This post is sponsored by babyark but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
"I remember the first time my husband and I installed our firstborn’s infant car seat; we spent about an hour combing through YouTube videos, trying to ensure we did it correctly. Then, when it came time to strap our squishy, tiny newborn into the seat, I spent the entire drive home from the hospital with my hand hovering anxiously over the chest strap wondering if we did it correctly.
As parents, we all have heightened anxiety about car seat safety, especially when seat installation feels like mastering rocket science. Even Shy Mindel, an experienced aeronautical engineer and father of three, found it unnecessarily difficult to install his twins’ convertible car seat years ago. Since then, he and his team of engineers decided to completely reimagine what a convertible car seat could be with babyark.
babyark is described as the “Ferrari of car seats,” which is fitting since it was actually designed by the former lead designer at Ferrari. babyark’s expert designers have achieved a whole new standard for safety, passing every regulation test (and an additional 200 tests to go above and beyond). However, combining high-quality safety technology and cutting-edge design also gives this seat a luxury price tag. In an effort to determine if babyark is worth the cost, my 7-month-old daughter, Millie, and I have put it to the test. Here’s my experience using the babyark Smart Convertible Car Seat:
What is the babyark Convertible Car Seat?
babyark’s Classic model is priced at $790, while the Smart model is priced at $990, placing them at the higher end of the market. Both models can be used from the newborn stage to age 6, but the Smart base connects to the babyark app through Bluetooth to provide you with additional safety features and an in-app installation guide. Both seat options come with a 100-day free trial period, so you can make sure you love it before keeping it permanently. Now, let’s break down all of babyark’s unique features:
Babyark
Equipped with smart app capabilities and available in four colors.
Babyark
Featuring state-of-the-art safety features and available in two colors.
Installation
App connectivity is the biggest difference between the Classic and the Smart model I own. Although the babyark Smart option is pricier than the Classic, the app was extremely helpful by guiding me with simple instructions and visual confirmations as I was installing it. The app only took a few minutes to set up and connected to the car seat base effortlessly (I’ll touch on more app features shortly). But once I connected it, the app immediately began walking me through the steps. I did get briefly stuck at one step because my car’s seatbelt got caught and stopped the anti-rebound bar from going into place, but I was able to use both the app and instruction manual to quickly resolve that.
I will note that the base and car seat are quite heavy, likely because of the carbon fiber frame providing an additional measure of safety. I was still able to install it by myself, but coming from a smaller infant car seat, the weight did surprise me the first time I picked it up. It’s also a large car seat, so I believe it’d work best in SUVs or cars with a larger backseat space.
Safety
In my opinion, you can’t put a price tag on safety, and what I’ve been most impressed by is babyark’s state-of-the-art safety features. Car seat safety starts at installation, so the app’s visual guidance provided me with that peace of mind from the start. It’s designed with military-grade materials and patented performance engineering, making it the only convertible car seat with rigid lower anchors, an anti-rebound bar, and a support leg. The car seat base has impact-activated steel coils that significantly reduce the force and forward momentum that other seats experience with sudden stops. There’s also a side impact protection system that diverts the force of an impact away from a child’s head. Watch the video below to see exactly how all these safety features function to make this car seat one of the safest on the market.
On top of babyark’s structural safety features, the app notifies me when she’s strapped in correctly and is good to go. As a new mom, I always found myself questioning, “Did I do this correctly?” with my old car seat. The app provides reminders of changes you should make to the seat as your little one grows—like adjusting the orientation, headrest, or reconfiguring for toddlers. I’ll never be left wondering if she’s outgrowing a certain position or sitting in less-than-optimal safety conditions.
Comfort and convertibility
The seat adjustments for Millie were really easy to maneuver. The jolt-free headrest has 11 adjustable positions, and the seat recline option is a game-changer. I’m excited to use it when we need her to take a nap in the car. This is not a scientific observation, but the first time we put her in it, she immediately started smiling and kicking her feet. She does seem much more comfortable in the babyark than she has in other car seats. I know many babies aren’t fans of car rides or car seats, so the fact that there are so many adjustable options for added comfort is such a nice benefit. Honestly, it even looks comfy to me—I wouldn’t mind being wrapped in a soft, cushy egg.
