The Most Inexpensive Infant Car Seat Cheap
Many retailers understand that purchasing a car seat may be a financial challenge for some families, and offer payment plans.
Experts suggest that you look for seats that come with features such as machine-washable fabrics (since babies can be messy) and GreenGuard Gold Certification. They also suggest choosing features that will assist you in saving money down road, such as a rear-facing weight limit that you can be extended and belt paths that allow for use without the need for a base when using Ubers and taxis.
1. Graco SnugRide 35 LX
The Graco snugRide 35 LX is a rear-facing infant seat that has been designed to be affordable. It has a light-weight carrier and base that is easy to set up correctly, especially with LATCH. The harness is simple to adjust and use, and the canopy offers good coverage from the sun. It doesn't come with a reclining feature but does include a level indicator on the base.
Graco is a well-known brand that makes high-quality products, and this rear-facing only infant car seat is no different. The seat is constructed of sturdy materials and goes through rigorous safety testing to meet or surpass the minimum standards. It also comes with a generous warranty to give peace of mind for the new parents.
In our car seat tests, we examine a variety of factors to determine how well an infant seat is performing. We take into account things such as safety, comfort and how easy it is to use on a regular basis. We also test the seat for wear and wear and tear. We use a variety of different methods to test each seat, including side-by-side comparisons, testing for crash as well as ergonomic tests. The Graco SnugRide is a solid seat in most categories but it falls short in a few areas, specifically when it comes to the fabric and padding. The padding for the head isn't extremely soft, and it doesn't move along with the shoulder straps. It's not an issue, but it could be improved.
This seat is among the lightest available and weighs only 7.5 pounds. This is an excellent choice for those who require an extremely small seat. It can accommodate three across. It can be set up without a base using either standard belt routing or European belt routing which is a nice feature. The buckle has an elongated button at its center that is easier to grasp than the majority of buckles with round buttons. It's also easy to tighten and loosen, even if you must do it with a baby in your arms.
2. Evenflo LiteMax DLX
The LiteMax is a great choice to parents looking for a seat that will fit infants and preemies. It has a lower height for the harness than many infant seats and can be used with rear-facing infants as small as 4 pounds. Evenflo designed this car seat to be simple to use and comes with a variety of features. For instance, it comes with buckle tongue holders and a lock-off feature that keeps the buckle from getting in the way as you insert your child in and take them out. It has a base which reclines in multiple positions.
The lower anchor connectors of the seat snap onto a bar under the base rim. They're easy to put in and remove, however they're not as convenient as the LATCH anchors found in most other seats. The seat's user manual tucks under the fabric that runs along the side of the seat shell which can be a mess should your child get sick or spills something in it. We are also not a fan of the way the latch straps are tucked into the bottom of the seat when it is not when it is not in use.
Despite its low price, the LiteMax is well-made and comes with a substantial warranty. The company's customer service is excellent. It can be accessed via email, phone or live chat. representatives are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions. They also provide a video chat service to those who require assistance installing the car seat.
Parents are raving about this car seat because it is so easy to install. It is simple to set up and has simple-to-read instructions. It also has a stay-in-car convenience base that is perfect for parents who must drop off and pick up their children from school or other activities. It also comes with a canopy that shields your child from the harmful effects of weather and sunrays. It also conforms to all safety standards of the federal government. It is also easy to maintain and cost-effective making it a great choice for new parents. The warranty extends the warranty to ten years. This gives parents assurance that they will be able to use their car seat for many years.
3. Safety 1st Jive
The Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat keeps your kiddo safe from birth until they are ready to go on the next stage of growth. It seamlessly transforms from a rear-facing infant seat for children between 5 and 40 pounds to an forward-facing toddler or toddler seat for children weighing 22-65 pounds. This makes it an excellent option for families looking to save money but do not need to switch seats between stages.
Parents appreciate the 5-point harness that distributes forces over five contact points (shoulders hips and between legs), keeping kids snug in their seats. The Jive includes Side Impact Protection built in and a harness with five different height positions. This will allow your child to find the perfect size.
The Jive is the best choice for a lot of families, whether they're looking for a cheap infant car seat that will rear-face their baby until 3 or four years of age, or a lightweight travel chair. It is compact when reclined and is able to be used with lower anchors or vehicle seat belts. The "inside-out trick" makes it simple to install. The lightweight design is ideal for families who frequently use ride-sharing services, or require an automobile seat for multiple kids.
The Jive is approved for use on planes, and its compact size makes it easier to carry around airports. Its fabric is machine washable and dryer safe, so you can easily clean up any messes that happen along the way.
While the Jive has a low harness slot, it's still way too high for most newborns. The majority of newborns have torsos of 7" or less, and the smallest harness slot will place the harness about 2 inches above their shoulders, which isn't a good fit. Convertible seats are infamous for this, so we recommend that you avoid these models when your child is newborn.
The Jive is also a bit bulky when fitted with the recline line that is higher, but it's fairly simple to use using the inside-out trick and by tightening from the bottom of the seatbelt path. It is also relatively light for a convertible chair, and is able to be bungee-attached to your stroller handle using either a ratchet cord or the bungee strap.
4. Safety 1st Jive Booster
The Jive is one the cheapest convertible car seats that are available. Push Chairs And Prams is able to rear-face kids up from three years old and forward-face until around five and is extremely light. It has two reclines to allow rear-facing, and it can be fitted with lower anchors, or the seatbelt of a vehicle.
This seat is a fantastic combination of affordability and long-lasting use. This seat is not recommended for babies because of its high harness height. However, it should last for most kids until they are ready to move on to booster seats. It's also a great option for families that frequently travel via ride-sharing services, taxis or even airplanes. With a weight of only 10 pounds, it's among the most lightweight boosters you can find. It can also be bungee-attached to the handle of your stroller, or strapped on using the belt strap of your car seat or ratchet strap.
There are a few problems regarding it However. The smallest harness slot is 9" tall that's well over most kids' torso heights at birth. And the headrest isn't as impressive as some of our top picks. It's wide and flat, with a placeholder style that resembles an actual car seat cushion than the headrest.
The Jive is also simple to use and has good crash test ratings. It's also a great choice for children who aren't ready to sit in a high-back booster seat, because it can be used until they're over 40 pounds and 59 inches tall.
It's also a great option for older kids who are moving out of the infant car seat, as it transforms into a forward-facing harness booster with a backless booster and finally a belt-positioning booster. The cup holder as well as the padded armrests make the booster mode a relaxing one for children. It's a great option since it is lower in height and weight limit than the Safety 1st Grow and Go. This makes it more realistic for many kids.