Best Infant Car Seats of 2025

The Liing Infant Car Seat by Clek is one of the easiest installs of infant car seats that we have yet to come across – and that’s saying a LOT! A proper angle is easy to find with a bubble level indicator that can be adjusted once the seat is already installed – this is literally unheard of until now in the car seat world!

The rigid latches make it a “sweat-proof” install and the load leg adds additional stability and decreases rotation in case of a collision. Pair those things with the green indicators throughout and you can be confident you’ve got a proper install every single time.  

One more thing! It’s also super narrow and quite compact from front to back, so a top choice for 3-across installations, smaller vehicles, or long-legged parents up front who can’t have their front seats too close to the dashboard.

For an in-depth review, check out our entire Clek Liing Infant Seat Review!

THE SPECS:

• Use From: 4-35 lbs
• Install without base when required [aka European Belt Path or “taxi-safe” belt path]: Yes
• FAA Approved: Yes
• Extendable Canopy: Yes
• Canopy UPF Rating: 100+
• Infant Inserts Included: Yes
• Load Leg or Anti-Rebound Bar: Load leg
• No Re-Thread Harness: No

Biggest Pros:

• Very easy to get a super secure install and be confident it's properly installed every single time
• Made in Canada!
  
  

Biggest Cons:

• Not a no re-thread harness

Parents love the simplistic look and leatherette accents on the PIPA Infant Car Seat by Nuna [they are beautiful car seats!] and it’s also one of the lightest car seats on the market at just 7.9lbs! They were able to keep this car seat at such a low weight AND include a “Dream Drape” which is a pop-out sun canopy that provides complete coverage from all the elements. 

The PIPA is equipped with rigid latches for an extremely quick installation! You are able to install using the rigid latches AND the seatbelt [note that on all other infant car seats you must use one or the other]. Although in the United States it features a load leg on the base, it does NOT in Canada.

For more information, check out our full in-depth review, here.

If you’re comparing the Nuna PIPA, Nuna PIPA Lite and PIPA Urbn you can read our full comparison, here!

THE SPECS:

• Use From: 4-35 lbs
• Install without base when required [aka European Belt Path or “taxi-safe” belt path]: Yes
• FAA Approved: Yes
• Extendable Canopy: Yes
• Canopy UPF Rating: 50+
• Infant Inserts Included: Yes
• Load Leg or Anti-Rebound Bar: Neither
• No Re-Thread Harness: No

Biggest Pros:

• Extremely lightweight and looks very stylish
  
  

Biggest Cons:

• Can be difficult to achieve a proper recline in vehicles without use of pool noodles or towels to aid in adjustments
  

And the winner of the popularity contest this year is the Mesa V2 infant car seat by  UPPAbaby. Parents rave about how easy it is to use this car seat, especially when paired with a  UPPAbaby  stroller!

This seat requires no additional adapters and connects right onto the frame of the  Vista V3  or  Cruz V2  strollers. Simple right? It has all the same popular features as the OG MESA with a few appreciated upgrades.

The Mesa V2 now features a bigger canopy, a larger headrest, and a more comfortable, contoured infant insert to create a perfect fit for your little one. It also includes the one crotch buckle position, to help eliminate misuse when adjusting.

The  Mesa V2  base still features a “SmartSecure” system, which is essentially self-retracting UAS connectors so that you can easily get a tight and secure installation without breaking a sweat!

For a full in-depth review of the Mesa V2, click here.

THE SPECS:

• Use From: 4-35 lbs and up to 32″ in height, whichever comes first 
• Install without the base when required [aka European Belt Path or “taxi-safe” belt path]: Yes  
• FAA Approved: Yes 
• Extendable Canopy: Yes 
• Canopy UPF Rating: 50+  
• Infant Inserts Included: Yes 
• Load Leg or Anti-Rebound Bar: Anti-Rebound Bar
• No Re-Thread Harness: Yes  

Biggest Pros:

• The seat is easy to install, has a no re-thread harness, an anti-rebound bar, and a one crotch buckle position 
  
  

Biggest Cons:

• The seat isn't compatible with other stroller brands
  

Peg Perego Nido K  

When it comes to Italian engineering, we expect nothing less than excellence – and the Peg Perego 4-35 Nido K delivers just that!  

This premium infant car seat takes safety to the next level with its innovative dual-layer protection system. The clever combination of a Load Leg and integrated Anti-Rebound Bar work together to reduce rotation by 50% in the event of a collision, while unique Kinetic pods provide enhanced side-impact protection. We especially love that the Load Leg can be adjusted to 10 different positions and tucked away when not needed. 

Speaking of smart features, an extendable Pagoda Hood offers invaluable protection for sunny days, providing almost complete coverage while maintaining airflow through mesh side panels.  

Additionally, the Nido K’s Dual Stage Cushion System is worth noting. The first stage cradles your newborn perfectly, while the second stage grows with your baby to maintain proper positioning. Finally, the headrest adjusts to six different positions without any pesky re-threading, even with your baby in the seat! 

THE SPECS: 

• Use From: 4-35 lbs 
• Install without base when required [aka European Belt Path or “taxi-safe” belt path]: Yes 
• FAA Approved: Yes 
• Extendable Canopy: Yes 
• Canopy UPF Rating: 50+ 
• Infant Inserts Included: Yes  
• Load Leg or Anti-Rebound Bar: Both 
• No Re-Thread Harness: Yes 
  
  

Biggest Pros: 

• Dual protection with Load Leg and Anti-Rebound Bar 
• Chemical-free, naturally fire-retardant fabric 
• Superior sun protection with extendable Pagoda Hood 
• Made in Italy with premium materials 
  
  

Biggest Cons: 

• Premium price point 
• Base can be bulky with both Load Leg and Anti-Rebound Bar
  

If you are shopping for your first car seat, it’s easy to get confused with all the terminology. For a breakdown of all the car seat terms you need to know, click here, or stop by your local Snuggle Bugz location and ask one of our friendly staff members for guidance. We even have a Dry Fit Program that allows you to test any of our floor model car seats in your vehicle.

No matter what infant car seat you choose from our list (or off), baby will enjoy a comfortable and safe journey. As you continue to shop, keep in mind the features that really matter to you and your lifestyle.

If you are on the go frequently, you will want to make sure your car seat can be used as part of a travel system. To discover our Top Travel Systems of the year, be sure to check out our Learning Centre article, here.

If you aren't fussed about having a travel system and you want a one-and-done car seat for you kiddo, you may want to take a closer look at our Top All-In-One Convertible Car Seats.

We also have some great car seat safety tips along with our must-have car seat accessories for baby, here.

Happy Shopping!