9 Best Infant Car Seats of 2023

We updated this article in September 2022 to add more information based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute. In addition to our original picks, we’ve updated two with newer models, the and the .

Whether you’re taking your newborn baby home from the hospital for the first time, transporting them to Grandma’s house for a quick visit or driving them to the park for some fresh air, most new parents will start using a rear-facing infant car seat within the first few weeks of their baby’s young life. While there are a variety of car seat types, styles and brands to consider, for your earliest rides with your newborn an infant car seat will likely be the best option. Not only are infant car seats generally a bit smaller since baby is still teeny-tiny, they also function as a carrier to help bring your newest family member to and from the car with ease. They are only rear-facing for added safety, use a five-point harness to keep baby secure and recline far enough to be safe for infants who aren’t yet able to hold up their head on their own.

The only other safe car seat options for newborns are some convertible or all-in-one car seats, however not all of them can safely recline to the right angle even if your baby technically meets the required weight and height limit if you have a small child. The parenting and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all of the must-haves for babies, toddlers and children, from strollers to toys, and everything in between. To find the best infant car seats, we evaluate criteria including safety, company customer service and ease of use, including installation, angle and harness adjustments, removal of the carrier from the base and then conduct our tests in vehicles of various sizes.

Our top picks:

This roundup of best infant car seats you can buy is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback. Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how to pick the right infant car seat for you and your lifestyle. Looking for a car seat for an older kid? Check out our favorite booster seats. Here are the best infant car seats of 2022: