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Last updated January 15, 2024 The top 10 infant car seats are the result of a detailed study of each car seat based on 25 criteria. A new infant car seat is always better than a used one. Each infant car seat or baby carrier has a summary table of the criteria it meets, and at the beginning of the article, you can find a summary table of the 10 infant car seats and how they meet each criterion. Apply the code BONAS15 at bonabebe.pt to purchase these infant car seats with a 15% discount QUICK CONCLUSION: The best infant car seat, and the one with the best price/quality choice, is the BeSafe iZi Go Modular. Find the link to the table of the best infant car seats for your baby here. Index Comparison table of the 10 best infant car seats 2024 Top 10 best infant car seats for babies 2024 BeSafe iZi Go Modular X2 from €199 (with video review) Britax-Roemer iSense €330 (with video review) Britax Romer Baby-Safe 3 i-Size €280 (with video review) Britax Roemer Baby-Safe2 i-Size €233 Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 from €260 (with video review) Axkid Modukid from €199 Recaro Avan from €219 Maxi-Cosi Coral 360 from €319 (with video review) Chicco Kiros from €280 Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix from €149 (with video review) What determines if an infant car seat is good or not. Evaluation criteria for the Top 10 Best Infant Car Seats Second-hand infant car seats Comparison table of the 10 best infant car seats for babies 2024 Car seat name Position in Top Average price Approval Suitable baby height Recommended baby age Recommended weight Harness safety points Harness width Height-adjustable harness Symmetrically adjustable harness Non-reclinable EPS Side Impact Protection Isofix base sold separately and compatible Total investment over 4 years Manufacturer (European Origin) Brand with +30 years Mesh fabric ADAC Ease of placing baby Ease of installation Base feedback system Rotating base V-shaped headrest Adjustable insert Cushions attached to headrest Besafe iZi Go Modular X2 1 €219.00 R129 40-75cm 0-12 months 0-13kg 5 4 cm √ √ √ √ √ √ (Izi modular isofix base €200) approx. €700 √ (Norwegian – HTS Besafe) √ (1963) √ Good 1.8 Very Good Very Good Fair X √ √ √ BABY-SAFE iSENSE 2 €330.00 R129 40-83cm 0-15 months 0-13kg 5 3.5 cm √ √ √ √ √ √ (Britax Romer Flex Base iSENSE €318) approx €980 √ Britax-Romer √ (1938) X Good 2.1 Good Good Good √ √ √ √ BABY-SAFE 3 i-size 3 €280.00 R129 40-83cm 0-15 months 0-13kg 5 3.5 cm √ √ √ √ √ √ (Britax Romer Flex Base iSENSE €318) approx. €930 √ Britax-Romer √ (1938) X Good 2.1 Good Good Good √ √ √ √ BABY-SAFE 2 i-size 4 €233.00 R129 40-83cm 0-15 months 0-13kg 5 3.5 cm √ √ √ √ √ √ (Britax Romer baby-safe i-size flex base €235) approx. €470 up to 12 months √ Britax-Romer √ (1938) X Good 1.8 Good Good Good X √ √ √ Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 5 €280.00 R129 40-83 cm 0-15 months 0-13kg 3 2.5cm √ √ √ √ √ √ (Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix 360º base €249.99) approx. €920 X Dorel Canadian √ (1984) X Good 1.8 Good Good Good √ √ √ √ Axkid Modukid 6 €199.00 R129 40-75cm 0-12 months 0-13kg 3 3 cm √ X √ +/- √ √ (Axkid Modukid base €99) Approx €500-€597 √ Swedish X (2009) X X Fair Fair Fair X √ √ X Recaro-Avan 7 €219.99 R129 40-83cm 0-15 months 0-13kg 3 4 cm √ √ √ +/- X √ (Recaro isofix base for Avan €159.99) Approx. €600-€649.99 √ Italian √ Chicco (1958) X Good 1.8 Fair Fair Fair X √ √ √ Maxi-Cosi Coral 360 8 €319.99 R129 40-75cm 0-12 months 0-13kg 3 2.5cm X X √ √ √ √ (Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix 360º base €249.99) Approx. €959.97 X Dorel Canadian √ (1984) X X Good Good Good √ √ X √ Chicco Kiros 9 €360.00 R129 40-75cm 0-12 months 0-13kg 3 2.5cm √ X √ √ √ X approx. €360 up to 12 months √ Italian √ Chicco (1958) X Good 2.3 Fair Fair X X √ X X Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix 10 €160.00 R129 40-75cm 0-12 months 0-13kg 3 2.5cm X X √ +/- √ √ (Cabriofix i-size base €149.99) approx. €309 up to 12 months X Dorel Canadian √ (1984) X Good 1.7 Fair Fair Fair X √ √ X Top 10 best infant car seats for babies 2024 BeSafe iZi Go Modular X2 infant car seat Mesh option from €203 (video review) You can watch my review here: BeSafe iZi Go Modular X2 infant car seat in mesh BeSafe iZi Go Modular X2 peak mesh infant car seat These two options for the BeSafe infant car seat are what I consider most relevant for our country because they are the only ones that have integrated 3D mesh fabric. In BeSafe infant car seats, we will find everything we want: an infant car seat with an EPS interior, on the side, we have a carved plastic for dynamic absorption inside, SIP (additional side impact protection), a 5-point harness with a 4 cm width, symmetrically adjustable at various levels, magnets on the protective pads and on the side of the car seat to keep the harness out of the way, protective pads attached to the headrest, and with a good safety score in ADAC crash tests. The belted installation method is the most common, and the handle position, when belted, is the one most used by consumers. This infant car seat can only be used with the modular ISOfix base, and if desired, this base allows the next car seat to be fitted always rear-facing (which ranked 2nd in my top 10 best rear-facing car seats) Modular isofix base for BeSafe iZi Go Modular infant car seat Although I am not in favor of using infant car seats on strollers, I share that this infant car seat is compatible with the following strollers: ABC Design: Avus, Condor4, Condor Air, Salsa 3-4, Samba, Swing, Tereno4, Tereno Air, Turbo 4(T) 6, Viper, Zoom Air Anex: