Types of Car Seats

Rear Facing Car Seats

All infants or newborns need to ride in a rear facing carseat. Rear facing car seats are designed for babies up to one year of age and at least 20 pounds. You can buy two different types of rear facing car seats, an infant only carrier car seat or a convertible car seat. Let's look at each of these more closely.

Infant Carriers and Car seats

Most people opt for an infant carrier or carseat as their first purchase. These seats offer many benefits including their small size and weight and portability. These infant carseats usually double as a carrier you can click into and out of your stroller if you like. You can also easily transport your baby if sleeping from car to bedroom without waking them. Here are some common features included in infant carrier rear facing car seats:

• Most come with a 3-point or 5-point harness or restraint system. A 5-point harness is considered the safest, but a 3-point harness is very safe as well.
• Most infant carriers will only hold your child up to 20 pounds, though some models can hold your baby up to 22 pounds. That means if your baby hits the 20 pound mark before one year, you may have to buy a larger or convertible rear facing car seat.
• Most are lightweight and easily portable.
• Infant carriers comes with a base you can detach and leave in the car. You can buy two bases and install in separate vehicles, so you don't have to move the carseat when going from one vehicle to another.

Convertible Car Seats

Convertible car seats are rapidly gaining popularity. These seats are ideal for parents that only want to invest in one carseat for their child through the early toddler years. A convertible car seat is usually quite a bit larger than an infant carrier seat. Most will allow you to switch from rear facing to forward facing positions as your baby grows. One benefit of these car seats is they usually have a higher weight limit in the rear facing position. Here are some added features of convertible car seats:

• Most come with three different choices for a harness. These include a 5 point harness with two straps at the shoulders and two at the hips, a T-shield which is a padded triangular shaped shield that goes over the shoulders, or an overhead shield that includes a padded tray that comes around your baby.
• Adjustable straps, shields and buckles so you can adapt the seat to fit your growing baby.
• Padded and removable headpiece to support your baby as an infant. You can remove this as your child grows and is able to support his or her own head.
• Multiple harness slots so you can adjust the height of the shoulder straps as your baby grows.

If you have to switch your baby from rear facing to forward facing, you will have to adjust the shoulder straps and set the seat in an upright position in some cases. Most car seat technicians are familiar with all forms of carseat and can help you convert your carseat if you are not sure how to do it. You'll find a car seat technician at your local fire department. Many have drop in days where you can take your seat and have it adjusted and set by a professional.

Forward Facing Car Seats

Of course, you can always elect to use an infant carseat and then switch to a front facing only car seat as your child grows. A front facing seat is only appropriate for children over one year old and over 20 pounds. If you initially buy an infant carrier, once your baby outgrows the carrier you will have to buy a forward facing car seat.

The good news is most forward facing car seats will last until your baby is about three to four years old. Most are large and a bit bulky, thus you can't snap them in and out like an infant carrier. Some front carrier car seats use a five-point harness to secure your baby while others use the car's seat belt to lock your child in place. Some seats are designed to carry babies up to 60-80 pounds.

If you plan to buy a front facing car seat, the most important thing for you to evaluate is fit. Make sure your car has ample room for you to place the seat securely without much movement to one side or the other.

One of the benefits of this type of car seat is it allows your baby to get a bird's-eye view of the world through his or her car window. This is a luxury not offered most babies while riding in the rear facing position. Many toddlers find these seats easy to maneuver into and out of and quite comfortable as well. The only real downside apart from lack of portability is these seats are relatively expensive. The good news however is you can plan to use the car seat at least 3-4 years for your child.

Booster Seats

Most people don't realize that adult seat belts are basically created for an adult. Your child will probably need a booster seat for some time even when older for a seat belt to fit properly. How do you know when your child needs a booster seat?

If your child has reached the maximum height and weight for their forward facing seat, their shoulders rise above the highest notch in the harness slots and their ears brush the top of their seat, chances are its time for a booster.

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