How to Choose a Newborn Car Seat

Convertible. All-in-one. Rear-facing only. Anchors, belt paths, and weight-limits. Choosing and installing the right car seat for your newborn baby can feel daunting. There is a lot to consider: baby’s age, height and weight, type of vehicle, and budgetary considerations are all important factors when deciding which of the many options is the best one for your family.

New car seats hit the market frequently, each touting their own unique features. The good news is that any car seat sold in the U.S. must comply with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)*. While there are counterfeit car seats out there, as long as you are purchasing from a standard retailer – think big box stores versus international direct-to-consumer e-commerce platforms – the car seat you choose should meet all safety standards. Now, you just need to narrow down the options.

*This guidance will “sundown” in late 2026 and be replaced by new safety regulations. This change will not render previously available car seats (unexpired, undamaged, without a recall) unusable or unsafe.

Step 1: Initial search

NHTSA is a wealth of information for selecting the right type of car seat based on 3 important factors: baby’s age*, baby’s height, and baby’s weight. Using that information, the NHTSA website can help you decide where to start looking for a newborn or infant car seat.

*In almost all cases, a newborn will be in a rear-facing car seat until age 1. Physicians can prescribe alternate safety seats — such as the car bed — for medically complex babies.

After narrowing the options, how do you decide which seat is best for you?

Step 2: Digging deeper

The best car seat for you and your baby depends on a number of factors.

• Are you shopping for a newborn who hasn’t arrived yet, or are you upgrading from an infant seat for your toddler?
• Do you hope to get some longevity out of the car seat you choose, or do you prefer smaller height & weight margins?
• Do you plan to extended-rear-face or prefer to turn your child forward-facing as soon as it is safe to do so?

The information provided in the NHTSA car seat list can help you make the right choice.

This handy tool returns a list of appropriate car seats for your child’s current/anticipated age and size. Within this list, you can learn car seats’ acceptable weight and height ranges and seating configurations, as well as ease-of-use ratings.

If you are still unsure, you can also consult a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). A CPST can share evidence-based information and current best practices while considering your particular needs.

Step 3: Installation and Inspection

Once you have chosen and purchased your new car seat, you’ll need to install it correctly into your vehicle. Carefully read through the car seat manual to ensure proper installation. It can also be helpful to have your vehicle’s manual handy, for answers to specific questions related to your car’s make and model.

You may also wish to have your car seat inspected by a CPST. Whether at a local public event or a hired, private consultation, a CPST can inspect your installation, advise on adjustments or corrections that should be made, and educate you on proper usage of your car seat.

Ultimately, the best car seat for your family is one used correctly every time.

Newborn Car Seat FAQs

Do I have to buy new infant car seat or can I use one second-hand?

While it is always recommended to purchase a car seat new, a preowned one is better than none at all. Some things to check before putting your baby into a used child safety seat:

• Has the seat been in a vehicle during an accident, even a fender bender?
• Is the car seat expired or recalled?
• Is the car seat missing any of its padding or inserts?

If you can answer each of these questions with an absolute “no”, then it is likely okay to use the car seat. Unfortunately, obtaining a car seat from a stranger on-line or at a yard sale can be risky because you cannot guarantee the seat’s history. 

When can I turn my baby from rear-facing to forward-facing?

In most states, infants must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach one year, by law. At this point, you may choose to turn your baby forward in the car. However, research shows that extended rear-facing – keeping your child in a rear-facing position until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat – is the best way to keep your child safe.

Is it safe to add a newborn insert to my baby’s car seat?

Every big box store and baby boutique carries an assortment of car seat inserts for newborns, but each car seat correctly and safely fits babies within the ranges provided in the manual and on the decals of the seat. Anything that did not come with the car seat should not be attached to the seat – this goes for inserts, dangling toys, and pacifier clips. Always consult the car seat manual or a CPST for information on best practices.

Good to know!

You may notice some significant messes as your newborn car seat is transporting your baby to and fro. You may want to sanitize and deodorize your ickiest, messiest, stinkiest car seat covers. Unfortunately, steam-cleaning (or machine washing) a car seat cover can ruin some of the safety properties included by the manufacturer.

Most car seat manuals will tell you to spot clean — this prevents degradation to the flame-retardant properties. Always check the manual before attempting to deep clean a car seat cover, and never soak the straps as this weakens the webbing and compromises safety in the event of a crash.