Best of Baby Winner for Best Infant Car Seat

And the Winner Is: Nuna Pipa Lite RX

An infant car seat is one of the most important pieces of baby gear you’ll own as a new parent; in fact, the hospital won’t even let you head home without one. It’s essential to keeping baby safe as you venture out and hit the road. But you’d be surprised just how heavy it can get with your little one inside (many infant car seats accommodate kids up to 30+ pounds!). Good news: This super-lightweight car seat, a longtime favorite, makes getting around with baby all the easier—especially since the latest Pipa lite rx model now boasts a belt path, meaning you can use it in your car with the base or in a taxi without the base, freeing up more modes of travel for your family.

What We Love

• Weighing just under 7 lbs, the Pipa lite rx is one of the lightest infant car seats on the market, lessening your load as you and baby make your way to and from the car

• There are plenty of handy features to love: a no-rethread harness; a padded, adjustable headrest; an on-the-go recline you can change without removing the base; magnetic buckle holders to keep straps out of the way as you secure your child; a built-in Dream Drape shade for when baby needs to nap on the go; a UPF 50+ canopy and more

• The most important aspect of any infant car seat is safety, and the Pipe lite rx doesn’t mess around: It’s made from aerospace aluminum and Aeroflex foam for reliable security and naturally flame-retardant fabrics for lower chemical exposure, plus it boasts side-impact protection and a stability leg

• It’s a breeze to install, thanks to the five-second True Lock installation system; and with the built-in belt paths, you can opt to use the car seat with the base or just the vehicle seat belt, allowing you to travel in taxis without worrying about baby’s safety

Buy it: $480, Nordstrom.com

Check out some of our other favorite infant car seats