m/type, e/type, l/type, Quant Baby Jogger City Elite 2, City Mini (GT), City Mini2 Double, City Tour2 BabyStyle: Oyster1-3, Oyster Zero BabyZen: Yoyo+ Yoyo2 Britax-Roemer: Smile, B-Agile (M) Bugaboo: Ant, Bee2-6, Buffalo, Cameleon1-3, Donkey 1-5, Fox1-3, Lynx Bumbleride: Era, Indie, Indie Twin, Speed, Ironman Cybex: Balios S, Easy S, Gazelle S, Melio, Mios, Talos S, Priam Dubatti One Easywalker Charley, Harvey1-3, Jackey, MINI, Rudey Egg Egg EmmalJunga: Classic, NXT Ergobaby Metro+ iCandy Apple1-2, Cherry, Lime, Pear, Peach2-3, Peach Jogger, Peach all-terrain, Raspberry, Strawberry1-2, Orange Joolz Aer, Day 1-3, Day+, Geo 1-3, Hub + Maxi-Cosi Adorra 1-2, Gia, Lila, Zelia1-2 Micralite Getgo Mamas& Papas Flip XT, Ocarro, Strada Mimakids Xari, Kobi, Zigi Moon No One, Nuovo (Air), Relaxx, Resea S/ Style, Rocca Mutsy 4rider, Icon, IGO, EXO, EVO, Nexo, Nio, i2 Navington Caravel Nuna Demi, Mixx, Pepp, Triv Out’n’about GT, Little, Nipper Philteds Dash, Dot, Mod, Smart, Sport, Voyager Quinny Hub, VNC, Zapp Flex (plus) /Xpress Silver Cross Horizon, Pacific, Pionner, Pusuit, Surf, Wayfarer Stokke Scoot, Trailz, Xplory, Yoyo TFK DOT Outdoor1-2, Duo Combi/ Sport, Mono Combi/sport Thule Glide1-2, Sleek, Spring, Urban Glide 1-2 Uppababy Vista1-2, Cruz1-2, Minu X-lander X-A, X-cite, X-fit, X-Go, X-Move, X-pulse, X-Run, X-Q In conclusion, if you choose this system, the total investment in car seats up to 4 years old is €700 (all-inclusive), you can indeed travel rear-facing up to 4 years or 105cm, and you have the option to turn your child front-facing from 15 months (which I do not recommend). You will then need the last car seat (from 4 to 12 years old), which will be a total investment of €200-€300 Car seat name BeSafe iZi Go Modular X2 Position in Top 1 Average infant car seat price €219.00 Average infant car seat + base price €403.50 modular base Average infant car seat + base + next car seat price €695.25-€732.75 (iZi Modular version AX1 or X1) Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-75cm Recommended baby age 0-12 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 75cm Harness safety points 5 Harness width 4 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Non-reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix base sold separately and compatible √ (Izi modular isofix base €200) European origin √ (Norwegian – HTS Besafe) Brand with +30 years √ (1963) Mesh fabric √ Test result Good 1.8; Good 1.9 (with base); Good 1.7 (iZi Modular RF X1) Ease of placing baby Good Ease of installation Good Base feedback system Reasonable Rotating base No V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest √ Britax-roemer baby-safe isense infant car seat from €330 (review with video) It doesn't take first place because it has a 3.5cm harness (i.e., 0.5cm less wide than the first place). However, second place is well deserved as this infant car seat has a 5-point harness with symmetrical height adjustment, EPS throughout the body, side impact protection, a V-shaped headrest, and shoulder protectors attached to the headrest. The differentiating feature of this infant car seat is that it comes with a built-in light. The light will help you more easily find the belts and better see the baby on night trips. If you don't want this option, you can purchase a mirror with a light. iSense Britax-Roemer rotating Isofix base for infant car seat This infant car seat is only compatible with the Britax-Roemer iSense rotating isofix base, which costs €318. This rotating base is, in turn, compatible with the brand's next car seat, the Dualfix i-sense, which costs €407. Car seat after the Britax-Roemer Dualfix iSense infant car seat By choosing this set, the investment in car seats will be €978 for the first 4 years, and you will have a rotating infant car seat and the next car seat (360º). The Dualfix iSense car seat is slightly smaller than the BeSafe option, so you can expect 6 months/1 year less use, meaning you'll have to switch to the last car seat a little earlier. Car seat name BABY-SAFE iSENSE Position in Top 2 Average infant car seat price 330 € Average infant car seat + base price 585€ (i-sense base) Average price infant car seat + base + next car seat 978€ (dualfix i-sense) Homologation R129 Suitable baby height 40-83 cm Recommended baby age 0-15 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 3.5 cm Harness safety points 5 Harness width 3.5 Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Non-reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix base sold separately and compatible √ (Britax Romer Flex Base iSENSE 318€) European origin Britax-Roemer Brand with +30 years 1938 Mesh fabric X Test result Good 2.1; 2.5 (with base); 2.4 (dualfix i-sense) Ease of placing baby Very Good Ease of installation Very Good Base feedback system Reasonable Rotating base √ V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest √ Britax-Roemer Baby-Safe 3 i-size infant car seat from €280 (review with video) Britax-Roemer Baby-Safe 3 i-size infant car seat In third place, we have an infant car seat exactly the same as the one in second place, with exactly the same base and next car seat options but without the night light and with a saving of €50. If you choose one of these Britax-Roemer infant car seats, here is the list of compatible strollers with the Baby-safe iSense and Baby-safe 3 size infant car seats ABC Design: Salsa 4, Salsa Air, Samba, Swing, Viper4 Anex: m/type, e/type, l/type, Quant BabyStyle: Oyster 3, Oyster Zero, Egg2 Britax-Roemer: Smile, B-Agile (M) Bugaboo: Bee6, Bee3, Bee5, Cameleon3, Donkey 2-3, Fox2-3, Lynx Easywalker Charley, Harvey1-3, Jackey, MINI, Rudey EmmalJunga: