All car seats sold in the US pass FMVSS213 crash testing and are safe to use as long as they fit your child and your vehicle correctly.

Our recommended Top Picks for Best Car Seats are based on features including advanced safety, ease of use, ease of installation, and child comfort.  Here are some of the features that we love to see in rear-facing-only infant car seats:

  • No-Rethread harness systems make harness adjustments easier as the child grows.
  • Push-on lower anchor connectors for easier lower anchor installation.
  • Built-in seat belt lock-offs for easier seat belt installation .
  • European belt routing for easier installation without a base.
  • Additional side-impact protection and advanced energy management systems that go beyond the requirements.
  • Rigid lower anchors for ease of installation and potential side impact benefits.
  • Load Leg helps to transfer crash forces away from the car seat in certain types of crashes.
  • Anti-Rebound Bar helps decrease backward rotation in certain types of crashes.
  • Easy recline adjusters with multiple recline settings and easy to read recline indicators with a wide range of acceptable safe angles.
  • Easy and compatible installation in most vehicles and seating positions.
  • Comfortable soft goods and good fit for preemies.

B-Safe 35

  • Impact-absorbing base and Impact-stabilizing steel frame
  • Easy-on/off LATCH Connectors
  • Built-in seat belt lock-offs
  • Spring-assisted recline

Shop Britax B-Safe 35

B-Safe 35 Elite

In additional to everything in the B-Safe 35, 

  • 2 layers of side protection
  • Quick-adjust no-rethread harness makes it easy to change the harness height as your child grows.

Shop Britax B-Safe 35 Elite

Endeavours

In additional to everything in the B-Safe 35 Elite,

  • Steel Anti-Rebound Bar 
  • European Belt Guide for an improved baseless installation.

Shop Britax Endeavours 

B-Safe Ultra

In additional to everything in the B-Safe 35 Elite,

  • Cool Flow ventilated mesh fabric.
  • Flip-forward belly pad provides easy access to harness buckle.

Shop Britax B-Safe Ultra

KeyFit 30

  • ReclineSure leveling foot and RideRight bubble level-indicators
  • Premium LATCH connectors and a SuperCinch tightener.
  • Integrated lock-offs for vehicle seat belt installation.

KeyFit 30 Zip additionally has Quick-remove seat pad and all-season boot
KeyFit 30 Zip Air additionally has AirMesh breathable backrest

Shop Chicco Keyfit 30

Fit2 Infant & Toddler

  • 2-Stage base converts from Infant Position to more upright Toddler Position with extended leg room.
  • No-rethread harness
  • ReclineSure leveling foot, RideRight bubble levels, and SuperCinch LATCH tightener.
  • Integrated lock-offs for installation with the vehicle seat belt.
  • European Belt Routing for improved baseless installation.

Shop Chicco Fit2

ATON 2

  • Linear Side-impact Protection
  • Load Leg absorbs and distributes energy to the vehicle floor
  • No-rethread harness
  • Premium LATCH connectors
  • Belt tensioning system for easy tight installation
  • European Belt Routing for improved baseless installation

Shop Cybex Aton 2

ATON M WITH SAFELOCK BASE

  • Anti-rebound design provides additional protection
  • Integrated Linear Side-impact Protection
  • Load Leg helps reduce crash energy
  • No-rethread harness
  • Premium LATCH connectors
  • Belt tensioning system for easy tight installation
  • European Belt Routing for improved baseless installation

ATON Q

  • Telescopic linear Side-impact Protection
  • Load Leg absorbs and distributes energy to the vehicle floor
  • No-rethread harness
  • Premium LATCH connectors
  • Belt tensioning system for easy tight installation
  • European Belt Routing for improved baseless installation

CLOUD Q / Q Plus

  • Reclining backrest for  near-flat recline position outside of the car
  • Telescopic linear Side-impact Protection
  • No-rethread harness
  • Load Leg absorbs and distributes energy to the vehicle floor
  • Premium LATCH connectors
  • Belt tensioning system for easy tight installation
  • European Belt Routing for improved baseless installation

LiteMax

  • Push-in SureSAFE lower anchor connectors.
  • Vehicle belt lockoff for easier seat belt installation.

