Choosing an infant car seat can be overwhelming. There are a lot of technical specs to consider, like safety features, weight limits, and harness types. And the wide variety of different child car seat options online and on display in the baby aisle at your local big-box store can start to seem like a lot to research.

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Consumer Reports has a detailed guide to choosing the right car seat that helps break down the essentials. For infants, you’ll want to focus on safety, budget, and ease of installation. Secondary factors might include the car seat’s total overall weight (this is the only car seat you’ll regularly pull in and out of the car), the size (especially if you already have an older child in a convertible car seat or booster), and cleanability. 

The good news: “An expensive seat doesn’t mean the best seat,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “It may give you more nice-to-have features or premium fabrics, but it doesn’t equal better performance.”

Consumer Reports has tested more than 130 popular car seats, from Chicco to UppaBaby, assessing them for ease of use, crash protection, and vehicle fit. “We purchase every test sample at retail, just like consumers would,” says Michael Bloch, who tests car seats at Consumer Reports. “All testing is conducted by certified child passenger safety technicians.” Three infant car seats impressed us the most.

CR’s Top Pick for Infant Car Seats, below, is the highest-rated widely available model from our rigorous lab tests. We’ve also designated a Value Pick that earned a great test score and has a good price. And because not every family’s needs are the same, our Expert Pick is for parents who want premium crash-protection features at a budget-friendly price.

If you’re looking for one of the safest car seats out there that’s also easy to use, you’ve found it. The is our highest-scoring infant car seat and has excellent crash protection with its load-leg feature and rigid lower anchor connectors. Other features our testers appreciated include: 

But keep in mind that removing the seat cover for cleaning can be inconvenient, and the harness system has a complicated rethreading system. The carrier handle position is also restricted once you click the seat into the car. But if safety is your top priority, this is an excellent choice. 

Our Value Pick in Infant Car Seats for 2025 is a perennial favorite from a justly popular brand that’s practically synonymous with child car seat safety. Our Expert Pick is a great choice for parents who want a load-leg feature for additional crash protection at a cost-conscious price. Depending on your family’s needs and budget, one of these infant car seats might be right for you.

The has models that come in under $200 and receive high crash-protection ratings in our testing, an extremely appealing combo for many families. This car seat easy to install, whether you’re using the lower anchors or a seat belt. Other features our testers liked include: 

Keep in mind that there’s no load leg. But for safety-conscious families on a budget, it’s hard to find a better value. 

If you want the crash protection features of our Top Pick combined with the value of our Value Pick, consider the Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe+. “It’s an infant seat with a load leg, a typically premium feature, without the premium price,” Thomas and Bloch say. It rated high in crash protection and ease of use during our testing and comes in at under $300. Other features we like include: 

But keep in mind that while the carrier handle is contoured to be ergonomic, its position is restricted once you click the seat into the car. Overall, it’s a feature-laden car seat that’s easy to install and a smart choice for parents mindful of their budget. 

At CR, we hold baby gear to the highest standards—because nothing matters more than your child’s safety. Our testing is rigorous, independent, and free from outside influence. We buy everything we test, and we don’t accept advertising. Our nonprofit mission is to champion fairness, safety, and transparency, and to help every family make confident, informed decisions about the products they use. Support our efforts by becoming a member or donating to our mission today.