Types of Car Seats for Your Baby

Infant Car Seat

An infant car seat is designed for infants. This is usually from birth until your baby is at least 2 years old and reaches the weight limit for the seat. when he or she will likely need a bigger seat. These car seats are designed to ride in your car in therear-facing positiononly.

The infant car seat can also double as a carrier. (Don't place the car seat in the grocery cart—even if it clicks, it's not designed for that and is very dangerous. Instead, consider asling or other carrier.) 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.

An infant car seat can last you six to 24 months, depending on the growth rate of your baby and the size of the car seat. Some babies outgrow the infant car seat faster than others. Once your child reaches the maximum weight OR height limit for the seat, it'stime to switch to another type of car seatdesigned for older babies and toddlers.

Getting a new car seat doesn't necessarily mean that you should turn the car seat so it's facing forward. You'll want to keep your childrear-facing as long as possiblebecause it's safer.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping your child in a rear-facing position until they are 3 years old or has reached the height or weight limit designated by the car seat manufacturer.

Premature infantsunder a certain weight may need to use a car bed prior to riding in an infant car seat.

Convertible Car Seat

Convertible car seatsare 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 3 years, and you can start putting your child in a forward-facing position once they are 3 years old.

The downfalls toconvertible car seatsare 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, though their bulk often promotes a feeling of safety.

3-In-1 Seats

All-in-one seats, or 3-in-1 seats, are similar to convertible car seats, except that they work as a booster seat too. The advantage of this seat is that you only have to buy one seat and it'll grow with your child from rear-facing to forward-facing to a booster seat until they are old enough to just use a seatbelt.

Booster Seat

Booster car seats are to be used only for kids in a forward-facing position. The minimum weight requirement varies from 30 to 40 pounds, depending on the model you select. The good news is that the booster car seat works until your child is old enough to not need a car seat anymore.

As infant car seat laws change and vary from 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. If possible, try the car seat out with your child prior to purchasing it.