Advanced LiteMax includes SensorSafe Technology which alerts parents to presence of child still in the car.

Pro Series LiteMax includes Lyf Guard advanced side-impact technology.

Shop Evenflo LiteMax

SafeMax

  • Anti-rebound bar on base
  • Lockoff for easy seatbelt installs

Shop Evenflo SafeMax Infant

SnugRide Click Connect 35 / 35 LX / Safety Surround

  • Easily adjustable recline and easy-to-read level indicator

Snugride ClickConnect 35 LX includes a no-rethread harness system and push-on LATCH connectors.
Snugride ClickConnect 35 LX with Safety Surround includes additional side impact technology.

SnugRide Click Connect 40

  • Integrated seat belt lock-off
  • Push-on LATCH connectors for easier installation.
  • No-rethread harness system
  • 8-position adjustable base grows with your child
  • Easy-to-read level indicator

SnugRide SnugLock 30 / 35 /35 XT / 35LX with TrueShield

  • SnugLock Technology for easier installation.
  • Easily adjustable recline and easy-to-read level indicator

SnugRide Snuglock 35 XT features removable all-weather boot.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX featuring TrueShield Technology features advanced side impact protection and 1-hand adjustable handle.

Shop SnugRide SnugLock 30
Shop SnugRide Snuglock 35

SnugRide SnugLock 35 DLX / 35 Elite / 35 Elite with Safety Surround / 35 Platinum / 35 Platinum XT

  • SnugLock Technology for easier installation.
  • Easily adjustable recline and easy-to-read level indicator
  • Push-on LATCH connectors for easier installation.

SnugRide SnugLock 35 DLX features a 1-hand adjustable handle.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite features a no-rethread harness system.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite featuring Safety Surround features a no-rethread harness system and advanced side impact protection.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 Platinum features a no-rethread harness system and a 1-hand adjustable handle.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 Platinum XT features a no-rethread harness system, a 1-hand adjustable handle and a removable all-weather boot.

SnugRide SnugLock Extend2Fit 35 / 35LX

  • Extend2Fit 4-position extension panel provides extra leg room
  • SnugLock Technology for easier installation.
  • Push-on LATCH connectors for easier installation.
  • Anti-rebound bar for added safety
  • No-Rethread Harness.
  • 1-Hand Adjustable Handle
  • Easily adjustable recline and easy-to-read level indicator

Mico Max 30

  • Push-on LATCH connectors
  • Easy recline base
  • Anti-rebound bar

Mico Max Plus

  • Push-on LATCH connectors
  • Easy recline base with easy to read level indicator
  • Load Leg
  • Integrated belt lockoff for easier seat belt installation

PIPA

  • Dream drape full coverage canopy
  • Stability Load Leg
  • Rigid LATCH anchors
  • Built-in seat belt lock-off

PIPA Lite

  • Lightweight infant carrier
  • Stability Load Leg
  • Rigid LATCH anchors
  • Built-in seat belt lock-off
  • * Cannot be installed without base.

Primo Viaggio 4-35

  • No-rethread harness.
  • Push-on LATCH connectors
  • Built-in Lock-off for easier seat belt installation.
  • Dual Stage Cushion System.
  • European Belt routing for baseless installation and handle flips forward to act as anti-rebound bar.
  • Built-in anti-rebound bar attached to base.

Primo Viaggio 4-35 NIDO

  • No-rethread harness.
  • Push-on LATCH connectors
  • Built-in Lock-off for easier seat belt installation.
  • Dual Stage Cushion System.
  • European Belt routing for baseless installation and handle flips forward to act as anti-rebound bar.
  • Load Leg and built-in Anti-Rebound Bar act together to reduce rotation.

MESA

  • Auto-retracting LATCH and Tightness indicator.
  • Built-in lock-off for easier seat belt installation.
  • Dual-sided level indicators and adjustable foot for easy leveling.
  • No-rethread harness that adjusts with headrest.
  • Some merino wool fashions pass federal flammability standards without the application of chemical flame retardants.

MESA Merino Wool

  • MESA with fabric which passes federal flammability standards without the application of chemical flame retardants.