Infant car seats
Joie Rue Infant Car Seat
Our take
A light, low-cost infant seat with better-than-average crash results in BabyGearLab's test and an easy LATCH install. Belt installs are harder and the padding is basic.
7.1 lb carrierEasy LATCHBudget
Consider instead: Britax Willow S for an easier belt install.
Before you buy
Do you need it?Must-have You need a rear-facing car seat to drive your baby home from the hospital. An infant seat clicks in and out and often onto a stroller.
Cost per monthAbout $14 a month over a typical 12 months of use. Our estimate; your use may be shorter or longer.
Secondhand?Buy new. Buy new unless it's from someone you trust completely. NHTSA says never to use a seat that's been in a moderate or severe crash, and every seat has an expiration date. NHTSA guidance.
TipSome parents skip the infant seat and start with a convertible seat. You lose the click-in carrier, but it saves buying a second seat later.
What parents and testers say
Recurring praise
- Low price
- Light to carry
- Good crash results for the price
Recurring complaints
- Harder seat-belt install
- Basic padding
- Canopy touches the handle
Our summary of patterns across the reviews and threads linked below, not quotes.
Materials & safety check
2 of 3 checks clear, 1 to know about.
Crash test7.2 of 10 in BabyGearLab's crash analysis
Flame retardantsNot confirmed; check the fabric label
RecallsCar seat recalls are listed by NHTSA; check your seat's model number and date at nhtsa.gov/recalls
When to buy it
Registry
Add early; it's a common group gift
By 36 weeks
Install it and have a certified tech (CPST) check it
~9-15 months
Most babies outgrow it; move to a convertible seat
Other infant car seats we scored
See all infant car seats →Own this? Tell us how it's going
Reports from parents who've used a product for months are the hardest thing to find. Yours goes only to our team and helps keep this score honest. It isn't published.
Sources
- BabyGearLab: Best infant car seats (crash and ease-of-use tests)babygearlab.com
- SeatFitFinder: NHTSA car seat recall recordseatfitfinder.com