In this review, I will look at the best car seat for baby with reflux. My top three suggestions are in the table below
I am a mother of four kids, and while my older three never had any problem with reflux, my younger one suffers from reflux. I noticed that this problem seemed to worsen every time we went out, and she would cry whenever we tried to put her in a car seat.
When my mother came to visit us, she suggested that we try changing the car seat for our daughter. So I decided that I am going to find the best car seat for a baby with reflux.
Over the next few months, I experimented with several different car seats. Not all car seats are built the same. To my horror, I realized that some car seats were making the reflux problem worse. My child was crying throughout the car ride.
After trying out a dozen products, I finally knew what works for her and shortlisted the best six car seats with which she had none to some minor issues. If you also are looking for a car seat for a kid who has reflux issues, then this article is for you.
In this article, you will get to know about.
- Which type of car seats would help with reflux?
- How to choose the best car seat for a child with reflux
- Answers to important questions about how to seat your baby if she has reflux
- Six best car seats for babies with reflux
Which Car Seats Help With Reflux
The shape of an infant car seat is curved, which puts pressure on a kid’s stomach and can increase the reflux problem in a baby. A convertible car seat has a more flat surface for the child to sit on. Secondly, the adjustable orientation makes it a cost-effective solution for the long term as well.
What To Look For In The Best Car Seat For Baby With Reflux
Seat Angle
Most of the car seats for babies come with a seating space that is in a curved shape. This seat angle is necessary to keep the baby secure while riding. This shape of the car seat offers better safety for your baby. However, the curved position makes the legs of the baby push against their stomach, which can worsen the reflux.
Always look for a car seat angle with a more comfortable seating position. Make sure the seat is neither too shallow nor too upright, as seating a baby upright makes them fold in the center on their own, which also exerts pressure on their stomach.
Material
The core material of a car seat should be a strong metal like steel that doesn’t break or bend as that can be dangerous for babies. The seating space having foam padding enhances the comfort of your kid.
While your child’s comfort should be your priority while selecting the top material of a car seat, make sure to get a car seat with removable and washable covers. Also, keep a set of extra covers for the car seat if your baby spits up or makes a mess in the car.
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Safety
This is probably the essential factor in choosing a car seat for a baby. The safety of your kid comes first. Look for a car seat that allows safe front and reverse riding. The safety belts and harness that keep your baby secure in the car seat should be high quality and easily adjustable.
Additional Features
Several additional features make a car seat for babies much more convenient for you. Adjustable headrests and different recline positions offer comfort. Having cup holders allows you to keep drinks, snacks, or little toys near your baby.
Answers To More Questions About Best Car Seats For Baby With Reflux
Do car seats make reflux worse?
Yes, car seats make reflux worse.
Traveling with your baby in a car seat is necessary. However, the seating position of a car seat tends to make the reflux worse in babies. Car seats often have a curved seat that pushes the legs of babies against their stomachs. It pushes the food content in the baby’s stomach upwards, and that can reflux.
How can I help my baby with reflux in the car?
Car seats or strollers with upright sitting position helps a baby with reflux in the car. Instead of an infant car seat with a curved seat, opt for a convertible car seat with a more flat and slightly upright sitting position.
Another thing you can do is avoid traveling immediately after feeding your baby and keep the feeding time less than usual.
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What is the best position to reduce reflux in infants?
Reflux in babies is quite common, and it resolves on its own when the babies reach a specific age. However, there are some changes that you can make that will help with the reflux.
- While Feeding: Wherever you feed your baby, make sure to feed them in a sitting or upright position. Even after feeding, keep your baby in a sitting position for thirty minutes and allow the food to settle down. Do not move them too much and allow gravity to do its work.
- Feeding Time: Instead of feeding or nursing for a long time, opt for smaller and frequent feeds. Allow the food to digest before feeding your baby again.
- Burping: Make sure to burp your baby properly. Pat their back during feeding and after feeding to avoid any air buildup in the baby’s stomach.
