The babyark car seat is the only car seat equipped with SafeCoil™ active energy-absorption technology and BioArk™ side-impact protection. babyark also uses only premium materials, including aviation-grade-steel as the core element in the main structure, EPP, and D3O™, an advanced shock-absorbing polymer. It also features in app guidance with a step-by-step installation instruction, seat setup guidance and more important information.

The SafeCoil™ system incorporates a steel coil that extends upon impact, effectively absorbing crash forces that would otherwise be transferred to the child. Read more about SafeCoil™here and its role in babyark’s unparalleled crash protection here.

Yes, that’s absolutely true! Our design is based on the woodpecker’s plate-like bone structure, which helps distribute impact forces efficiently. By applying this principle to our side-impact protection system, we’ve enhanced energy absorption to improve safety in the event of a collision. Read more about how we apply biomimicry in the BioArk™ side impact protection system here.

Our seats are crash tested according to federal regulations and FMVSS213 which governs motor vehicles. In addition, we've run over 200 additional tests to ensure your little one's safety, at various speeds and with different child weights, addressing front and side impact. We compare our test results and HIC scores to the federal regulations, as well as the major car seat brands in our industry.

Read more about our crash testing here.

Yes. babyark uses only naturally flame-resistant fabrics that are unbelievably soft to the touch. No added chemicals, just pure comfort.

For detailed specifications of the seat in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions, please refer to this link .

Maximum harness height:​ 

• 16.7 inches (Smart and Classic models)
• 16.3 inches (Premium model)
• Shoulder width: 12.3 inches​
• Seating depth: 12.6 inches​

The 80/20 rule is a guideline that suggests that 80% of the car seat should be on the vehicle seat, with only 20% overhanging.

Due to the incredibly strong structure of the babyark base and its energy-absorbing system, babyark is not required to adhere to this suggestion.

As previously stated, babyark has undergone and passed with flying colors all required crash testing and has safety features which help make it one of the most robust seats on the market.

For children with pacemakers, please contact babyark at contact@babyark.com. We are happy to provide a complete set of fabric covers without magnets to accommodate your child's needs.

Yes, the recline position can be adjusted even when the seat is installed, and your child is seated.

Simply pull the lever on the front of the seat and adjust to the desired position. Ensure the seat remains within the "safe recline zone" for both rear-facing and forward-facing orientations.

When the babyark car seat is installed using the recommended method - rigid lower anchors (rigid LATCH), vehicle seat belt, and support leg - a vehicle seat protector is allowed. Avoid using a seat protector with any other installation methods.

Chest clips are a pre-crash positioner - when placed at the child’s armpit level, they help keep the harness positioned correctly on the child's shoulders. babyark’s quick lock chest clip is integrated into the harness pads and has a limited range of movement, making it easier for caregivers to position the chest clip correctly.

Regulations in the US do not require a chest clip, however most car seats have one. If your car seat has a chest clip, it must be used.

The quick lock chest clip locks together mechanically. The magnets in the design are for ease of use only.

No. While it’s important to use the chest clip as directed to keep the harness straps positioned correctly, the chest clip is not designed to restrain a child on its own. The car seat's harness is what will do the work of restraining your child. Chest clips are pre-crash positioners and are not intended to withstand crash forces. 

All the parts of the car seat work together to keep your child safe in a crash. Always make sure the harness straps are at the right height, the crotch buckle is buckled, the harness is snug enough to pass the “pinch test,” and the chest clip is positioned correctly at armpit level every time you buckle your child in.

The infant insert cushions are designed to help achieve a proper harness fit for smaller children in the rear-facing position, where the harness should be at or just below the child’s shoulders.

These cushions can be used as needed to provide a snug fit and should be removed once a snug fit can be achieved without them, typically around 11 lbs. (5 kg). 

If a child exceeds the recommended 11 lbs. weight limit but still requires the cushion for a correct harness fit, the infant cushion can continue to be used. Be sure to remove the cushions when they are no longer needed. Infant inserts must be removed when the child weighs more than 22 lbs (10 kg).

The infant insert consists of two parts: a head support and a body support. These can be used independently, depending on your child's needs, as some may require only the body support.

Make sure that all elements of the car seat and harness are connected and functioning properly with the position of your infant insert cushion, and as always, don’t connect anything else to the car seat or its pieces that is not meant to be there, as this can interfere in the event of a crash.

The babyark app uses BLE communication which allows it to function offline or in places with no cellular reception. If you're using the app for the first time, you will need an internet connection to register and pair your babyark seat with the app.

