Safest infant bucket seat?

[goldingoddess]

My son was under 5 and a half pounds at 10 days overdue, so I'm planning for another wee one, and feel most comfortable with a bucket seat for the beginning.

So in your opinion, what is the safest one on the market, I'm attracted to the Britax companion, but I'm sure there are one's out there I've never hear of.

TIA!

[LiLStar]

Well the most important thing is to make sure the lowest harness strap is LOW! My SIL just had a 5.5lb baby and had to scramble to find a carseat with harness straps below the shoulder. I think my other sil ran out and found an evenflo for her. I can't be very helpful as to which brands have have the super low slots, aside from I know my sil found the evenflo to work!

[DahliaRW]

I believe the Chicco Keyfit fits itty bitties well.

[CorasMama]

We have the Chicco Keyfit, and it really does fit the itty bitties well.

[Twinklefae]

Also the Safety 1st Onboard Air (there are a couple of different OnBoards, you are looking for the one with the 4lbs min.)

ETA: And just to clarify, the safest car seat is the one that fits your vehicle, your child and will be used correctly every time. The above recommended buckets are not 'safer' than other seats for most babies, just very small ones, because other seats may not fit the baby correctly.

[~Amy~]

The Britax Companion has been discontinued. The Chaperone is the new Britax infant seat. Definitely try one in your vehicle before you purchase...they are incompatible with quite a few vehicles because the base is so long front to back and they hang off the seat too much (must be at least 80% on the vehicle seat).

As others have mentioned, look for a seat with a 4lb lower limit, such as the Keyfit or the Onboard. Both are easy to install, compatible with most vehicles, and fit tiny babies well.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

Also the Safety 1st Onboard Air (there are a couple of different OnBoards, you are looking for the one with the 4lbs min.)

ETA: And just to clarify, the safest car seat is the one that fits your vehicle, your child and will be used correctly every time. The above recommended buckets are not 'safer' than other seats for most babies, just very small ones, because other seats may not fit the baby correctly.

Yes, the Onboard Air. I knew there was another that fit itty bitties well. And thanks for your clarification, so true!

[goldingoddess]

Originally Posted by ~Amy~

The Britax Companion has been discontinued. The Chaperone is the new Britax infant seat. Definitely try one in your vehicle before you purchase...they are incompatible with quite a few vehicles because the base is so long front to back and they hang off the seat too much (must be at least 80% on the vehicle seat).

As others have mentioned, look for a seat with a 4lb lower limit, such as the Keyfit or the Onboard. Both are easy to install, compatible with most vehicles, and fit tiny babies well.

This is good to know, we have a Honda Fit, and it has a very narrow lower seat.

[chickabiddy]

There is no "safest" seat overall, but I think an Onboard would be a good choice -- it fits little babies very nicely.

[SeattleRain]

Originally Posted by goldingoddess

This is good to know, we have a Honda Fit, and it has a very narrow lower seat.

For what its worth, I have an Impreza which is also a small car and we have the KeyFit andit fits nicely. My only complaint is that I have a tall baby (26" at 4 months) and I think hes going to cap out of it in the next few months when I speant the extra money to buy this seat so that it would last longer.

[~Amy~]

Originally Posted by goldingoddess

This is good to know, we have a Honda Fit, and it has a very narrow lower seat.

I can tell you then the Chaperone *just* fits on the seat of a current generation Honda Civic. It was so close that I had to measure it & do the math. It was 83% on the seat. I'm not sure how the seat depth compares to the Fit, but I'd imagine the Civic is a bit deeper.