- Sleeping Position: You should put your baby to sleep on his back. This is the most comfortable position to let them sleep in even if they have reflux.
- Avoid Travelling: After feeding, make sure to wait for some time before traveling anywhere with your baby.
Can a baby choke on spit up in the car seat?
No, a baby can not choke on spit up in the car seat because they cough it up or swallow it.
While a baby can not choke on spit-up in a car seat, it is not recommended for parents to keep a baby in a car seat longer than it is necessary. The semi inclined position of the car seat is known to worsen the reflux in a baby.
If your baby falls asleep on a car seat en route to somewhere, make sure to transfer them to a crib or a bed as soon as you reach your destination.
Reviews of the Six Best Car Seats For Baby With Reflux
#1 Graco Redmond Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 9.1/10
- Material: 9.5/10
- Safety: 8.9/10
- Other features: 9.2/10
- Overall Score: 9.1/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward facing
- Material: Alloy steel, Foam, and polyester
- Maximum Load: 4 – 65 pounds
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 19.2 x 22.1 x 25.2 inches
- Weight: 19.25 Pounds
- Installation type: InRight Latch system
Pros
- The headrest and the harness are height adjustable with one single motion.
- This convertible car seat has a rear and front harness for rear and forwards seating positions.
- It offers protection to your child in crashes.
- There is additional leg space of 5 inches in the rear-facing mode.
- It features dual cup holders.
Cons
- This convertible seat is only for toddlers; you can not use it as a booster seat for older kids.
Bottom Line
This is one of the best baby car seats for reflux as it has a comfortable seating position that helps with a baby reflux problem.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat doesn’t have a curved seat. It features a comfortable seating angle that is neither upright nor curved. The flat seating space is ideal for any baby with reflux.
- Material: The reinforced alloy steel core of this car seat makes it highly durable. The foam material offers comfort for a baby, and the polyester top material of the removable cover is easy to clean.
- Safety: The harness of this car seat is easy to adjust with no rethreading to ensure that your baby is secured all the time. The convertible seat is safe for kids to ride front or rear-facing up to 65 pounds. The headrest features ten positions to adjust the height according to your kid’s height for safety.
- Additional Features: This car seat has six reclining positions to give the baby maximum comfort. The additional leg space in the rear-facing allows safe riding for your kids. You can install the seat with ease with one click latch, and the cup holders are beneficial for storing water or milk of your baby nearby.
#2 Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 8.6/10
- Material: 8.6/10
- Safety: 8.8/10
- Other features: 9.1/10
- Overall Score: 8.7/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward-facing, Booster
- Material: Stainless steel, Foam, and polyester
- Maximum Load: 5 – 120 pounds
- Color: Carbon rose
- Dimensions: 31.75 x 19.25 x 28.75 inches
- Weight: 18.66 Pounds
- Installation type: Latch system
Pros
- This convertible car seat is suitable for babies, toddlers, and older kids.
- The harness and height of the headrest are easy to adjust without rethreading.
- It has multiple recline positions.
- The seat is easy to clean with removable covers.
- It can carry a load of up to 100 pounds.
Cons
- The seat might be difficult to adjust in some cars.
Bottom Line
This best car seat for reflux baby will grow with your kid and makes their ride safe and comfortable till they reach an older age.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat features a shallower seat. It offers the correct seating position for a baby to keep their reflux issue in check. With different reclining positions, this car seat is ideal for your kid for a comfortable ride.
- Material: The core frame of the seat is made of stainless steel. Steel adds strength to the car seat, making it safe for your kid. The seating is made of Foam for comfortable riding. Cleaning is easier with the removable polyester covers of the car seat.
- Safety: To keep your kid correctly secured all the time, you can easily adjust this car’s harness. With your kid’s growth, the headrest is adjustable according to their height without needing any rethreading or reinstallation. Three different orientations of this car seat allow a safe seating space for kids up to 100 pounds.
