Infant Car Seats

An infant car seat is a car seat designed for a baby's first year of life and should be positioned facing backwards in the car.  Every baby should sit rear facing in a car until at least age one, or until about 30 lbs and 32 in in length/height, but really you should try to keep your baby sitting rear facing in the car seat for as long as possible (two years or more). Studies have shown that rear facing infants fare better (meaning have a higher survival rate and less risk for serious injury) when sitting rear facing in a car seat during an auto accident.  A car seat designed to only sit rear facing is an infant car seat.

Infant Car Seats

Also Read:

• Car Seats for Babies
• Convertible Car Seats

(Convertible car seats can sit rear facing or forward facing depending on the age of the baby) 

Infant car seats are designed to hold a baby for only the first year (sometimes a bit longer) and are therefore usually better fitting for young infants than most convertible car seats.  In addition, infant car seats are designed to be easily removed from the car so that you do not have to wake a sleeping baby upon arriving at a destination.  Unlike convertible car seats or forward facing car seats, infant car seats come with a stay-in-place base that is locked tight in the seat of the car.  The actual baby seat can be snapped in and out of this car seat base allowing the seat to be used as a baby carrier.  Parents tend to love this feature because it then allows them to move a sleeping baby from the car without waking him.  Most infant car seats are designed in conjunction with a standard size stroller.  The car seat fits into a specific stroller allowing the baby to stroll without being removed from the car seat.  These infant car seat-stroller combinations are known as travel systems. 

Pros And Cons Of Infant Car Seats

The pluses for purchasing an infant car seat are probably quite obvious.  The seat is designed to fit a young infant therefore holding the infant better during the car ride and the seat can be removed from the car seat base, transforming it into an infant carrier.  You never have to wake the sleeping baby.  Your baby can move from the car to the home/store/restaurant/etc… without being disturbed.  Most infant car seats come with convenient carrier handles designed for toting your infant about town.  However, the seat and the baby can become heavy which is why many parents will buy the stroller that fits with the infant car seat, thereby creating an easy to use travel system.
There are also some minuses to an infant car seat.  Many parents say their children outgrow the infant car seat well before a year, forcing them to buy a convertible car seat sooner than expected.  If finances are an issue then this is something to consider.  (And don’t forget the booster seat that will need to be purchased after your child outgrows the convertible car seat).  In addition, many parent reviewers say that due to the snug fit of infant car seats; their baby is never very comfortable, especially as they get older.  Parents write that their babies screamed whenever placed in the infant car seat, screaming that only came to an end when they finally switched to a convertible car seat.  In addition, many parents tend to leave their baby sitting in the infant car seat far too long.  The baby rides in the car in the seat, rides in the stroller in the seat, and even sits at home in the seat.  Studies have shown that this excessive and prolonged sitting in the seat can restrict the air flow to the baby due to the angle of the seat (this will not affect your baby normally—this is only for babies left in these seats day in and day out for the majority of the day and night, something many parents tend to do).

My Two Cents

After reading the many reviews online about infant car seats and convertible car seats I decided to purchase a convertible car seat that came with an infant insert allowing the seat to be used with infants as light as 5 lbs.  The seat I chose allows my daughter to sit rear-facing for two years and then can be converted to a forward facing seat for another two years.  After that I will then need to purchase a booster car seat.  While I have no complaints about the seat I have purchased, there are many instances when I wish I had purchased an infant car seat. 
Too many times my daughter has fallen asleep just before reaching a destination and then was awaken as we removed her from her car seat.  Had we had an infant car seat we could have avoided this situation—and for those of you still waiting for the arrival of your little one, yes waking a sleeping infant is a big deal.  It can sometimes take a baby hours to fall asleep, despite being extremely tired (and of course the baby is screaming this whole time due to the tiredness) and the last thing you ever want to do is wake the baby before he is ready.  Also, most young babies will want to eat upon waking, even if they just recently ate and even if they only took a short cat nap.  However, I don’t very often travel by car so for me an infant car seat isn’t a great necessity, but for those of you frequently on the road, this may be a purchase you want to consider.  It could make your life much easier.

**Important: Car seats have expiration dates.  Most car seats are only good for six years of use (although check with the company to find out the exact lifespan of your particular car seat).  The clock begins ticking on cars seats from the date of their manufacturer, not the date of purchase, so be sure to check the box that your car seat came in for this date.  Also, double check the age of a car seat if buying second-hand. **Important: Car seats need to be replaced after auto accidents.  Any damage to a car seat can compromise its future ability to perform as designed.  If you are considering purchasing a car seat second hand be sure to inquire about any accidents the car seat might have already survived.  If you are not sure about the history of the car seat then do not buy.

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Convertible Car Seats

A convertible car seat is a seat that can be converted from a rear facing car seat to a forward facing car seat, when the baby is old enough.  Convertible car seats can be used from birth (at least 5 lbs) until 40-80 lbs, depending on the weight limit of convertible car seat.  Babies must sit rear facing in a car seat for at least one year, although it is recommended that you keep your baby rear facing for as long as possible—up to two years.

Convertible Car Seats

Also Read:

• Car Seats for Babies
• Infant Car Seats

One of the main benefits of purchasing a convertible car seat is that it allows your infant to sit rear facing for this extended period of time and then allows your child to sit forward facing without having to purchase a new seat.  This makes convertible car seats a practical and cost efficient option.  Why buy an infant car seat and then a convertible car seat or a forward facing car seat when the baby out grows the infant car seat when you can just make one purchase: the convertible car seat. Of course you will still need a booster seat down the road.
The main reason for not purchasing a convertible car seat as your baby’s first and only car seat is due to the desire to own a travel system: an infant car seat and standard size stroller combo and due to the convenience of converting an infant car seat into an infant carrier, allowing you to take the baby from the car without waking him.

