The best infant car seat of 2024 is the Chicco KeyFit 30 because of its excellent safety score, easiness to install, and value for money. We tested each model with our kids for several months to give you a real-life review of the best seats available today, not just some lab testing. Discover the different features that set the top infant car seats of 2024 apart to help you identify the best infant car seat for your family.
Our Picks for the Best Infant Car Seat of 2024
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
Best Infant Car Seat with European Belt Path
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PRICE
We focus on infant car seats in these rankings, as they are some of the safest, and these are our favorite models. They are specially designed for newborns and infants until about 18 months old, and are all rear-facing car seats (the safest position).
QUICK GUIDE: IN THIS ARTICLE
You might also want to take a look at convertible car seats if you want a seat that will grow with your child but you should first read why we think infant car seats are better for young children. There are no bad options in our top infant car seats and they all meet the safety regulations to protect your baby in the car.
Please note that occasionally we receive free baby monitors from manufacturers. However, our reviews are unbiased and we do not receive payment or compensation for them. To maintain objectivity, we use ranking criteria and we only recommend products that we use personally. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through our affiliate links, but this has no additional cost for you. For more information, please refer to our earnings disclaimer.
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Best Infant Car Seats of 2024: Product Details
1. Chicco KeyFit 30: Best Infant Car Seat Overall
Bottom Line:
We picked the Chicco KeyFit 30 as the Overall Best Infant Car Seat because we loved how easy it was to install, the excellent quality, amazing safety features and reasonable price tag.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Excellent crash test scores.
- Very easy to safely install the base.
- Comfortable for baby.
- Best overall car seat for the price.
CONS
- Only the American seat belt fastening is possible without the base.
- Canopy is on the small side.
The Chicco KeyFit 30 is the best infant car seat for this price and we feel it is perfect for most parents; however, if you’re a regular taxi user we would recommend another car seat that’s lighter and easier to carry around (see alternatives below).
The Chicco KeyFit 35 is an excellent option as well, the main differences being that it has an anti-rebound bar, is designed for babies from 4-35 pounds and 32 inches in height (KeyFit 30 is for 4-30 lbs and up to 30” in height), but we found it to be three pounds heavier and more expensive ($299).
Read our in-depth review of the Chicco KeyFit 30.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat only: 9.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 27 x 16.5 x 24 inches
Buying Options
2. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio: Best European Belt Path
Bottom Line:
We love the high safety ratings and European standards followed by the Italian made Peg Perego Primo Viaggio, plus it is our favorite in terms of fabric quality, design, and stitching!
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- No rethreading needed for 6 positions.
- European seat belt path.
- Load Leg and Anti-Rebound bar.
- Beautiful design and soft materials, comfortable for long periods of time.
CONS
- Premium quality comes with a premium price tag.
If you expect your baby to spend a lot of time at the back of your car, the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio is the absolute best car seat available today. With soft breathable fabric and plenty of extra padding, your baby will be comfortable for long journeys. The seat is our preferred option when used without its base thanks to its European seat belt path that doubles back at the back of the seat.
Read our in-depth review of the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat only: 10 lbs
- Dimensions: 28.5 x 17.25 x 26.5 inches
Buying Options
3. UPPAbaby MESA V2: Best Premium Car Seat
Bottom Line:
We love the UPPAbaby Mesa V2 infant car seat because of the quality. We feel it is very sturdy, yet soft and comfortable for the baby.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- High-quality Merino wool fabric, lightweight and breathable.
- European seat belt path.
- Adjustable headrest.
- Easy to install with and without the base.
- Beautiful premium design and a sturdy build quality.
CONS
- More expensive than competitors.
- Release button on the harness is a bit stiff.
We recommend the UPPAbaby MESA V2 if you can bump up your budget for a premium seat, and in our experience we prefer it over other premium car seats like the Nuna Pipa or Bugaboo Turtle. The extra features are great and we love the natural wool fabric, which is removable, breathable, washable and is free from nasty fire retardant chemicals. But only you can decide if that’s worth the extra $150 compared to the Chicco KeyFit 30.
Read our in-depth review of the UPPAbaby MESA.
Technical Specs
- Weight of UPPAbaby MESA V2 car seat only: 9.9 lbs
- Dimensions: 27.5 x 16.95 x 24 inches
Buying Options
4. Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX: Best Lightweight Infant Car Seat
Bottom Line:
We love the comfort, ease of use, and price of the Graco SnugRide! Especially if you are looking at purchasing a Graco stroller. Plus it is one of the easiest car seats we have used when taking it in and out of the base.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Lightweight.
- One-button push adjustable handle.
- Adjustable recline base.
- Large canopy.
- Machine washable cover.
CONS
- The harness requires rethreading to adjust the height.
- Canopy not as large as other competitors.
- Handlebar doesn’t come forward as much as we would prefer.
Graco has several SnugRide models, including the Click Connect and the 35 Lite LX. Weighing around 9.75 lbs, the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX is one of the lightest infant car seats that we’ve tested, making it our favorite one to carry around. We found it to be a definite improvement over the Graco SnugRide SnugLock seat, but still lacking compared to some of its competitors.
Read our in-depth review of the Graco SnugRide.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX car seat only: 9.75 lbs
- Dimensions: 19.96 x 30.87 x 15.51 inches
Buying Options
5. Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe: Best Stroller Compatibility
Bottom Line:
We like the look of the grey and leather against the black of the fabric on the Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe. The breathable fabric and seat itself are great, but we recommend the load leg base, sold separately.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Very easy to install.
- Compatible with many stroller brands.
- One-handed release from car seat base and stroller.
- Light and easy to carry around.
- Sleek fabric and look.