- Additional Features: This car seat supports multiple reclining positions for the comfort of the baby. With the harness out of the way, getting a baby out of the seat is easier. With two cup holders, you can keep drinks, snacks, and toys of your baby nearby.
#3 Britax One4Life Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 8.7/10
- Material: 8.5/10
- Safety: 8.9/10
- Other features: 8.4/10
- Overall Score: 8.6/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward-facing, Booster
- Material: Alloy Steel, thermo5 fabric
- Maximum Load: 5 – 120 pounds
- Color: Charcoal
- Dimensions: 20.5 x 19.5 x 25 inches
- Weight: 30 Pounds
- Installation type: Seat belt, Latch system
Pros
- This car seat is ideal for infants to kids up to 10 years.
- It is effortless to install.
- The cool and dry fabric of the car seat makes it more comfortable.
- The steel frame is strong and offers better protection in a crash.
- You can recline the car seat in nine different positions.
Cons
- .No cons
Bottom Line
Apart from keeping your child safe and in a position that makes it the best car seat reflux baby, this convertible car seat also keeps your child comfortable and cool with its high-performance cool fabric.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat is ideal for you if your baby has a reflux problem. The seating angle on this car seat is very relaxed and not too curved. The flat position of the seating space doesn’t put any pressure on the baby’s stomach.
- Material: The alloy steel in the seat’s core adds strength to the car seat and keeps it a safe space for your kids, even during a crash. The thermo5 fabric of the car seat keeps the seat cool and dry making it more comfortable for your kid during the ride.
- Safety: This car seat features two layers of impact protection from the sides. A SafeCell technology crumples down in the time of a crash to absorb the crash energy, and the steel frame keeps the seat stable for added protection.
- Additional Features: The harness and the headrest on this seat can be adjusted to fifteen different heights. You can select any of the nine recline positions for added comfort of your kid. With built-in cooling mesh and channels, your kid will be comfortable even during summers. Two cup holders are beneficial for keeping your kids’ drinks and snacks nearby.
#4 Diono Radian Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 8/10
- Material: 8.3/10
- Safety: 8.1/10
- Other features: 8.5/10
- Overall Score: 8.2/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward-facing, Booster
- Material: Alloy steel, aluminum, high-density plastic, Foam, and polyester
- Maximum Load: 5 – 120 pounds
- Color: Blue sky
- Dimensions: 16 x 17 x 28.5 inches
- Weight: 28.4 pounds
- Installation type: SuperLATCH system
Pros
- This car seat is suitable for kids from one month to ten years old.
- The frame material of this car seat is super strong alloy steel.
- Installing the seat is easy with the SuperLatch system.
- The sidewalls on the seat are made of aluminum.
- The high back booster offers better protection for a growing kid.
Cons
- The seat headrest is not adjustable.
- You can not switch the seat into a reclining position.
Bottom Line
With aluminum sidewalls and a steel frame, this car seat offers better protection to your kid in a crash situation, and the shallow seating makes it the best baby car seat for reflux.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat features a shallower seating space that does not exert pressure on your kid’s stomach. Having a flat surface to sit on during a ride helps kids from reflux problems.
- Material: The alloy steel core and the aluminum in the sidewalls of this car seat makes it incredibly strong. The foam-filled seating is comfortable for your kid to sit in. With a removable polyester cover, cleaning this car seat is easy and convenient.
- Safety: The aluminum reinforced in the sidewalls offers protection from side impact in a crash. The backrest is high, which offers protection to a growing child without readjusting the headrest. With booster mode, this car seat is safe for kids up to 10 years of age.
- Additional Features: This car’s seat is easy to install with latch connectors. The slim design of this car seat allows you to fit three of these into the back seat of your car.
#5 Maxi-Cosi Pria Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 7.8/10
- Material: 7.9/10
- Safety: 8/10
- Other features: 8.2/10
- Overall Score: 7.9/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward-facing, Booster
- Material: Polyester, Foam, and Steel
- Maximum Load: 4 – 100 pounds
- Color: Nomad Black
- Dimensions: 25.25 x 24 x 19.88 inches
- Weight: 22.95 pounds
- Installation type: Latch connectors
Pros
- It has GCell side impact protection for your kid’s head in a crash situation.