Yes, the SmartBase can be charged during use and while driving. Ensure that the charging cable is safely routed to avoid interference with passengers or vehicle operations. When not in use, store the cable securely. Charging capabilities when the vehicle is off depends on your vehicle's model and settings; please consult your vehicle owner's manual for specifics.

The ACTV8™ SmartBase features a rechargeable battery.

We recommend an initial charge of approximately two hours before first use to ensure proper function of all sensors and light indicators.

With continued use, the base will need periodic recharging. The battery LED indicator will flash green during charging (for Premium) and blue light (for Smart), and red when the battery is critically low.

A fully charged battery typically lasts between three to four weeks. When the battery is critically low, the battery LED indicator on the front of the base will flash red.

Yes, the babyark app includes a forgotten child alert. Sensors within the car seat, connected to the mobile app, detect if your child remains seated while you move away from the vehicle, and will promptly notify you.

Please note, when using the infant insert cushions, the forgotten child alert activates only when the child is buckled.

Yes. The babyark sensors will alert you if the crotch buckle has not been buckled or if the child unbuckles it during the ride. You will receive an alert in the app, AND the light on the SmartBase will turn red, and it will be accompanied by an audible alert.

While the app features life-saving buckle and forgotten child alerts, the app does not verify if your child is properly harnessed; please consult the manual for correct harnessing procedures.

Paired with the babyark mobile app, the sensor system helps assure the caregiver that they are properly installing the seat for each and every ride

Yes. The sensors in the car seat that are connected to the mobile app identify if your baby is still in the seat and will notify you immediately. The forgotten child feature does not work with an infant insert at this stage.

The electronics are housed in the bottom of the SmartBase, separate from the seat, reducing exposure to potential spills. However, the base is not sealed; therefore, care should be taken to avoid excessive spillage.

The seat's fabric covers are easily removable and washable—refer to our how-to video for guidance on changing the covers.

The car seat itself contains no electronics. In the event of a spill, promptly absorb as much liquid as possible with a towel, remove the fabric cover, and allow it to air dry.

If you need to wash the fabric cover, follow the cleaning instructions in the manual and on the fabric care tags.

The SmartBase contains electronics and is not waterproof. While minor spills are unlikely to cause damage, avoid large spills or submerging the base in liquids.

Begin by downloading the babyark app to your mobile device. After pairing your babyark seat with the app (which must be done with cellular coverage) and providing initial information, follow the on-screen instructions for step-by-step installation guidance.

Make sure to follow the instructions for seat setup according to your child’s height and weight.

Our babyark Smart and Premium seats provide real-time feedback during the installation process, walking you through the process with sensor and LED light assistance.

Our Classic seat helps you through installation with informative videos and explanatory screens. Either way, installation with babyark is a breeze!

The babyark app is helpful for users of all seat models.

The babyark app enhances safety, convenience, and connectivity for Premium and Smart seats by offering:

• Step-by-step installation guidance for a secure setup.
• Safety alerts, including forgotten child and buckle notifications and crash detection.
• Seat orientation alerts, ensuring the correct rear-facing or forward-facing position based on your child’s age and weight.
• Activity tracking, providing insights on ride duration and time spent in the seat.
• Family connectivity, allowing multiple users to access and share seat data.

While many of the features of our intelligent app are for Smart and Premium seats, the app also supports the Classic model support, featuring installation videos and key information.

We prioritize minimal data collection to respect your family's privacy while delivering essential safety features.

Using your car seat correctly for every ride is an important part of keeping your child safe, which is why we've made the babyark car seat easy to install.

For proper installation, use the babyark mobile app, which provides a step-by-step guide. The LED lights along with the smart sensors on the smart base provide a thorough walk-through and offer visual confirmation that the seat has been properly installed.

On the Classic model, mechanical indications help clarify installation, such as the green indication on the lower anchor connectors or the support leg.

Yes, the babyark car seat is designed and tested to be installed using both the vehicle seat belt and the rigid lower anchors (LATCH) simultaneously.

Check that your vehicle owner's manual doesn't prohibit the following:

-Installation using both LATCH lower anchors and vehicle seat belt at the same time

-Placing a support leg on the vehicle floor

Yes, the babyark car seat can be safely installed using only the vehicle seat belt, however we highly recommend capitalizing on more of our built-in safety features.

Using the seat belt only may limit the functionality of the SafeCoil™ energy-absorption system. When using an alternative installation method, follow all instructions in the manual to ensure correct installation, as the app’s guided installation is for our recommended install and will be harder to follow and execute if “skipping” steps.

