4 Types of Car Seats Explained
Infant Car Seat
Updated May 23, 2014.
An infant car seat is designed for infants. This is usually from birth until your baby is two years old, when they can be placed forward facing. These car seats are designed to ride in your car in the rear facing position. They are not designed to be turned around to a forward facing position.
An infant car seat can last you six to twenty-four months depending on the growth rate of your baby and the size of the car seat.
Some babies out grow the infant car seat faster than others. Once your baby has outgrown this car seat you will need to switch to another type of car seat designed for older babies and toddlers.
The infant car seat can also double as a carrier. You can carry your baby out of the car to the house, grocery or anywhere. Many models of this infant car seat can either be strapped into the car directly or into a base that stays strapped into the car seat. Multiple bases can be purchased for multiple cars.
(Premature infants under a certain weight may need to use a car bed prior to riding in an infant car seat.)
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Convertible Car Seat
Updated May 23, 2014.
Convertible car seats are used from birth until your child outgrows a car seat. This means that you can get more use out of your investment. They can be used in forward facing or in rear facing positions, depending on the weight of your child. (Rear facing is used for infants up to 2 years, and forward facing happens after your child is two years old.)
The downfalls to the convertible car seat are that they are not portable and cannot be used as an infant carrier.
They do not have bases and are not easily moved from one car to another. Some parents find these bigger seats more difficult to use for smaller infants.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Updated May 23, 2014.
This type of convertible car seat is not often found anymore and is not for rear facing infants under 2. There was a question of its safety, particularly with smaller infants under 20 pounds. Be sure to check any seat you have for recalls, with or without the shield.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Updated May 23, 2014.
Booster car seats are to be used only for toddlers in a forward facing position. The minimum weight requirement varies from 30-40 pounds, depending on the model you select. The good news is that the booster car seat can take your child safely to 80 pounds in a car seat. As infant car seat laws change and vary state to state many states are going with higher weight requirements for children in car seats.
This type of car seat can have its own set of buckles or harness or it can use the seat belt already found in your car. Your child's height will dictate which is most comfortable. So I'd recommend trying the car seat out with your child prior to purchasing it.
Currently the recommendation is that you child should be in a car seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches, which is between 8-12 years old.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Updated May 23, 2014.
An infant car seat is designed for infants. This is usually from birth until your baby is two years old, when they can be placed forward facing. These car seats are designed to ride in your car in the rear facing position. They are not designed to be turned around to a forward facing position.
An infant car seat can last you six to twenty-four months depending on the growth rate of your baby and the size of the car seat.
Some babies out grow the infant car seat faster than others. Once your baby has outgrown this car seat you will need to switch to another type of car seat designed for older babies and toddlers.
The infant car seat can also double as a carrier. You can carry your baby out of the car to the house, grocery or anywhere. Many models of this infant car seat can either be strapped into the car directly or into a base that stays strapped into the car seat. Multiple bases can be purchased for multiple cars.
(Premature infants under a certain weight may need to use a car bed prior to riding in an infant car seat.)
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Convertible Car Seat
Updated May 23, 2014.
Convertible car seats are used from birth until your child outgrows a car seat. This means that you can get more use out of your investment. They can be used in forward facing or in rear facing positions, depending on the weight of your child. (Rear facing is used for infants up to 2 years, and forward facing happens after your child is two years old.)
The downfalls to the convertible car seat are that they are not portable and cannot be used as an infant carrier.
They do not have bases and are not easily moved from one car to another. Some parents find these bigger seats more difficult to use for smaller infants.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Updated May 23, 2014.
This type of convertible car seat is not often found anymore and is not for rear facing infants under 2. There was a question of its safety, particularly with smaller infants under 20 pounds. Be sure to check any seat you have for recalls, with or without the shield.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
Updated May 23, 2014.
Booster car seats are to be used only for toddlers in a forward facing position. The minimum weight requirement varies from 30-40 pounds, depending on the model you select. The good news is that the booster car seat can take your child safely to 80 pounds in a car seat. As infant car seat laws change and vary state to state many states are going with higher weight requirements for children in car seats.
This type of car seat can have its own set of buckles or harness or it can use the seat belt already found in your car. Your child's height will dictate which is most comfortable. So I'd recommend trying the car seat out with your child prior to purchasing it.
Currently the recommendation is that you child should be in a car seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches, which is between 8-12 years old.
Photo © Robin Elise Weiss
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