Infant seats are very useful for the parents while carrying their newbies in a car. In fact, infant seats are the safest travel partners for newborns and kids under the age of a year or so. These seats may differ in features and luxury additives but the real purpose is safety.
There are different price ranges depending upon the safety features and other comfort additions, but for parents who are having a budget problem and are looking for affordable seats, we have enlisted low-cost infant car seats for them along with their pros and cons.
We also have provided information on whether a particular seat is best for you or not by mentioning the limitations and best things about it.
So, if you are expecting a baby then it’s time to start shopping for your newborn, the things like baby clothes, towels, baby shampoo, crib, baby oil, changing sheets, and other such items may take a bunch of your budget. For safer journeys, you must use infant seats for your baby, infant seats can also be used along with strollers and joggers.
Parents always want to carry their baby with them wherever they go but that is not so easy and safe. For parents having their own car/vehicle, car seats are the best travel friends. These provide their baby with comfort and safety.
Infant seats are highly recommended and in most countries, it is in the law to use infant seats for newborns until a specific age limit.
Are cheap car seats less safe? Baby car seats are approved by different agencies and authorities, they recommend a particular car seat after crash test, roll overs and taking into account many other factors. So, if a car seat is recommended by the agencies then it doesn't matter how cheap it is. Different regulating agencies like AAP( American Academy of Pediatrics), NHTSA, FAA are working in the US that recommend car seats.
This article aims to educate people about the importance of baby car seats and help them find cheap infant car seats. We have tried our best to review each and every product and its characteristics and demerits neutrally.
As a matter of fact, you have to be aware of the rule that to save money you have to compromise on some things like extra features and elegant designs. You can’t expect a car seat is perfect in all aspects yet it is cheaper.
The following seats may not have the extra luxury features and might not be too elegant, but they have the must-have things and are recommended by the regulatory agencies. They are not unsafe by any means and pass the crash tests, that’s why they are recommended.
5 BEST CHEAP INFANT CAR SEATS
Infant seats can be pricy because of extra safety and luxury features but there are such products that serve the basic purpose of comfort and safety and still, they are cheaper in price.
Read the full description of the following three best seats for infants that are not pricy. Check for the features that you are looking for and find your best option.
- Baby Trend Ally 35 Infant Car Seat
- Cosco Light N Comfy DX Infant Car Seat
- Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat
- Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Car Seat
- Evenflo LiteMax DLX Infant Car Seat
These 5 affordable infant seats are among the best cheap infant car seats. These seats have all the functions that are required for safety and comfort. All these seats have nice and comfortable padding and prove to be life-savers in severe accidents and crashes. If you are having a serious budget problem, you can also check the infant car seats for under 100$.
1. Baby Trend Ally Infant Car Seat (Best Infant Car Seat Under 100$)
As a rule of thumb, the infant seat has a weight limit of 4-35lbs, which means they have to hold your baby from the very first day.
The newborns require extra safety features that regular car seats don’t have. Experts recommend putting your newborn in an infant seat because it operates in the rear-facing mode which is the safest way to ride.
Baby Trend Ally is one of the best affordable infant car seats. It is under 100$, and most parents can easily purchase it.
Despite the fact that it is a low-cost seat, it features all the necessary things that an infant seat should be. It gives your child an easy and safe ride and also protects his/her torso and body in case of having a crash.
Like other infant seats, it also functions in a rear-facing way and keeps your newbie safe and sound.
If you talk about its features, it has a 2-panel canopy, EPS energy-absorbing foam to absorb the impact energy that can arise due to any sort of crash or collision.
It also offers a comfortable and smooth handle to carry, also it has a Deluxe seat pad to enhance the comfort level of the baby.
The most crucial ingredient of infant seats is the 5-point harness system that holds your baby properly and proves to be life-saving, this seat includes a comfortable 5-point harness system.
Modern seats use the LATCH connectors for the installation of the seat with the seat of the vehicle, so as this car seat. In addition, it includes a height-adjustable seat-back, which is another plus of it.
| PROS. | CONS. |
| 1. High-quality 2-panel canopy 2. Secure 5-point harness system 3. Deluxe seat pad 4. LATCH connectors 5. High-quality energy-absorbing foam 6. One-hand easy-access seat release 7. Height-adjustable base with dual bubble level indicators | 1. Doesn’t have neck and head support 2. Maybe a little too deep |
2. Cosco Light N Comfy DX Infant Car Seat
Cosco Light N comfy is another super comfortable and affordable infant seat. It is a very compact and lightweight seat, also it offers great value for money.
The main drawback of this seat is its low upper weight limit, the weight limit is from 4-22 lbs. Average infant seats have an upper limit of 35 lbs.
Due to its lightweight and easy grip, it is very easy to hold and carry. It includes a snugger fit that is very helpful for newborns and grips the small body safely and solely.
Another big advantage is that it has its machine-washable pad and dryer safe. Infants pour everything around themselves they eat and drink, a washable seat can be very handy for infants.
Nice padding foam offers side impact protection and keeps the baby safe and secure. Although this car seat is not heavily padded, it is enough for the comfort and protection of your little one.
| PROS. | CONS. |
| 1. It is super light 2. EPS energy-absorbing foam 3. Machine-washable seat pads 4. Easily attachable and detachable 5. Can be sued as a carrier 6. Gives click sound to indicate the secure connection | 1. The Sun cover makes a lot of noise 2. Straps might be tight a little |
3. Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat( Safest lightweight infant car seat)
Graco offers high-quality seats along with durability and sleek designs. This car seat is a little pricy than the previously mentioned seats but it offers more and some advanced features.
This car seat in comparison to the top-class infant seats is much more affordable and efficient. It is properly padded and designed to meet the requirements of the safest car seats.