For rear-facing, you may use only the vehicle seat belt. For forward-facing, you can use the vehicle seat belt and the top tether. As always, read your vehicle’s instruction manual (and babyark’s) to understand your options and ensure you are installing safely.

The babyark car seat supports multiple installation methods, including:

• Seat belt only (Rear-facing)

• Seat belt only with top tether (forward-facing)

• Rigid Lower Anchors only (fear-facing children up to 15 lbs)

• babyark’s recommended installation method: Rigid LATCH, vehicle seat belt, and support leg (both rear-facing and forward-facing).

When properly installed in any of these ways, the babyark car seat provides excellent protection for your child in a crash.

The rigid LATCH and support leg are additional safety features that we highly recommend you leverage, as they can further improve crash outcomes and we recommend their use when possible.

Check that your vehicle owner's manual doesn't prohibit the following:

-Installation using both LATCH lower anchors and vehicle seat belt at the same time.

-Placing a support leg on the vehicle floor

The original babyark Premium model is certified for aircraft use with the base. Please refer to the manual for specific installation instructions on airplanes.

The babyark Classic and Smart car seats are not certified for aircraft use, as their safety features are intended for use in the vehicle and are not aircraft compatible.

Yes, if your vehicle seat belt does not lock, babyark will supply a locking clip and usage instructions free of charge.

Consult your vehicle owner's manual to determine the locking mechanism of your seat belts.

The recommended installation for the babyark car seat utilizes the support leg, vehicle seat belt, and rigid lower anchors.

Most vehicles only have two sets of lower anchors in the rear seating positions—typically behind the driver and passenger seats. If your vehicle doesn’t have dedicated lower anchors in the rear center position, installing three babyark car seats across may not be feasible using the recommended installation.

However, installing babyark car seats in the outboard positions may leave sufficient space in the rear center seat for a high-back or backless booster.

Always consult your vehicle user manual and rear seat dimensions before purchasing multiple babyark car seats.

Yes, similar to infant seats, that dock into a base, the babyark car seat may exhibit slight movement even when securely connected.

If improperly secured, the black safety bar located within the car seat under the padding in the central area will remain upright. This is purposeful so that the baby may not be placed successfully if the car seat is not installed, and can be an additional verification method. 

To verify proper attachment, ensure that the black safety bar is lowered. Position your hands near the base belt path and attempt to move the car seat front-to-back and side-to-side. If the seat moves less than an inch in any direction, it is securely installed. If it moves more than an inch, consider trying a different seating position in your vehicle. Still concerned? Contact babyark for expert assistance.

While clearance between the babyark and the vehicle seat is recommended, it's acceptable for a rear-facing babyark seat to slightly touch the seat in front.

Webbing loops (also called convenience loops) on some vehicle seat belts may affect the proper installation of the babyark car seat, depending on their position within the base’s belt path. To determine if your webbing loop is interfering with the tensioner on your babyark base, check out our troubleshooting page, or contact us for assistance.

Both the Classic and Smart models meet babyark's strictest safety standards. The Classic seat includes all standard safety features, including rigid LATCH, support leg, anti-rebound bar, SafeCoil™ energy absorption system, and BioArk™ side impact wings.

The Classic seat does not have the technological components in the base, meaning it doesn't offer app connectivity, visual installation guidance, forgotten child alerts, or other notifications.

This is the additional layer of safety that the Smart model does offer, including The Smart model includes these technological enhancements, providing real-time connectivity and alerts and improved ease of use through visual feedback enabled by sensors and LED lights.

All babyark models go above and beyond required safety regulations, and have been crash tested and approved.

Yes, both models feature high-quality, machine-washable, naturally flame-resistant fabrics. They also include magnetic straps for easier access, a quick-lock chest clip, and zippers for easy removal and replacement. They come in various color options, so we’ve got something for everyone.

Yes, the babyark app remains beneficial for users of the Classic car seat model. It provides essential information such as installation guides, easy access to explanation videos, daily usage instructions, and guidance on adjusting your babyark seat.

Classic users can check for signs of impact by visually inspecting the seat, which is specifically designed to reveal when an impact has significantly damaged the seat and it must be replaced.

Check for the following indications of impact:

• If the steel coil has elongated
• If the top and bottom shells of the base are misaligned

For Smart users, the seat provides additional alerts, including:

• An app notification
• A red circulating light on the safety LED ring of the Smart base

With these easy visual cues, guesswork is reduced, and it becomes easier to know if you need to replace your car seat after an impact, even if the impact occurred when you were not in the car!

Yes, the Smart seat is compatible with Classic bases, but keep in mind that app connectivity features are only available when using the Smart base. 