NXT Ergobaby Metro+ Hartan: Racer GTSGTX, R1 GTS/GTX, Topline 2.0 GTS/GTX, Topline 4.0GTS/GTX, T2 GTS/GTX, T4 GTS/GTX, VIP GTS/GTX, YES GTS/GTX, Viva GTS/GTX, AMG GTS/GTX, Avantgarde (Mercedes-Benz), Performance (Mercedes-Benz), Two select (Mercedes-Benz) Joolz Day+ Moon No One, Nuova (Air), Resea S/ Style Silver Cross Horizon, Pacific, Pionner, Pusuit, Surf, Wayfarer Car seat name BABY-SAFE 3 i-size Position in Top 3 Average infant car seat price 280 € Average infant car seat + base price 534€ (i-sense base) Average price infant car seat + base + next car seat 928€ (dualfix i-sense) Homologation R129 Suitable baby height 40-83 cm Recommended baby age 0-15 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 3.5 cm Harness safety points 5 Harness width Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Non-reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix base sold separately and compatible √ (Britax Romer Flex Base iSENSE 318€) European origin Britax-Roemer Brand with +30 years 1938 Mesh fabric X Test result Good 2.1; 2.5 (with base); 2.4 (dualfix i-sense) Maximum back length B Ease of placing baby Good Ease of installation Good Base feedback system Good Rotating base √ V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest √ Britax-Roemer Baby-Safe 2 I-size infant car seat from €233 Britax-Roemer Baby-Safe 2 i-size infant car seat As the name suggests, this infant car seat is the previous version of the Baby-Safe 3 i-size. In terms of safety features, it will be very similar to the current version: a 5-point harness, symmetrically adjustable, with a width of 3.5cm; EPS throughout the interior of the car seat; pillows attached to the harness protectors. The main difference is that the only compatible Isofix base is the Britax Romer Baby-Safe i-size flex. This base does not swivel and will not be compatible with the next car seat, meaning this base will only serve for the infant car seat, and then you will have to buy a subsequent car seat with a built-in base. (You can see the 10 best rear-facing car seats after the infant car seat here at this link) Britax Romer Isofix i-Size Flex Base This option turns out to be valid for those who do not want to commit to a long-term decision, which even makes sense because the next car seat should be chosen with the baby in the car seat. Car seat name BABY-SAFE 2 i-size Position in Top 4 Average infant car seat price 233 € Average infant car seat + base price €468 (Britax Romer baby-safe i-size flex base) Average price infant car seat + base + next car seat not applicable Homologation R129 Suitable baby height 40-83 cm Recommended baby age 0-15 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 83 cm Harness safety points 5 Harness width 3.5 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Non-reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix base sold separately and compatible √ (Britax Romer baby-safe i-size flex base €235) European origin Britax-Roemer Brand with +30 years 1938 Mesh fabric X Test result Good 1.8; Good 1.7 (with base) Ease of placing baby Good Ease of installation Good Base feedback system Good Rotating base X V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest √ Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 infant car seat from €260 review with video I really like the Maxi-Cosi brand because it has been in our market for many years, it has models that have been extensively tested with real-life success, and that's a security for our children. The Pebble 360 is an infant car seat with dynamic protection, with EPS, with a symmetrically adjustable harness, and it will only fit on the FamilyFix 360, which in turn can use the Pearl 360 car seat after the infant car seat. In other words, we are dealing with a modular system that can last up to 4 years with a base that rotates 360 degrees and represents an investment of €920 if you purchase all 3 pieces (infant car seat + Isofix base + car seat after the infant car seat). Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360º i-Size Infant Car Seat The reason the Pebble doesn't rank higher in this top 10 best infant car seats is due to its 3-point harness, which is only 3 cm wide. I also need to warn reverse-facing enthusiasts that the Pearl will be a small seat for the next group (whether reverse-facing or forward-facing), as its maximum back height is 58 cm. Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix 360º i-Size Swivel Isofix Base compatible with Pebble 360 or Coral 360 infant car seats Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360º i-Size Car Seat (next stage after infant car seat) As a final note, Maxi-Cosi infant car seats are compatible with almost all strollers. I'm providing the brand's link for in-brand compatibility, but I also inform you that strollers from other brands are usually compatible (here, you'll need to research compatibility within the specific stroller brand you choose). MC Compatibility Overview STR 2022 EU V1 Car Seat Name Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Rank in Top 5 Average infant car seat price €280 Average infant car seat + base price €529.98 (with FamilyFix 360) Average infant car seat + base + next stage seat price €919.97 Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-83 cm Recommended baby age up to 15 months Recommended weight up to 13kg Maximum length 83 cm Harness safety points 3 Harness width 2.5 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Not reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix Base sold separately and compatible √ (Familyfix 360º 249,99) European Origin X (Dorel – Canadian) Brand with +30 years √ (1984) Mesh fabric X Test