Making a concrete decision on the color of your car seat is tough enough — let alone deciding on the actual make and model. With what feels like endless brands and very similar features, it's hard to know what new improvements you should be looking for when taking a stroll down the car seat aisle. From the ability to fully recline your newborn to SmartScreen technology that aids in installation, these are the nine car seat enhancements you're going to want to be aware of before making that big purchase for your little one.
Great for newborns, Cybex Cloud Q's ($450) rear-facing infant car seat can easily adjust to a full-recline position outside of the car (and without waking your sleeping baby!).
Britax B-Safe 35 Elite Infant Car Seat ($200, originally $250) works to safeguard your baby against side impact thanks to its energy-absorbing foam and quick-adjust head protection.
Cybex Platinum Aton Q Plus's ($400) telescopic linear side-impact protection pops out during a crash to protect your baby and distribute the shock.
A stability leg works to protect your child's head and spine by reducing the risks of a little one jerking around during a car crash. When you're not using it, you can also fold Nuna PIPA's car seat and base's ($300) stability bar so it won't get in your way.
Since car accidents can happen at all angles, Orbit Baby G3 infant car seat and base ($440) uses a SmartHub docking system, which is a circular car seat base designed for multidirectional impact protection.
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Car Seat ($150) weighs in at a mere seven pounds, without the base, which can be very helpful when toting around growing little ones.
Clek Fllo Convertible Seat ($400) offers a steel antirebound bar that not only rests into the flat part of the vehicle seat back to ensure a snug installation, but also helps to protect your child during a crash by improving stability and limiting rotation upon impact.
Thanks to Summer Infant Prodigy Infant car seat's ($220) SmartScreen Technology, you no longer have to worry whether you've properly installed your baby's seat. This unique feature guides you through a three-step installation along with belt-tightening and harness adjust systems that automatically changes to meet your baby's growing size.
With the Doona Infant Car Seat/Stroller's ($499) unique car-seat-to-stroller design, parents have everything they need to safely transport baby with just one piece of equipment.