You can purchase a Smart Base, even for a Classic car seat, and will then have access to all the smart features for either seat when the Smart Base is used. Classic and Smart car seats fit on both bases.

The babyark warranty offers coverage as follows:

• Mechanical Parts: 36 months from the date of purchase.
• Soft Goods and Electronic Parts: 12 months from the date of purchase.​

This warranty includes defects related to material or usability, all sensors and electronic components of the smart base, and all mechanical elements of the convertible seat.

Any issues that arise from spilled liquids or improper usage of the seat or base are not covered under warranty.

The babyark car seat does NOT have an expiration date due to 6 main reasons:

• babyark offers a complementary 10-year checkup to make sure everything is still working properly. The no expiration date is only valid for car seats older than 10 years with a 10-year complementary checkup.
• The main structure of our car seats and bases are constructed with premium, high-strength ingredients such as aviation-grade steel. Plastics on the external elements are largely for aesthetic purposes and thus any exposure to sun or extreme conditions does not degrade the safety functions of the seat.
• Harness – if the harness has degraded or been damaged over time, it can be replaced. Because it is a no-rethread harness for adjusting positioning, it also undergoes less wear and tear.
• Crash detection – on top of the 5 NHTSA rules for a crash that can be defined as more than minor, we can detect if the babyark seat has experienced an impact that requires replacements and notify you via the app. The construction of the babyark also features visual signs that can be recognized to indicate it has been in a crash (shells of the base are not aligned – meaning the SafeCoil™ has been activated, or the SafeCoil™ has elongated, indicating it has been triggered by significant impact.)
• Labels – if labels have faded or peeled off, we offer a labels replacement kit.
• Communication – our app helps us notify our customers about any changes and updates in regulation, giving peace of mind that your car seat meets any and all relevant standards and is safe for use.

To initiate a warranty claim, please contact babyark's customer service department through one of the following methods:

Email: contact@babyark.com​, Phone: 1-(888) 922-2927​ or the chat feature on the babyark website

babyark has 3 ways to detect crashes:

On all models:

• Visual indication - The SafeCoil™ will be elongated, and the top and bottom shells will no longer be aligned.

On our Smart and Premium models:

•  Electronic light indication - If the crash was severe enough and the seat requires replacement, the safety LED ring in the base will light up in a circular pattern in red.
• App alert - If the crash was severe and the seat needs replacement, the babyark app will notify you.
  
  If the babyark car seat did not detect a crash, it can continue to be used as long as it also meets the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) minor crash guidelines:

 i.The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site
ii. The vehicle door nearest to the car seat was not damaged
iii. None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash
iv. If the vehicle has airbags, the airbags did not deploy during the crash
v. There is no visible damage to the car seat

If any of these conditions are not met the car seat must be replaced, even if the babyark seat did not detect a crash.

babyark offers a 100-day return policy from the date of purchase. If you are not 100% satisfied with your product or need to exchange for another reason, you can return it within this period for a refund. Products must be returned in their original packaging.

Your babyark car seat will be shipped 1-2 business days after you place your order, unless otherwise indicated at the time of purchase.

Standard shipping takes 3-5 business days and express shipping takes 1-2 business days. You will receive tracking details once your order has been shipped.

Currently, we only ship to the contiguous United States (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico). If you are located outside of the US and would like to be notified when we start shipping to your city, please contact us at contact@babyark.com

Yes, exchanges are treated as a return and repurchase process. Here’s how it works:

Initiate a Return: Start the return process for your original purchase by contacting us at contact@babyark.com within 100 days of delivery.

Place a New Order: Order the replacement item you want directly through our website.

Yes! When you purchase a replacement seat as part of an exchange, the 100-day trial will restart for the new seat from the date it is delivered.

Customers are responsible for return shipping costs.

If your seat is outside the 100-day trial window, it will not qualify for a return or exchange.

If your seat is within the 100-day window, you may return it!

Yes! There’s no penalty for paying early.

You can make or schedule payments at affirm.com or in the Affirm app for iOS or Android. Affirm will send you email and text reminders before payments are due.

Yes—you can return an item you bought with Affirm by initiating the return process with the store.

No—your credit score won’t be affected when you create an Affirm account or check your eligibility. If you decide to buy with Affirm, this may impact your credit score. You can find more information in Affirm’s Help Center.

No—your credit score won’t be affected when you create an Affirm account or check your eligibility. If you decide to buy with Affirm, this may impact your credit score. You can find more information in Affirm’s Help Center.

You can visit their website at affirm.com.

If your seat is outside the 100-day trial window, it will not qualify for a return or exchange.