safe on all sides, and the extendable, removable canopy is just the cherry on top to a great car seat.

At $300 and up, this pick is on the pricier side; however, if paired with the Vista or Cruz stroller, it offers lots of configurations for a complete travel system. We also found it relatively easy to clean during our evaluation due to the removable seat fabric, and appreciated its premium design and quality.

spec sheet

BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR SMALL CARS Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

Buy Buy Baby

$400 AT BUY BUY BABY $460 AT THE TOT $440 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND

This narrow car seat by Clek makes it easy to fit your little one in virtually any vehicle, no matter the size. If you have multiple children and need to fit more than one car seat across a row, this might be the choice for you. Clek’s Liing stood out in our tests for its narrow frame, measuring at just under 17 inches wide. Its base also offers seven recline positions, and you can even install the seat without the base through the European belt path.

During testing, GH Lab experts found the rigid LATCH connector was easy to click in. A large canopy keeps baby shielded from the sun, and the carrier is also compatible with a range of strollers so you can easily turn it into a travel system without too much hassle.

The GH Lab particularly loved the addition of a metal load leg in this seat, which provides extra stability and crash absorption. This seat is, however, on the pricier side, starting around $400.

spec sheet

EASIEST TO CLEAN INFANT CAR SEAT Maxi-Cosi Mico XP Max Infant Car Seat

Amazon

Now 14% off

$275 AT AMAZON $320 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND $320 AT ALBEEBABY.COM

The Mico XP Max is an upgraded version of the Mico Max Plus, which our experts previously tested as well. Compatible with a wide range of stroller systems and with side-impact protection for baby and a contoured carrier handle for parent, the Mico XP Max is designed to get you to your destination as smoothly as possible. Our pros loved that unlike the Max Plus, the XP Max includes an anti-rotation stability leg designed to reduce movement and keep your little one safer. Like the Max Plus, it has a large, extendable canopy to keep baby out of the sun.

We know motion sickness, spit-up, and even the occasional blowout can come at the worst time. Luckily, our pros found that messes are no match for this car seat, with its removable car seat pad that cleans easily in the washer and dryer. While it is on the heavier side, its materials and build feel luxurious and more premium compared to some other options.

spec sheet

BEST INFANT CAR SEAT WITH BUILT-IN SENSOR Cybex Aton 2 SensorSafe

Walmart

$300 AT WALMART $300 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND $300 AT ALBEEBABY.COM

This smart car seat by Cybex has a built-in sensor that helps keep baby safe and secure while on the road. Its high crash test ratings also mean you don’t have to worry once your babe is securely strapped inside. Our pros appreciated the standout SensorSafe technology that’s built right into the chest clip of your car seat and sends an alert directly to your phone in certain unsafe situations, like if your child unclips their seatbelt or if the car temperature gets too hot. We found it easy to install this seat with the base—which has a load-bearing leg for added stability—but was a bit trickier to install using the European belt path.

While it does have a rethread harness which can make adjusting the seat for baby’s growth-spurt a bit more work, the added safety features of the seat make up for it. It’s compatible with a variety of different manufacturers’ strollers so you have an instant travel system, and is LATCH compatible so you don’t have to struggle to install the base.

spec sheet

BEST INFANT CAR SEAT FOR SMALL BABIES Britax B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit Infant Car Seat

Amazon

$270 AT AMAZON $270 AT ALBEEBABY.COM

This new and improved car seat from Britax’s B-Safe line is similar to the B-Safe 35 that our Lab tested in the past, but with a few important key updates. Unlike the 35, this Gen2 model has a no-rethread harness, six-position headrest, two layers of side impact protection, removable infant inserts, and more. Offering your baby more space and softer padding, this seat is equal parts protection and comfort. You can even install it in your vehicle without a base using the European belt guide if you’re traveling in a different car. Britax’s SafeCenter LATCH makes installation a breeze so you won’t find any trouble securing and tightening the base.

