Choosing an Infant Capsule
Choosing the right infant capsule is one of the most important decisions families make when preparing for a new baby. As a Child Restraint Technician, I focus on safety, ease of use, proper fit, and real-world practicality. The following capsules are ones I confidently recommend and would use with my own children — presented in alphabetical order so there’s no implication that one is “best.” The best seat is the one that fits your budget, your vehicle and your child and that you are confident with how to use properly.
Before looking at the options, it’s worth addressing a common source of confusion in the New Zealand market.
Car Seat Standards in New Zealand
We are one of the few countries who accept car seat standards from multiple other regions. European standard capsules are widely available in New Zealand and while they can look attractive in marketing materials, they frequently present practical issues here:
Poor fit for NZ vehicles: Many European capsules are designed around European ISOFIX and vehicle geometries, which can mean they install at an unsafe recline level in many vehicles, putting our babies at risk of positional asphyxiation.
Poor fit for babies: many of these capsules have a very high minimum harness height, making them uncomfortable and unsafe for newborns. If the harness straps sit up around babies head instead of on their shoulders, they are at risk of coming out of the seat. They also often only have 3 point harnesses which provide a less supportive fit.
Counterfeit and questionable seats: online retailers like Temu make it easy to purchase items direct from factories at a low cost, including car seats. There are many companies who import these seats with custom covers and sell them as their own brand. While they have certification stickers, their sources are questionable and there is no way to easily trace them. Purchasing from legitimate baby shops who stock big brands you can research online is important.
While there are decent quality European capsules available from big brands, we also have options that fit a wider range of vehicles and babies. Choosing an option that gives you flexibility means if you have any surprises along the way such as a baby coming early and being small, or needing to use a different car, you can be confident that you can still use your capsule safely. It is also worth noting that NZ also accepts the Australian standard and there are some great capsules available from there. However they are not common on the NZ market so I haven’t listed them. If you will be using a capsule traveling to Australia, it will need to be Australian standard - reach out and I can help you find one.
Recommended Seats
I recommend the following capsules — all of which have proven reputations, good adjustment for newborns, and compatibility with a wide range of vehicles. They are all US standard, come with a base, have low entry level harness heights, and will fit most newborn and prem babies well. CSFTL has written thorough reviews on all of them which I have linked below. Some have a series of different names which come with alternate covers and options.
Baby Jogger City GO series
https://csftl.org/baby-jogger-city-go-review/
Britax Willow
https://csftl.org/britax-willow-brook-travel-system-review/
Chicco Keyfit series
https://csftl.org/chicco-keyfit-35-review/
Evenflo Litemax
https://csftl.org/evenflo-litemax-dlx-review/
Graco SnugRide series
https://csftl.org/graco-snugride-snuglock-35-dlx-review/
Maxi-Cosi Mico series
https://csftl.org/maxi-cosi-mico-max-30-review/
Safety 1st Onboard series
https://csftl.org/safety-1st-onboard-35-securetech-rear-facing-only-car-seat-review/
If you’re undecided between options, your best bet is to go and see some in person to compare how they feel and how they fit in your vehicle. The most common question I’m asked is whether a capsule will be compatible with a certain stroller. Most people use a stroller for 3-5 years and a capsule for 6 months. I recommend finding a stroller you love and a car seat you love, separately. If there are adapters to connect them, great! If there aren’t, using a bassinet or lay flat pram is a safer option anyway.
Most of the options above are available for hire from your local technician (I have a small selection if you’re in Auckland) or the big baby shops (Baby Bunting, Baby Factory, Baby on the Move). Hiring is a budget friendly and sustainable way to get the convenience of a capsule without committing to a purchase. Installation by a technician is also available with hire which I always recommend so that you can become familiar with your seat before baby arrives. During installation appointments I run families through how to install a capsule, how to fit a baby in a capsule, and how to use a capsule safely in and out of the car. You can book an appointment with me here: https://www.safensnug.co.nz/carseathelp