Since the babyark car seat can be used for newborns to 6-year-olds, I’m glad we now have a car seat that will last us for years. The seat can be positioned rear-facing for 4 to 50 pounds and forward-facing for 26.5 to 65 pounds. I originally bought an infant car seat when I was pregnant (which worked great for us at first), but I didn’t realize how quickly we’d need to replace it. Babies really do grow so fast! babyark car seats also have no expiration date, so they can be passed down to siblings.
Materials and convenience
I think we can all agree that the babyark car seat has a next-level luxe look. I’m obsessed with the beautiful fabric color options, but as we all know, babies couldn’t care less about maintaining an aesthetic. But babyark made the perfect solution for that with the removable and washable fabric cover, which is a must-have feature for me as a former reflux mom. Millie had reflux for the first few months, and being able to remove and wash the car seat cover would have been amazing then. As she gets older (and messier with her snacks), it’ll continue being a lifesaver. As someone who is (overly) obsessed with cleanliness, it brings me joy to know I’ll be able to keep it looking this nice for years to come.
Because the seat can be removed from the base, it can be used in multiple cars when you purchase an extra base. It saves both money and hassle to have a base in each frequently used car and just move the seat whenever needed. My mother-in-law watches Millie a few times a week and wasn’t able to take her anywhere because she doesn’t have a car seat in her car. But with an extra base, she’d be able to transport her easily. Plus, the app would help her ensure Millie is buckled in securely and alert me with status updates on their drive. This is so helpful for parents with multiple caregivers, especially if you struggle with feeling comfortable when anyone else drives with your child (totally understandable).
App features
I love that there are installation and adjustment videos in the app, so if I ever have questions about how to adjust something, I can watch a quick video demonstration. There is also an activity tab that tracks car rides and the amount of time spent in the seat. This is helpful during a road trip to make sure she isn’t spending too much time in the car seat without an extended break. The app will also send notifications if Millie is accidentally left in the car seat by sensing if the driver walks away from the car via Bluetooth or if she’s not buckled in correctly.
Final verdict
This car seat does have a luxury price tag—but for good reason, considering the long-term value and premium safety features. The fact that I could have purchased the babyark from the beginning instead of an infant seat and then a convertible seat later almost equals the cost. When I was pregnant, I prioritized a car seat that worked with my stroller, but I didn’t use that modality as much as I expected to. Plus, being able to move the babyark from multiple cars and pass it down to siblings ensures you get years and years’ worth of use out of it. I know many mom friends ended up purchasing cheaper car seats for other caregivers, but with babyark you don’t have to sacrifice quality or safety for convenience. And like I said earlier, it’s hard to put a price on safety. As a new mom, you’re always in a constant state of worry, so taking this one thing off your plate can make a big difference.
The babyark Smart and Classic car seats are available online and have various payment options for convenient shopping.
Babyark
Equipped with smart app capabilities and available in four colors.
Babyark
Featuring state-of-the-art safety features and available in two colors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meagan McCormick, Director of Marketing
Meagan brings 10+ years of experience in social media, public relations, and marketing to The Everygirl Media Group. When she’s not at her desk, you can find Meagan wine tasting around California, taking the latest Peloton class from her favorite instructors, or snuggling up on the couch with her husband, Matt, baby girl, Miller, and mini poodle mix, Honey.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steph Alleva Cornell, Branded Content Editor
Since becoming a young mama in 2020, Steph has found joy in creating beautiful yet relatable content surrounding the raw realities of motherhood. She believes showcasing both the wonders and struggles of being a parent helps other mothers understand that they are not alone in their journey.
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This post is sponsored by babyark but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend brands we genuinely love.