While this car seat is on the bulkier and heavier side, with its steel frame and foam-lined shell down the sides, online reviewers love that it offers baby a nice, snug fit. While testing, we found Britax B-safe infant car seats to be relatively easy to install, with or without the base.

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How GHI Tests Infant Car Seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute’s engineering and parenting pros have reviewed dozens of car seats over the past two years, including infant car seats. They have also worked with real parents to test car seats in a variety of vehicle brands and sizes to make sure that these car seats work for everyone’s lifestyle.

First, they ensure that each car seat has passed Federal Safety Standards. Then they perform in-Lab and at-home tests to assess safety, ease of installation, stability, ease of adjustments, ease of getting babies in and out of the carrier, removal of carrier from the base and installation into compatible strollers, and more. To accomplish this, the Lab sets up each car seat in a variety of vehicles and strollers and uses an eight-pound baby “dummy” to simulate putting a child in the car seat and evaluate how easy it is to secure them as well as install the car seats.

What to Look For When Shopping for an Infant Car Seat

Many convertible car seats are safe for newborns, but infant car seats are designed specifically around the needs of an infant, offering additional targeted support for their neck, head, and spinal cord. Typically, infant car seats are also smaller than other types of child car seats, offering easier access to your baby when getting in and out of the car and compatibility with certain strollers, so you can simply take out the car seat and fix it to a stroller without removing the baby.

Here are some aspects to consider when selecting an infant car seat:

Height and weight limits

Every infant car seat will specify height and weight limits. As soon as your child hits the maximum of either—typically up to 32 inches or 35 pounds—it will be time to move on to a bigger car seat.

Carrier weight

Many infant car seats have the option to install into a base secured to your vehicle, allowing you to keep your baby undisturbed inside the carrier as you tote them outside of your vehicle, and easily clip the carrier back into the base on your next drive. Make sure the carrier is light enough that you’re comfortable lifting it from the base with your baby inside.

Stroller compatibility

Carriers are typically compatible with a range of strollers, extending the use of some strollers that can’t be used at birth, making it much easier to get from point A to B with a newborn.

Ease of installation

Our experts found the most difficult aspect in tests was securing the car seat to the vehicle. Many seats required a lot of strength, and some seats fit better in certain vehicles. Before purchasing, take note of the size of the car seat and the size of your vehicle’s back seat. Hire a certified car seat professional if you need help with installation.

Expiration

All car seats are marked with an expiration date, generally between six and 10 years from the date of manufacture. If you are hoping to use your seat for multiple children, take note of the expiration. Also, never use a car seat that has previously been in an accident.

Harness type

You’ll see two harness options when choosing your perfect car seat: rethread and no-rethread. If you choose a rethread harness, this means that as your baby grows, you’ll need to reach around and reroute the straps through the back of the harness each time you need to adjust the size.

Why Trust Us?

With a combined 206 years of automotive publishing experience, Hearst Autos—Road & Track, Car and Driver, and Autoweek—knows cars better than just about anyone. The Gear Team is committed to delivering honest evaluations, hands-on tests, and product reviews driven by decades of knowledge and experience. We get our hands on almost every product, tool, and piece of gear we feature. If we can’t get our hands on the gear, we rely on the combined wisdom of our writers and editors, as well as auto experts we trust.

We’ll never say anything is “the best” if we wouldn’t recommend it to our friends or buy it ourselves, and we won’t claim we’ve tested something if we haven’t. Learn more about our product testing here.

Why Trust the Good HousekeepingInstitute?

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including infant car seats. For more than 15 years, Rachel Rothman, the Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute who led the 2022 study of car seats, has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing, and writing about parenting products. She leads GH Lab efforts in both the auto space and most juvenile products, including car seats.

From: Car and Driver

Jon Langston The Senior Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, The Drive, Rider, Task & Purpose, Cycle World, and more.

Keyword: Tested: The Best Infant Car Seats of 2022, Chosen by the Experts at Good Housekeeping