Do you foresee owning a car before the baby’s 1st birthday?
No: Fit2 – as you’ll want the convenience of the infant car seat for as long as you can possibly have it.
Yes: When you own a car, do you foresee also using other vehicles (taxi/uber/lyft, rental cars on airplane trips) when the baby is 12-24 months old?
Yes: Fit2 – as you’ll want the convenience of the infant car seat for as long as you can possibly have it.
No: Any of Top Picks (note that Aton2 will be outgrown the soonest, Pipa & SnugLocks a few months thereafter, and Fit2 nearly a year thereafter).
When you own your own car you can switch to a convertible seat (a seat that starts out rear-facing and then goes forward-facing after baby outgrows the infant car seat and it won’t matter that the convertible seat is not travel friendly – i.e. doesn’t fit on a stroller or install easily like an infant carrier without a base does.
Usage of the Base:
Will you be renting cars for longer than a day at any time? Is there a relative or friend who has a car that you will be using with any regularity (where you may want to keep a base installed in their car)?
No: Any of Top Picks – as the base won’t matter to you as you’ll never end up using it!
Yes: Will you need 2 adults + baby in the back seat of these vehicles AND/OR are there space constraints in the car (smaller car and/or taller adults riding in front)?
Yes: SnugLock – as you’ll want the car seat in the center to allow 2 adults to fit on either side and/or the front seats to come back adequately to fit taller adults riding in front.
No: Any of Top Picks if installing on side seats (Aton2 & Pipa have added bonus of load leg which works in most side seats), and SnugLock if installing in center seat.
Note: If you will be putting this infant car seat next to another car seat…
All of 4 of these seats are relatively narrow but sometimes one might fit better than another… and sometimes it just isn’t possible to get 2 seats side by side either because the vehicle’s back seat can’t fit 2 side-by-side and/or the other car seat you are using is too wide.
Yes: Fit2 (if you want to get the most use out of the infant car seat)
Does it get very cold in winter where you live?
No: Any of Top Picks
Yes: Fit2 – as the easiest way to deal with getting kids in and out of the car in winter is to use an infant seat as it avoids the whole issue of taking coats on/off as you can buckle baby inside where it is warm and cover them with blankets – rather than having to take coats on and off in a car that is often very cold. The Fit2 will get you through 2 winters typically, whereas many other infant seats will only get you through one winter.
Will you need to take the base in and out of your car?
Here are some reasons why people take a base in and out:
To put the base in another car (2nd car, grandparent or babysitter’s car)… but now’s a good time to mention that you may want to use the carrier without the base using the European belt path in these other vehicles instead of switching a base back and forth.
To have room in the back seat when the baby isn’t in the car – to take work clients, other couples on a date night, haul large objects in the back seat, fit more kids in a carpool
To allow for (infrequently needed) 3rd row access in some minivan/SUVs
Yes: SnugLock or Pipa No: Any of Top Picks
Do you have space constraints – either you have a smaller car (midsize or smaller) and/or a tall adult needing to sit in the driver or front passenger seat?
This question applies when installing the car seat on the side. If you’ll be installing the car seat in the center, you can ignore this as even in smaller cars an infant seat will typically fit in the center without affecting the position of the front seats.
Center: SnugLock, Aton2 (note that Aton2’s load leg may not be able to be used in the center of many vehicles), Fit2
Side: Any of Top Picks – but we’d suggest the Aton2 or Pipa as they have load legs which typically work for most side seats (but frequently don’t work in the center)
Will you be traveling by plane, taxi/Uber/Lyft/etc, or rental car with the baby in their first 24 months?
Yes: Fit2 (While all the Top Picks are great for this type of travel, the Fit2 is the best as it will last about a year longer than the other Top Picks – and the easiest type of car seat to use for this type of travel is an infant seat that fits on a stroller frame – to let you get car seat + baby + stroller through the airport all with one hand)
No: Any of Top Picks
Note: If you will be putting this infant car seat next to another car seat…
All of 4 of these seats are relatively narrow but sometimes one might fit better than another… and sometimes it just isn’t possible to get 2 seats side by side either because your vehicle’s back seat can’t fit 2 side-by-side and/or the other car seat you are using is too wide.
Snug Lock – priced at $160-200. However, for some families the extra longevity of the Fit2 (priced at $280) makes more financial sense even though the price is higher.
If you want to remind yourself of the details about just these “top pick” car seats – to compare & contrast – see the table below.
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The Car Seat Lady is not responsible for errors or omissions. We’ve tried VERY hard to ensure 100% accuracy… but we’re human, and car seat and stroller manufacturers are constantly making changes!
This information is applicable to the car seats as sold in the US. Car seats listed above with similar or identical names may be sold in other countries but are NOT the same seat.