Result Good 1.8 with seat belts and with the FamilyFix 360 base Ease of placing baby Good Ease of installation Good Base feedback system Good Rotating base √ V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Cushions attached to the headrest √ Axkid Modukid Infant Car Seat from €199 Axkid Modukid Infant Car Seat For those who don't want to invest too much in an infant car seat and want a solution with a good price/quality ratio (R129 approved seat, Swedish European brand), the Axkid solution is a viable option. You save on price, and what do you lose? The harness is not 5-point (it's 3-point), it's 3 cm wide (instead of 4 cm), it's assymmetrically adjustable; the infant car seat only has EPS in the upper part (the most important half), and the harness protection pads are not attached to the headrest. Axkid Modukid Isofix Base One of the big advantages of this option is that the compatible Isofix base is only €99 and is compatible with the next stage Modukid seat. The total investment for all 3 pieces, lasting up to 4 years, ranges from €510 to €590, making it the cheapest set in this Top list with very interesting safety features. Axkid Modukid Car Seat (next stage after infant car seat) Car Seat Name Axkid Modukid Rank in Top 6 Average infant car seat price €199 Average infant car seat + base price €298.00 Average infant car seat + base + next stage seat price €500-597 (Axkid Modukid) Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-75cm Recommended baby age 0-12 months Recommended weight 0-13 kg Maximum length 75 cm Harness safety points 3 Harness width 3 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness X Not reclinable √ EPS +/- Side impact protection √ Isofix Base sold separately and compatible √ European Origin √ Axkid Swedish Brand with +30 years X (2009) Mesh fabric X Test Result X Ease of placing baby Good Ease of installation Good Base feedback system Good Rotating base X V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Cushions attached to the headrest X Recaro Avan Infant Car Seat from €199 Recaro Baby belongs to the Chicco group, and as such, it immediately fulfills the characteristic of having many years of market experience with real accidents. One feature that pleasantly surprised me about the Recaro Avan infant car seat was that it comes with a 4 cm wide harness (this feature is unfortunately still rare in this segment of car seats). Recaro Avan Infant Car Seat Other features I really liked about this infant car seat were the reducer with EPS, the symmetrically height-adjustable harness, the V-shape, and its R129 approval. However, it doesn't rank higher because it doesn't have a 5-point harness. Recaro combined car seat system Recaro Isofix Base for Avan infant car seat and Kio car seat Finally, the Isofix base that is compatible with the Avan infant car seat is also compatible with the next stage car seat that lasts up to 4 years. The investment for all 3 pieces is between €600-€649, which is a good value for the safety obtained.   Recaro Kio I-size Car Seat (next stage after infant car seat) Car Seat Name Recaro Avan Rank in Top 7 Average infant car seat price 199.99-219.99 Average infant car seat + base price €159.99 Average infant car seat + base + next stage seat price €600-649.99 (Kio) Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-83cm Recommended baby age 0-15 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 83cm Harness safety points 3 Harness width 4 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness √ Not reclinable √ EPS +/- Side impact protection +/- Isofix Base sold separately and compatible √ (Kio base €159.99) European Origin √ (Chicco - Italian) Brand with +30 years √ (1958) Mesh fabric X Test Result 1.8 and 2.4 Ease of placing baby Fair Ease of installation Fair Base feedback system Fair Rotating base X V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Cushions attached to the headrest √ Maxi-Cosi Coral Infant Car Seat from €320 – Video Review The Coral 360 infant car seat was designed for everyday portability. When fully assembled, it's a heavy infant car seat at 5.5kg, but when separated, it becomes a very light infant car seat at 1.7kg for carrying the baby around. Maxi-Cosi Coral 360 Infant Car Seat from €319.99 I understand the brand's intention to make this system lighter; parents do tend to carry their baby around in the infant car seat, often in their arms. But, personally, I don't love this type of system because I think it encourages prolonged use of the infant car seat. In terms of development, the baby is better off being transported in a stroller (in a carrycot or, when the stroller reclines 180º, with a seat reducer) or in a baby carrier. Maxi-Cosi Coral 360 Infant Car Seat from €319.99 On the positive side for safety, it's an R129 approved infant car seat, it's Maxi-Cosi, and it has a 360 compatible Isofix base. On the negative side, it has a 3-point harness, 2.5 cm wide, not height-adjustable, and expensive for what it delivers. In my opinion, you'd make a better safety investment by choosing the Pebble 360. 