Choosing the right car seat for your child can be
one of the most important decisions you will make. Knowing what
seat is designed for what weight/age combination can save your
child's life. And equally important is using and installing the
car seat properly. While the majority of parents use car seats,
most do use them correctly. Be sure to choose the proper seat,
install it correctly, follow the directions and use it every time
you take your child in the car.
Infant Car Seat
An infant car seat is designed for infants. This
is usually from birth until your baby weighs in at about 20
pounds. 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
twelve months depending on the growth rate of your baby. 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.)
Convertible Car Seat
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 20 pounds and 1 year, and
forward facing happens after your child reaches about 20 pounds.)
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.
Convertible Car Seat with Shield
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.
