5 Best Car Seats for Safety and Comfort In 2024

5 Best Car Seats for Safety and Comfort In 2024

When it comes to choosing the right infant car seat, it’s easy for parents to become overwhelmed. It feels like such an important decision to get “right” and safety and comfort are both of paramount importance.

But with so many car seats on the market, it can be hard to know when you’ve found the seat that’s the right choice for you.

The rabbit hole of research can seem never ending and, for parents who are already feeling anxious about the decisions they have to make and the many preparations for welcoming a new little one it can all become a little … much.

To help, we’ve rounded up several of our favorite infant car seats. It’s worth noting that every single car seat has to meet federal safety standards. If you’re buying a car seat that hasn’t expired or been in a car crash and you install it correctly, your baby will ride safely, regardless of the seat you choose. 

That said, there are numerous innovations and features available in many of the car seats today that can enhance the safety offered in a standard car seat. Here are some of our favorite standout infant car seats for safety and comfort in 2025.

Best Overall: Orbit Baby G5+

Most Versatile: Chicco Keyfit 35

Easiest to Install: Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX 

Best for Travel: Doona

Most Comfortable: Nuna Pipa

 

 

Best Overall: Orbit Baby G5+

The Orbit Baby G5+ pairs a unique design with safety features and comfort making it the best overall infant car seat. The G5+ installs securely in less than 60 seconds on its patented SmartHub base. The base allows the car seat to rotate into position for installation into the car, saving on back strain.

Orbit Baby G5+ Pros

  • Docks and rotates into the SmartHub base with ease—whether that’s in the car or stroller

  • Its deep cradle design provides maximum side-impact protection 

Orbit Baby G5+ Cons

  • It’s pricey

  • Lower weight limit

Most Versatile: Chicco Keyfit 35

The Chicco Keyfit is a ubiquitous fixture in the infant car seat market for good reason—it’s a solid seat at a good price point that’s relatively easy to install. It also has an available adapter that makes it work with multiple strollers on the market, making it one of the most versatile seats on our list.

Pros

  • Included anti-rebound bar is a nice safety feature

  • With a separately sold adapter, it can snap onto a number of different stroller brands

Cons

  • Lower weight limit than some competitors

  • Rigid LATCH installation can be a bit trickier

Easiest to Install: Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX 

The Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX has a straightforward installation process (as long as you’re using the base) that many parents might appreciate.

Pros

  • Simple to install with LATCH or seatbelt installation (including base)

  • Higher weight and height limits than many other seats

Cons

  • Difficult to get a secure install off-base with seatbelt

  • More spartan design is less comfortable than other seats

Best for Travel: Doona

For frequent travelers or urban dwellers with young infants who travel mostly via taxi or rideshare, the Doona is a total game changer—one piece of equipment that quickly and easily collapses in a way no car seat and stroller combo can mimic.

Doona Pros

  • It collapses and expands quickly and easily

  • It installs easily with a seatbelt

Doona Cons

  • At 17 lbs, it’s one of the heaviest infant car seats on the market 

  • No storage

Most Comfortable: Nuna Pipa

Nuna is well-regarded for the way it prioritizes both comfort and safety. Its seats incorporate memory foam for a cozy ride.

Nuna Pros

  • Lightweight, at just 7.5 lbs, making it easy to maneuver in and out of vehicles

  • Memory foam padding makes for a comfortable ride

Nuna Cons

  • Pricier than many other seats on our list

  • Harness has to be rethreaded making adjustments as baby grows more difficult

How To Choose a Good Car Seat 

Choosing the best infant car seat means weighing safety, ease of installation, maneuverability, and comfort to determine the best fit for you.

Safety

All car seats on the market pass rigorous safety inspections and meet federal safety standards. Some car seats offer additional safety features, like LATCH installation, anti-rebound bars, and shock absorbing seat padding.

Ease of Install

Consider whether you’ll use LATCH or a seat belt for installation and make sure the car seat can be installed easily with your preferred method.

Maneuverability + Adaptability

If you plan to switch the seats between vehicles or want to use it with a travel system, take that into account when choosing your car seat. 

Comfort

Choose a seat that accommodates your baby comfortably, but also takes your comfort into account, as well. Look for ergonomic handles, lightweight seats, and features like a rotating base that make moving in and out of the car easier for everyone.

FAQ

What are the safest car seats in 2025?

All car seats on the market pass rigorous safety inspections and meet federal safety standards. Some car seats offer additional safety features, like LATCH installation, anti-rebound bars, and shock absorbing seat padding.

Should an infant car seat go behind the driver or passenger?

An infant car seat should always be placed in the backseat. Most manufacturers recommend placing an infant car seat in the middle seat but, if that’s not an option than you can place it behind either the passenger or driver.

Which car seat is best?

The best car seat is one that can accommodate the size and weight of your child, fits properly in your vehicle, and is installed correctly.

Conclusion

Choosing the best infant car seat is a matter of weighing the features you want against the needs of your lifestyle. The right car seat will be easy to install safely and be comfortable for baby and parent alike. Many of today’s car seats offer convenient features like 360 degree rotation and multiple positioning options to make sure you get the best fit in and out of the vehicle.



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