360º i-Size FamilyFix 360º Swivel Isofix Base compatible with Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 or Coral 360 car seats Car seat name Maxi-Cosi Coral 360 Position in Top Average infant carrier price 320 € Average infant carrier + base price €569.98 (with FamilyFix 360) Average infant carrier + base + next car seat price €959.97 (Pearl 360) Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-75cm Recommended baby age 0-12 months Recommended weight 0-12kg Maximum length 75 cm Harness security points 3 Harness width 2.5 cm Height-adjustable harness X Symmetrically adjustable harness X Non-reclinable √ EPS √ Side impact protection √ Isofix Base sold separately and compatible √ (FamilyFix 360º 249.99) European origin X Brand with +30 years √ Mesh fabric X Test result =–(only previous model) Ease of placing baby √ Ease of installation +/- Base feedback system +/- Rotating base √ V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest √ Chicco Kiros Infant Carrier from €360 Video Review This car seat is a bit controversial because this infant carrier performed poorly in ADAC tests with the ISOfix base. However, this is one of the top 10 best infant carriers for babies, and it's a good one if we remove the Isofix base from the equation: the lining is fully made of EPP (a material with immense energy absorption), and it is R129 approved. Kiros Evo i-Size Fast In Infant Carrier by Chicco Car seat name Kiros i-size Position in Top 9 Average infant carrier price Average infant carrier + base price 360 with i-size base for Kiros Average infant carrier + base + next car seat price — Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-75cm Recommended baby age 0-12 months Recommended weight 0-13kg Maximum length 75 cm Harness security points 3 Harness width 3 cm Height-adjustable harness √ Symmetrically adjustable harness X Non-reclinable √ EPS √ (EPP) Side impact protection X Isofix Base sold separately and compatible √ European origin √ (Chicco - Italian) Brand with +30 years √ (1958) Mesh fabric X Test result 2.3 and 5.5 with Isofix base Ease of placing baby Reasonable Ease of installation Reasonable Base feedback system — Rotating base — V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest X Maxi Cosi Cabriofix Infant Carrier from €159 Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix Infant Carrier from €159 One of the features I love most about this Maxi Cosi infant carrier is precisely that it is the oldest and one of the most widely used in Europe. This means it accumulates real-accident feedback like no other infant carrier. Naturally, being such an old infant carrier, it falls short on some characteristics that are important in terms of safety: the harness has 3 points, is 2.5 cm wide, and is not height-adjustable. Maxi Cosi Isofix base Cabriofix €149 This infant carrier is only compatible with the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix Isofix base. This base will not be suitable for the car seat that follows the infant carrier. Car seat name Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix Position in Top 10 Average infant carrier price 159.99 Average infant carrier + base price €309.98 (with Cabriofix i-size base) Average infant carrier + base + next car seat price not applicable Approval R129 Suitable baby height 40-75 cm Recommended baby age 0-12 months Recommended weight 0-12kg Maximum length 75cm Harness security points 3 Harness width 2.5cm Height-adjustable harness X Symmetrically adjustable harness X Non-reclinable √ EPS +/- Side impact protection X European origin X Dorel Canadian Brand with +30 years √ (1984) Mesh fabric X Test result Good 1.7 (with Cabriofix i-size base) Ease of placing baby Reasonable Ease of installation Reasonable Base feedback system Reasonable Rotating base X V-shaped headrest √ Adjustable reducer √ Pillows attached to headrest X Second-hand baby infant carriers: No! There are many items you can buy second-hand, but an infant carrier or car seat is definitely not one of them. Just as we do not use a second-hand needle to administer our baby's vaccinations, the infant carrier should not be second-hand. Summarizing the reasons: Each baby car seat is designed for only one accident (whether the baby is in it or not), so if there was an accident, the seat should no longer be used. Some brands offer a new seat in case of an accident (under certain conditions depending on the brand); There is no reliable way to assess the safety of a baby infant carrier. The only way is a crash test, and it becomes unusable. So forget about places that tell you they can repair and make them as good as new. Most infant carriers in Portugal have compromised exterior plastic (which compromises safety) due to the time they spend in direct sun exposure. Each infant carrier has an approximate lifespan of 5 years If the choice is between a new, average-safety infant carrier and the best second-hand infant carrier: choose the average infant carrier! What determines if a baby infant carrier is good or not. Evaluation criteria for the top 10 best baby infant carriers The criteria that define whether an infant carrier is good or not are very similar to those that define whether a rear-facing car seat is good or not. Namely: Harness security points for baby infant carriers Harness width of the Infant Carrier Height-adjustable baby infant carrier harness Symmetrically adjustable harness Non-reclinable baby infant carrier Infant carrier approval: R129 vs R4404 Energy absorption material: EPS Energy absorption material for side impact protection Possibility of using an Isofix base or not Brands of European origin Brands with over 30 years of market presence Breathability of the infant carrier fabric: mesh fabric Consumer test results Maximum back length Price Ease of placing the baby in the infant carrier Ease of installing the baby infant carrier Pillows attached to the headrest Isofix base feedback system Suitable baby height Maximum baby weight Suitable baby age Isofix base with rotation capability V-shaped headrest Adjustable reducer 1. Harness security points for baby infant carriers Example of a baby car seat with a 5-point harness Example of a car seat with a 3-point harness Baby infant carriers with a 5-point harness will score higher, as they will promote greater dispersion of G-forces felt on the baby's body during an accident. To explain better, I often give this example in a workshop: imagine you have to carry a backpack with 20kg inside, and you can choose between the following backpacks: Which would you choose? If you're like me, you would undoubtedly choose backpack A to avoid back pain. The 5-point harness of the infant carrier will promote this x1000: the forces of the accident are dispersed over a larger area of the baby's body and will even distribute over the harder areas (hips) instead of overloading the soft areas of the body (abdomen). Car seats following the infant carrier almost all come with a 5-point harness for this very reason. 