The Most Inexpensive Infant Car Seat Cheap
Many retailers offer payment plans since they know that purchasing a car seat may be a financial burden for some families.
Experts suggest looking for seats with features such as machine-washable fabrics (since babies are messy) and GreenGuard Gold certification. They also recommend focusing on features that will help you save money in the future, like a rear-facing limit that can be widened and a belt route that can be used as the need for a base to use for Ubers and taxis.
1. Graco SnugRide 35 LX
The Graco SnugRide 35 LX infant seat is designed to be affordable. It comes with a light base and carrier that are easy to put together, especially with LATCH. The harness is simple to use and adjust, and the canopy offers adequate sun protection. It doesn't include a reclining function, but it does have a level indicator on the base.
Graco is a brand known for its top-quality products. This rear-facing infant car seat is not an exception. This seat is built with sturdy materials and undergoes rigorous safety testing to ensure that it is in line with the standards that are required. It also comes with a generous warranty that provides peace of mind for the new parents.
In our car seat reviews we look for a number of different things in an infant car seat to see how well it performs. We look at things like comfort, safety and how easy it is to use. In addition, we test the seat to see how it stands against wear and tear. We test every car seat with a variety of different methods that include side-by-side comparisons along with crash testing and ergonomic tests. The Graco SnugRide is a great seat in most categories however it isn't as good in certain areas, specifically when it comes to fabric and padding. The head padding isn't particularly soft and does not move with the shoulder straps when adjusting the straps. It isn't a huge deal but it could be improved.
This seat is among the lightest available and weighs just 7.5 pounds. It's a great choice for those looking for a compact seat that will fit 3 across. It can be used with either standard or American European belt routing it's a great alternative. The buckle has an oval button that is easier to grasp than most other buckles with round buttons. It's also simple to tighten or loosen, even with a baby in the arms.
2. Evenflo LiteMax DLX
The LiteMax is a good choice for parents who require a seat that can accommodate small newborns and preemies. It has a lower height for the harness than other infant seats and can be used rear-facing for infants as little as 4 pounds. Evenflo created this car seat with a variety of features that make it easy to use. For example, it has tongue holders for the buckle and an automatic lock-off feature that keeps the buckle out of the way while you put your baby in and then take them out. It also has a base that can recline in a variety of positions.
The lower anchor connectors on the seat are attached to the bar that is beneath the base rim. They're simple to install and remove, but they're not as efficient as the LATCH anchors found in the majority of other seats. The manual for the user of the seat is tucked under the fabric on the sides of the seat shell which can cause messy when your child is sick or spills something into it. We are not a fan of the way the latch straps are tucked into the seat's bottom when they are not in use.
Despite its low cost, the LiteMax is built to a high standard and a long-lasting warranty. The company's customer service is top-notch. They can be reached via live chat, email, or phone. The customer service representatives are available 24 hours per day to assist you with your inquiries. Video chat is also available for those who require assistance installing the car seat.
The car seat is simple to set up and that is the reason parents are so happy with it. It's easy to put in place and the instructions are easy to follow. It also comes with a stay-in-car convenience base that is perfect for parents who have to drop off and pick their children from school or other activities. It also comes with a canopy that shields your child from harmful weather conditions and sunrays. It also is compliant with all federal safety standards. It is also affordable and easy to maintain and is a popular choice for new parents. The warranty also includes a guarantee of 10 years. This gives parents peace of mind they can use their car seat for many years.
3. Safety 1st Jive
The Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car seat ensures your child's safety from birth until they are ready for an upgrade. It can be converted seamlessly from a rear facing infant seat for children weighing 5-40 pounds to forward-facing toddler or small child car seat that is suitable for kids who weigh 22-65 pounds. This makes it an ideal choice for families looking to save money but don't want to swap seats at every stage.
Parents love the 5-point system harness that distributes force across five contact points (shoulders hips and between legs), keeping kids snug in their seats. The Jive also features built-in Side Impact Protection as well as a height adjuster for the harness with five different positions to ensure your child gets the perfect fit.
The Jive is the best choice for a lot of families, whether they're looking for a cheap infant car seat that can rear-face their baby until 3 or four years of age or a compact travel chair. It's quite compact when reclined and easy to use with lower anchors or the vehicle seat belt, employing the "inside-out" method for the most simple installation. The lightweight construction makes it ideal for families who take advantage of ride-sharing or need to have a car seat that is suitable for several children.
The Jive is approved for use on planes and its small size makes it easy to handle in airports. Its fabric is machine washable and dryer safe, so you can easily clean up any mess that occur along the way.
Although the Jive features a low harness slot, it's still way too high for the majority of newborns. best car seats newborn pushchairsandprams will be two inches higher than their shoulders in the case of a torso that is 7" or smaller. This is a common problem with convertible seats, so we recommend avoid these seats for babies.
The Jive is a little bulky when fitted with the higher recline line, but it's fairly easy to install using the inside-out trick, and by tightening from the bottom of the seat belt path. It's also relatively lightweight for a convertible chair, and can be bungee-connected to the handle of your stroller with either a ratchet strap, or rope bungee.
4. Safety 1st Jive Booster
The Jive is among the cheapest convertible car seats on the market. It is able to rear-face kids up to three years old and forward-face until around five and is extremely light. It also comes with two reclines for rear-facing. you can attach it using lower anchors or the vehicle seat belt (using the inside-out method of installation).
This seat is a fantastic combination of affordability and long-lasting use. It's not recommended for newborns because of its high harness height, but it can last until most kids are ready to be an adult booster. It's a great option for families who frequently travel via taxi, ride-sharing services or even plane. Weighing less than 10 pounds, it's among the most lightweight booster seats you'll find. It can be bungee attached to the handle of a stroller or secured using the strap of a car seatbelt, or the ratchet.
There are some issues that make it far from perfect, however. The lowest harness slot measures 9" high which is more than the height of torsos of many babies when they are born. The headrest isn't as impressive as some of our top picks. It's flat and wide with a placeholder feeling that looks more like a travel pillow than an actual headrest for a car seat.
The Jive is also easy to use, and has excellent crash test ratings. It's also a great option for kids who aren't yet ready to sit in a high-back booster seat, since it can fit them until they're 40 pounds and 59 inches tall.
It's a great choice for older children who have outgrown their infant car seat. It can be converted to a forward-facing harness booster, followed by an unidirectional boost and finally, a belt positioning booster. The cup holder and the padded armrests make the booster mode comfortable for children. It's a great option since it has a lower height and weight limit than the Safety 1st Grow and Go. This makes it more realistic for many youngsters.