- The spring harness keeps out of the way for ease of getting a baby in or out of the car seat.
- The seat cover is machine washable for ease of cleaning.
- The car seat is effortless to install with latch connectors.
- The car seat is suitable for kids up to the age of six years.
Cons
- The car seat is huge, and lifting it may be difficult for some people.
Bottom Line
This car seat helps a baby suffering from reflux have a relaxing car ride with the shallower seating space and a comfortable position making it one of the best car seats for a reflux baby.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat is neither too curved nor too upright, making it ideal for a comfortable seating experience for a kid. The seating space on this car seat is flat and is helpful if your baby has a severe reflux issue.
- Material: The core material in this car seat is steel which offers high strength. The seating has Foam which makes it comfortable for kids during a ride. The outer fabric is polyester which is easy to clean with it being removable.
- Safety: The GCell technology on the sides of the car seat offers side impact protection in case of a crash. This convertible car seat has an adjustable harness and headrest, which you can adjust according to the kid’s height for their safety.
- Additional Features: The three reclining positions on this car seat helps kids have a comfortable ride. With the one-step latch connectors, it is effortless to install. The cup holders are convenient for keeping your kid’s drinks or other necessities.
#6 Safety 1st Disney Baby Convertible Car Seat
Features
- Seat Angle: 7.8/10
- Material: 7.6/10
- Safety: 7.5/10
- Other features: 7.4/10
- Overall Score: 7.5/10
Technical specification
- Orientation: Rear-facing, Forward facing
- Material: Polyester, Foam, and steel
- Maximum Load: 5- 65 pounds
- Color: Minnie Stripes
- Dimensions: 29.75 x 18.13 x 16.25 inches
- Weight: 14.5 pounds
- Installation type: Latch system
Pros
- This car seat features a dual seating mode for babies and toddlers.
- It offers side impact protection in case of a crash.
- The dual cup holders are removable and dishwasher safe.
- It has a removable head and body pillow to a snug fit for a baby.
- The harness is adjustable for five different height settings.
- The car seat cover is removable and machine washable.
Cons
- The car seat doesn’t feature a booster mode, which is not suitable for older kids.
Bottom Line
This car seat from Safety 1st is the best car seat reflux baby as the seating position is not curved, and the removable seat cover also makes it easier to clean.
Detailed features
- Seat Angle: This car seat comes with a shallower seating space that offers a baby’s correct seating position. It helps a baby with reflux by making them comfortable throughout the ride.
- Material: This car seat features a steel core frame which is highly strong and thus makes the seat safe for your kids. The foam material in the seat makes it comfortable to sit upon, and the removable polyester cover is machine washable and dryer safe for easy cleaning.
- Safety: Adjusting the harness on this car seat is easy and adjustable to five different heights. It comes with side impact protection keeping your child safe in a crash.
- Additional Features: This car seat has a head and body pillow for securing young babies snugly to the car seat, and you can remove it when your baby grows and needs more seating space. The cup holders are removable, and you can clean them in a dishwasher.
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Final Thoughts: Best Car Seat For Baby With Reflux
If your baby suffers from reflux, then taking them in a vehicle can only worsen the symptoms. Once I learned that even infant car seats could increase reflux in kids, I decided to switch to a convertible car seat. We have reviewed the six best car seats for babies with reflux.
If I can have any of them, then the Graco Redmond Convertible Car Seat would be my favorite. It is effortless to install, and the flat seat position offers relief from reflux.
The one from Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat is another one of the best car seats that I like. It has multiple recline options for your kid to have a comfortable ride every time.
If you have a limited budget but still want the best car seat for your child, then Safety 1st Disney Baby Convertible Car Seat would be ideal for you. It costs less than $100, and the quality of the car seat matches the high-end car seats.