2. Harness width of the Infant Carrier Harness width of the baby infant carrier: 4cm Returning to the previous example of the 20 kg backpack, which backpack would you choose? A or B? Backpack with wide straps. Source: Best deal Backpack with thin straps. Source: Parfois I imagine you chose backpack A to avoid painful marks on your shoulders. So you understand why a 4 cm harness is safer for the baby than a 2 cm wide harness: the 2 cm harness will concentrate G-forces in a smaller area, potentially causing more injuries. Similarly, car seats that follow infant carriers almost always have a wider harness, 4 cm wide. 3. Height-adjustable baby infant carrier harness: Infant carrier harness height adjuster This feature is important in terms of both safety and durability of the infant carrier. For correct use of the infant carrier, we need to ensure that the harness is at shoulder level (see figure below). A non-adjustable harness is like a stopped clock: it's only right twice a day; in other words, the infant carrier will only be correct when the baby is born and uses the infant insert, and when they stop using the infant insert. Correct infant carrier harness position: at baby's shoulder level I often receive photos of babies whose infant carrier harness is too low, causing the straps to slip off the shoulders and the baby to be restrained only at the hips. The consequences in case of an accident are disastrous, as the baby comes out of the carrier instead of being protected inside it. 4. Harness adjustable symmetrically: Example of an infant carrier harness that adjusts symmetrically There are infant carriers where the harness adjustment is done one strap at a time, meaning we adjust the left strap first and then the right. The risk here is human error: adjusting the straps asymmetrically, leaving them at different height levels. In the event of an accident, this can cause serious injuries due to greater impact on one side than the other, or because the baby might be able to get out of the infant carrier. Ultimately, the consequence is simply that the baby is not correctly restrained in the car seat. Infant carrier without symmetrical harness adjustment   5. Non-reclining infant carriers: There are some infant carriers on the market that offer the option to recline/lie flat, but this option tends to be less safe than standard options, mainly due to improper use of the product. Let me explain: the infant carrier is a car seat for babies and as such is designed to be used in the car, not for strolling attached to a stroller. Infant carrier with lie-flat option. Source: Cybex When we stroll with our baby in infant carriers, we are not only compromising the baby's health but also their safety. The outer part of the infant carrier (which is plastic) when exposed to UV rays becomes brittle (just like clothes pegs exposed to the sun). This wears down the car seat much more quickly, and the materials are seriously compromised in the event of an accident (we want them to behave like water instead of breaking). Regarding ergonomics, infant carriers that "lie flat" will receive negative points and therefore won't even make it into the top 10. The reasons for the negative score are as follows: Infant carrier that reclines in the stroller. Source: Cybex A reclining infant carrier gives a false sense of prolonged use outside the car context and a strong incentive to use it in strollers. Babies lying for long periods in an infant carrier: may develop problems with plagiocephaly (see study); have a higher risk of oxygen desaturation, and the fact that the carrier reclines does not help reduce the risk (see study) risk overheating – as they remain lying on an EPS surface – (you can observe this whenever you remove your baby from the infant carrier: you will see that they are completely drenched – especially in Spring and Summer); its use outside the car context is clinically unadvised (see study) manufacturers advise against using the infant carrier for periods longer than 1h30. No integrated wheels: Exactly for the same reasons I gave for the non-reclining ones: it encourages prolonged use of the infant carrier, compromises the durability and integrity of the materials, and is harmful to the baby's health. 