Without a doubt, parents want the best things for their babies and can’t compromise on their safety but why pay high when you can have affordable options? The previous two infant seats less or more have the basic functions and are of course cheaper than this but to get some extra you have to pay a little more.
If you are a little over-concerned regarding the safety of your child, as you must be, it is rather a nine choice for you. It has high Snugride performance and gives the baby a comfortable and safest ride.
Like most of the infant seats, it also offers a baby in the weight range of 4-35lbs and up to a height of 32″. The grip its offers to the complete body of the baby is of enormous value.
As most of the seats with extra padding may be bulkier, this is not the case with Graco SnugRide 35 infant seat. It is a lightweight infant car seat, and can easily be transferred from one vehicle to the other. Its weight is 7.2lbs to be exact.
The base is adjustable to 4 different positions that help to install it securely and also make this car seat suitable for the growing body of the baby.
Most importantly it is ProtectPlus Engineered, which means it will protect your baby in frontal, side, rollover, and rear crashes and collisions.
| PROS. | CONS. |
| 1. Lightweight 2. ProtectPlus Engineered 3. Base is adjustable to 4 positions 4. High-quality Snugride Performance 5. Special lever makes it easy to install the base firmly in the car with the Latch System 6. Shoulder pads provide extra comfort 7. Compatible with all Graco Click Connect strollers | 1. Infant insert is very thin and tiny 2. The seat cover fabric is not of high quality |
4. Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat
It is among the lightest baby car seats having a weight of under 7 lbs. It makes it easy to transform it from one vehicle to the other. It is compatible with all Century strollers, which is another plus point of it.
The fabrics used are made from recyclable materials, so it is promising for the 3R strategies. Apart from this, it is amongst the most affordable seats yet has all the basic features.
As it is a lightweight car seat, you might think the weight limit might be less than regular seats but that is not the case. It offers a weight limit of 4-35lbs.
Safety is important above all things, such as the case with this car seat. it offers side-impact protection with or without the base. It meets or exceeds US FMVSS 213 safety standards for crash protection.
It is very easy to install with a click sound. You can install it with the belt of the vehicle, also a LATCH connection is available for secure and safe installation.
| PROS. | CONS. |
| 1. It is extremely lightweight 2. Very durable 3. Offers seat belt/LATCH installation 4. Has all the safety features 5. Offers side-impact protection 6. The fabric is washable 7. Gives a click sound on secure installation 8. Harnesses are adjustable with the height of the baby | 1. The handle is old-fashioned 2. It is hard to know if the base is properly installed |
5. Evenflo LiteMax DLX Infant Car Seat
LiteMAx DLX is another affordable infant seat for your little one. Every other product has one or two such features that become its identity. This car seat has a cooling mesh fabric that makes it possible for the air to circulate.
To make sure an infant is safe enough, manufacturers focus on the padding and a safe car seat has enough foam padding that can cause some wetting problems for the baby. To overcome this issue, LiteMax DLX offers mesh fabric to circulate the air through and keep the baby dry and secure.
An ergonomic handle makes it easy and comfortable to carry this seat. The harnesses are no-rethread and can be slid up and down easily. You don’t have to remove the harness straps to adjust the seat. In addition, there is a cushion to the seat and also includes a body pillow insert.
Cheap products often present low build quality and offer poor finishing, also some low price car seats have edges that might hurt your baby, but that is not the case with this car seat. It has nice manufacturing quality and has proper edge finishing.
SafeZOne Load Leg technology makes sure the car seat is stable in frontal accidents and reduces the rotation up to 50 percent. The base can be installed with or without the load leg.
| PROS. | CONS. |
| 1. A durable car seat 2. Safe-edge technology 3. Comfortable ergonomic handle 4. Great manufacturing quality 5. Cooling mesh fabric 6. Advanced SafeZone Load Leg technology 7. No thread shoulder straps | 1. Might be a little heavy as its weight is19.2lbs |
INFANT CAR SEAT SAFETY RATINGS
The purpose of the infant car seat is to provide safety along with comfort to the little ones. All the above infant seats are approved by different car seat agencies like AAP, NHTSA, etc. Every other product has a different level of comfort with a minute difference in safety ratings.
We have collected data from different platforms such as buyer’s reviews, agencies ratings, and many other such resources to compare the above 5 low-cost infant car seats that will surely help you finalize which one is suitable for you.
Note: This is our own safety rating derived from different data resources as mentioned above.
1. Baby Trend Ally Infant Car Seat | 4.8 |
2. Cosco Light N Comfy DX Infant Car Seat | 4.8 |
3. Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat | 4.9 |
4. Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat | 4.7 |
5. Evenflo LiteMax DLX Infant Car Seat | 4.7 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Most parents have some questions in their minds while buying a car seat for their baby. These queries might also help you if you are having the same in your mind.
What is the average price of an infant car seat?
Normally, nowadays infant car seats are available in the price range of 80-200$. An average infant seat can be had in120$.
The infant car seats vary in price due to differences in some features. Companies are making improvements day by day regarding luxury and safety additives.
What is the maximum weight for infant seats?
Most infant seats have a maximum weight limit of 35lbs.
The standard weight limit is 4-35lbs but some 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 car seats can accommodate an infant of 40lbs in rear-facing mode. If your baby is gaining more weight than the body strength, it is better to have a 4-in-1 car seat because it is the safest option.
What type of car seat is best for a newborn?
For newborns, a proper infant car seat is the best option because it is much safer than the other type of car seats such as convertible ones.
Also, infant seats operate in rear-facing mode, which is also is the best method to be safe. Experts recommend using an infant seat until your child is 2 years old.