CONS
- Handlebar only clicks in place when fully up or down.
- Load leg base sold separately.
The Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe is perfect if you already have a stroller from one of the compatible brands (Maxi-Cosi, but also Cybex, Nuna, Silver Cross and Quinny). We found it easy to install and made with fabrics and foams that are made without wool or added fire retardant. We love the added ventilation in the side of the seat and the breathable fabric, which was especially nice in our warm weather.
Read our in-depth review of the Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe car seat only: 9.9 lbs
- Dimensions: 18.11 x 15.75 x 28.74 inches
Buying Options
6. Britax Willow S: Best Infant Car Seat For Preemies
Bottom Line:
We especially love the Britax Willow S for preemies and smaller babies because it has 4 different shoulder harness height adjustments and 2 different hip harness width adjustments (both for babies under 11 pounds).
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Rebound bar.
- Comfortable for small infants and premature babies.
- 4 shoulder height adjustments; 2 hip width adjustments.
- Beautiful design and high-quality finishing.
- Single-hand release.
CONS
- Manual rethread.
- Not compatible with a lot of strollers.
We love Britax for their safety and the Willow S is no exception! This infant car seat includes an anti-rebound bar and ClickTight Technology for easy base installation. The Britax Willow S includes two extra padding inserts, additional harness loops, 4 shoulder height adjustments, and 2 hip width adjustments, making it the best infant car seat for small babies. Sadly, Britax has moved away from the B-Safe series, but we feel the Britax Willow S Infant Car Seat is an excellent replacement.
Read our in-depth review of the Britax B-Safe.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Britax Willow S car seat only: 9.2 lbs
- Dimensions: 28.1 x 16.9 x 24.11 inches
Buying Options
7. Evenflo LiteMax 35: Best Infant Car Seat under $150
Bottom Line:
The Evenflo LiteMax is a good option if you are looking for a great infant car seat and have a limited budget. It’s lightweight and easy to install, but doesn’t have all the safety features we love like the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Good value for money.
- One of the lightest seats available.
- Easy to install.
- 4 reclining options.
CONS
- Materials feel cheap to the touch.
- Missing additional features.
The Evenflo LiteMax 35 is the best infant car seat available under $150. It’s one of the most lightweight options on the market and it meets all the safety regulations. It’s safe and good value but the fabric and lack of padding make it a little less comfortable for extensive use. It’s not our favorite seat, but for this price point it’s a great value!
Read our in-depth review of the Evenflo LiteMax 35.
Technical Specs
- Weight of Evenflo LiteMax 35 car seat only: 8.17 lbs
- Dimensions: 28.5 x 19 x 24 inches
Buying Options
How we Test the best infant car seats of 2024
We worked hard to make this list of the top infant car seats of 2024 as objective as possible. For us, this started by recognizing that there is no absolute best. Every family has different needs and lifestyles, so we needed to first understand what the different expectations might be before evaluating car seats against those expectations.
For example, you’ll have very different expectations from your car seat if you’re always using it with its base fixed in your car versus using the seat in taxis without its base. Similarly, families who already have a stroller and want a car seat that is compatible with that stroller, will have different criteria (take a look at our ultimate infant car seat and stroller compatibility guide if that’s the case for you).
So how did we go about selecting the best infant car seats of the year? We started by creating a list of the top 35 best infant car seats available today by cross-referencing authoritative resources (see the full list below) with the best-selling models online. We then analyzed safety ratings, scores, and reviews for each model to narrow down our list to the top models.
We purchased each seat on that list and gave two models to each family in our group. Everyone used their seats for a period of five months with their kids. Each seat was used extensively to get hands-on experience. We paid particular attention to their pros and cons and what they are like on a day to day basis.
After five months of testing, we all sat down together and shared our notes. We sometimes exchanged seats among us when we couldn’t reach a consensus on our reviews.
Finally, we assigned our rating to each seat. Safety is absolutely paramount when choosing an infant car seat, hence we gave more importance to crash test results in our ratings. We also considered the value that you get for the price of each seat and all the other extra features that make it easier to use them.
Best Infant Car Seats: Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the number one car seat for an infant?
The Chicco KeyFit 30 is overall the best car seat for an infant because of its excellent safety score, easiness to install, and value for money. But the UPPAbaby MESA V2 is a better choice if you have the budget because of its natural fabric.
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What car seats should I avoid?
Avoid car seats that are not age or size appropriate for your little one. Additionally, avoid car seats that have passed their expiration date or those that are on the car seat recall list.
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When should a car seat be forward facing?
Many car seats require the change to forward facing when the child reaches 50 pounds or 49 inches tall. However, each car seat if different and it is based on the height and weight of the child, as well as the car seat specifications.
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What age do babies grow out of infant car seats?
Babies grow out of infant seats anywhere from 9 months to two years old, depending on the weight and height of the baby as well as the car seat. Most infant car seats support babies up to 30-35 pounds and 30-35 inches tall.
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Can I use an insert in my infant car seat?
You can use an infant insert in your car seat, but we recommend using the insert that comes with the car seat. Others may be unsafe, sometimes with too much padding that pushes the babies head down. Typically infant inserts are used until the baby is 5 to 6 months old.
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Which car seat is safest?
The safest car seat is the one properly installed (The Car Seat Lady). All car seats must meet the federal guidelines from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but there is no way for a company to show their car seat exceeded the criteria. However, European guidelines are different and those car seats often include additional features like an anti-rebound bar, load leg, and fixed connectors.
Samantha is a busy mother of four, who loves finding the best products to help in raising children. She graduated from BYU in Marriage and Family Studies. When she isn’t writing or testing new products, you can find her playing board games with her kids and teaching them creative strategies.