6. Homologation Infant carriers are approved by two different homologations: R129 (more current and safer) and R4404. Those with R129 homologation receive a higher score. R129: Uses Q-dummies (higher biofidelity – the degree to which it can represent the biological system on which it is based – than P-dummies) for evaluating crash-test criteria; Q family of crash test dummies Injury criteria assessed: chest, head, and abdominal acceleration Dummy Q0: still has no abdominal sensors; Approval based on the baby or child's height; Crash tests performed: rear impact, frontal impact, and side impact Side impact test. Source EURONCAP No groups of car seats; Maximum weight and maximum height of the infant carrier: at the manufacturer's discretion and dependent on the dummy used for approval; Gradually introduced since 2013; Commonly known as i-Size (although this name is not 100% technically correct); R4404 Came into force in 1980 and will be discontinued at the end of 2023 Car seats are divided into groups: 0; 0+; 1, 2, 3 Crash tests performed: rear impact and frontal impact Injury criteria assessed: chest and head acceleration Uses P-dummies for safety criteria assessment) P family of crash test dummies. The baby is just a weighted mass without sensors Dummy P0: has no sensors and is merely a weighted mass in the shape of a baby. Approval based on the baby or child's weight; Maximum infant carrier weight: 13kg   7. and 8. Energy absorption material: EPS and/or side impact protection EPS – Expanded Polystyrene is a high-quality energy absorption foam In my child road safety workshops, I usually joke with parents about their tendency to feel infant carriers to see if they are good. It's a perfectly normal behavior and shows that our mindset is on comfort (we do the exact same when choosing a sofa or a chair) instead of safety. A good infant carrier will be 100% covered with EPS (instead of having a thin layer on the head) and will be very "stiff". Example of side impact protection material in an infant carrier In addition to EPS, we can also look for dynamic energy absorption materials. This type of material is especially important for protecting the baby in case of a side impact, as it ensures softness in the contact area (inner part folds) and becomes stiffer on the outer part. Dynamic energy absorption material: more efficient and more durable   9. Possibility of using an ISOFIX base for the infant carrier The ISOFIX system is the most efficient method to avoid common installation errors. Thus, infant carriers that can have a compatible ISOFIX base will be rewarded. 10. European origin brands: In my assessment, I prioritize brands of European origin. My experience in this market has taught me that the values of European brands are more aligned with ours, such as the value of individual human life, the way workers are treated and their working conditions, the ecological footprint, etc. Therefore, I present you the brands of European origin: BeSafe – Norwegian HTS; Chicco –Italian Artsana SpA ; Jane (Spanish); Klippan (Finnish Oy Klippan AB) Britax-Roemer- UK – Nordic Capital private equity fund Avionaut (Polish); Axkid (Swedish); Swandoo (Austria) Origin of other brands working in our market: Maxi-Cosi (Canadian Dorel) Cybex(Chinese – Goodbaby ); Joiebaby ( HK – Chinese); Nunababy(USA and HK – same group as joie and graco);   11. Brands with over 30 years of market presence: I bet you don't want your baby to be a guinea pig for that brand's infant carrier, right? That's why it's very important for the brand to have been in the market for a long time, to invest heavily in research and development, to know what happens to their car seats in real-life accident situations, and to have had time to incorporate improvements. Over my 20 years in this market, I've seen many child car seats appear on the market with a name and a brand, have disastrous safety results, not meet safety requirements at all (despite being approved), be expelled... only to reappear later with another name and brand. BeSafe (1963); Britax-Roemer (1938); Chicco (1958); Maxi-Cosi (1984); Jane (1932); Klippan (1959 Finnish) Brands with fewer years of presence in our market: Nunababy(2007 Netherlands); Cybex(2005); Avionaut (2009 Poland); Axkid (2009 Swedish); Joie(2009); Swandoo (2014 Austria)   12. Breathability of the infant carrier fabric: mesh fabric 3D mesh fabric 3D mesh fabric provides much greater air circulation, as well as absorbing heat and moisture. This is especially important in a country like ours where it gets very hot, to increase baby's comfort during travel and promote preventive driving by caregivers (who can concentrate on the road with a screaming, frothing baby in the car?) 13. Result obtained in consumer tests of infant carriers: What are they? These are tests organized by independent consumer organizations and are usually conducted twice a year. The tests have criteria defined by these institutions, and baby car seats (for example) are purchased directly from specialized stores (thus, the manufacturer cannot control which car seat goes to test, its result, or its publication). It is normal not to find an evaluation of a particular car seat, as it is the organization that decides which seats are relevant to be tested in that market. Stiftung Warentest: German consumer testing organization that cooperates with ADAC ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub), in short, is like our ACP, meaning a car club that sells a range of services, insurance, and sometimes products. ÖAMTC (Österreichischer Automobil, Motorrad & Touring Club) – is like our ACP TCS (Touring Club Schweiz) - likewise DECO: Consumer association that publishes results based on tests conducted by ADAC, and whose funding source is consumer subscriptions Example of an ADAC test result Criteria Used: 50% Safety: Several tests are carried out with different impacts, angles, and different sizes of crash test dummies in a Volkswagen Polo structure. 40% Handling: Here, engineers and ordinary people install the car seat in the car according to the instruction manual, and the following are evaluated: risk of incorrect installation; risk of improper use; ease of securing the child with the harness; installation and uninstallation; size adjustments; user manual; cleaning and maintenance. 10% Ergonomics: sitting position, comfort, space for the child, space the seat occupies in the car. Chemicals: do not impact the score if the result is less than 3.5. The chemicals tested are: PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Phthalate (softeners) Organophosphate (flame retardant) Phenols Formaldehyde   14. Maximum backrest length This feature, in a baby car seat, is not the most important as there are conditions (some babies don't like to travel lying down from 4/6 months, some babies develop immense curiosity and need to see what's happening outside or travel higher; travel dynamics that prevent the caregiver from concentrating; etc.) that make it necessary for the baby to leave the car seat earlier than the estimated total use time. Thus, this feature will not influence the score but serves as information if your tie-breaker criterion is the car seat that is larger. 15. Price The higher the price of the baby car seat, the lower its score will be, and it will only be compensated by the additional safety features incorporated into it. 16. Ease of placing the baby in the car seat It is necessary that placing the baby in the car seat is simple, also to reduce the number of installation errors (to see how to place the baby in the car seat, check out my other article where I show step by step what to consider). Here, I considered the existence of magnets to move away/hold the harness (and avoid the hassle of looking for the harness when placing the baby), the ease of tightening/releasing the harness (the button where everything fits), visibility of the harness release (button that allows loosening the belts). 17. Ease of installing the baby car seat in the car In my child road safety workshop, I always emphasize that it is useless to have the best car seat on the market if it is then incorrectly installed. The consequences of a baby car seat (in fact, any car seat) being poorly installed are disastrous, and the reality is that about 70% of car seats are incorrectly installed. Even if they can use an ISOfix system, many infant carriers will be installed in the car with a seat belt system, especially when one of the caregivers is more anxious and travels alone (see article or review below on precautions to take when traveling alone and which is the safest place). So here I will evaluate whether the way to release the safety handle, to pass the belts, and whether the illustrations on the sides are easy to interpret is intuitive. correct installation instructions   18. Cushions attached to the headrest Given that parents often lose baby car seat accessories, and harness protection cushions are definitely among the most ordered accessories not only at the Bonabebe store but also internationally (to the point where textile and toy brands are developing these accessories), the impossibility of separating these protective cushions from the car seat is super important: because in the event of an accident, the harness, when used without a cushion, can cut the baby. 19. ISOfix base feedback system for baby car seats ISOfix base clamps The more feedback the ISOfix system gives us about the installation, the easier it is to achieve a correct installation. Currently, there are ISOfix systems with visual and audible feedback at each stage and others with only audible feedback in some parts. This will not be a preponderant item in my evaluation, as many infant car seats tend to be secured with seat belts, especially during the first 6 months of the baby's life. 20. Appropriate height of baby car seats Here I checked whether the height indicated on the approval seal is compatible with the car seat's maximum backrest height. This will not have a major impact on the final score but will adjust expectations for product use (many manufacturers are tempted to indicate a maximum height that is not compatible with the size of the seat). 21. Maximum baby weight Maximum weight supported by the baby car seat The maximum weight of baby car seats is very irrelevant since in 20 years of experience I have never seen a baby reach the maximum weight indicated by the car seat (they reach the height limit with a lot of time to spare). In other words, it will not be impactful in the evaluation but serves as informative data. 22. Appropriate age for using baby car seats I know that baby car seats are highly recommended as the safest option for a baby and that ideally, the use of the car seat should be extended for as long as possible. I agree with this statement as long as the trips are calm, as long as there are no babies foaming in the car seat. And the truth is, we simply don't know what kind of baby we have in the womb! Therefore, I don't think it's relevant to invest so much in the baby car seat at this initial stage, so that we can have more open options for the next seat. In summary, it's important to have a safe car seat, but not necessarily a baby car seat that lasts a long time. 23. Rotating ISOfix base for baby car seats Baby car seat with rotating isofix base. Source: Maxi Cosi During the infant car seat phase, I don't find this feature very relevant. Because, whether the base rotates or not, we will always tend to rotate the infant car seat on the base when we place the baby in the car. 24. V-shaped headrest At this point, the evaluation's concern was the car seat's ability to contain the baby's head without too much movement. 25. Adjustable reducer for baby car seats Similar to what we observe for the adjustable harness, an adjustable reducer will also allow the correct placement of the baby in the car seat. It ultimately influences the angle at which the baby travels as well as the position of the harness.