Choosing An Convertible Car Seat

Convertible car seats offer the greatest amount of choice on the car seat market. When deciding on which convertible car seat to purchase there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.  First, and most important, is safety.  You want to choose the safest car seat that your money can buy; therefore researching car seats before purchase is prudent.  Many convertible car seats now come with high tech safety features, like energy absorbing foam, side wings to protect the head from flying objects, side impact protection (side impact car accidents are the number one cause of auto infant fatalities), and 5-point harness safety straps. 
Other features you may want to consider when choosing a convertible car seat is the ease at which the car seat fabric can be cleaned (your infant will spit up from time to time), the level of difficulty of the seat installation, whether or not the seat has adjustable straps and how often due these straps become tangled (a real pain in the butt), and for those of you on a budget: what is the best seat your can purchase within your price range?  In addition, you will want to consider the lifespan of the seat for your baby.  Some convertible car seats can only be used with children up to 40 lbs. After reaching this weight limit you will then need to purchase a booster car seat.  Other seats can be used until 80 lbs, meaning you will only later need to purchase a backless booster seat for your child.  But, these larger convertible car seats tend to be bulky so you will need to think about the size of the backseat of your car. 

Will The Car Seat Fit Your Car?

Some car seats are way too big to fit in compact cars and will force the front passenger seat all the way forward (rendering it unusable) while in the rear facing position.  (Ask the store manager to take the display seat from the store to test out in your car.  Many stores will be willing to accommodate this request.)  After checking out how the car seat fits in your car you can then always order the seat at your favorite online store if you can find a better deal.
All of these things need to be considered before deciding on which seat to purchase.   
**Important: Car seats have expiration dates.  Most car seats are only good for six years of use (although check with the company for the lifespan of your particular car seat).  The clock begins ticking on cars seats from the date of their manufacturer, not the date of purchase, so be sure to check the box that your car seat came in for this date.  Also, double check the age of a car seat if buying second-hand.
**Important: Car seats need to be replaced after auto accidents.  Any damage to a car seat can compromise its future ability to perform as designed.  If you are considering purchasing a car seat second hand be sure to inquire about any accidents the car seat might have already survived.  If you are not sure about the history of the car seat then do not buy.

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Booster Car Seats

Booster Car Seats

When children out grow their forward facing car seat or convertible car seat they are still not yet ready to ride in the car without a safety seat. This is when a booster car seat is needed. Booster car seats are designed to provide protection and safety for your child for years after they have outgrown their regular car seat and they are an essential element for child car safety.

Booster Car Seats

Also Read:

• Car Seats for Babies
• Convertible Car Seats
• Infant Car Seats

Until about the age of eight, most children are too small to be safely buckled into the backseat of a car with only a regular seatbelt. Due to a child’s short height, and the fact that seatbelts are designed for adult passengers, the position of the seatbelt will sit incorrectly over a child’s shoulder and lap. Booster seats are designed to help position lap and shoulder belts across a child’s torso without falling incorrectly across the belly and neck—something that can cause injury in the event of a car accident. This is why booster seats are so important. Until your child is of the right height to sit with the seatbelt positioned correctly, a booster seat is absolutely necessary. However, despite the importance of using a booster seat until your child is of the right height to properly fit a car seatbelt, most parents neglect to install a booster seat in their car.

When To Use A Booster Car Seat

Booster car seats should be used when your child outgrows his forward facing car seat, usually around the age of four, or 40 lbs, depending on the booster seat. Many boosters come with the safety features found in regular forward facing or convertible car seats, like EPS foam, side-impact protection, or headrests. They also often come with added features like child cup holders and snack trays. Some seats are even designed to expand in height to adjust to the ever growing child and can be used for children weighing up to 100 lbs.
It is a good idea to purchase a booster car seat that will also convert into a backless booster later on for when your child only needs some added height to properly fit the car safety belt but no longer needs a full car seat. 3-in-1 booster car seats are convertible car seats that transform from a forward facing car seat to a booster car seat to a backless booster seat. This means you can purchase an infant car seat and then a 3-in-1 booster car seat as the only car seats you will need for your child’s entire life.

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Car Seats for Babies

Car Seats

After finding out that I was pregnant, I began to research baby items. I knew nothing about baby products and was at a loss as to where to start. What products do I need for a baby? How will I know which one is best? I decided to begin my research by checking out car seats since for me safety was my number one priority for my yet unborn baby. How would I best be able to protect her from the multitude of crazy drivers taking to the roads every day?

Car Seats for Babies

I typed car seats into the search engine on the Internet and found myself overwhelmed with the amount of options that came up. Did I want an Infant Car Seat, a Backwards Facing Car Seat, a Forwards Facing Car Seat, a Convertible Car Seat, a Booster Car Seat or a Travel System (an infant car seat and stroller combination)? I had no idea what the differences are. It took lots of research and the testing of car seats to understand these differences. Check out the following information to help sort through your car seat confusion.

Infant Car Seats

An infant car seat is a car seat designed for a baby's first year of life and is meant to be positioned rear facing in the car.  All babies should sit rear facing until at least age one, or until about 30 lbs and 32 in in length/height. However, the longer a baby sits rear facing, the better. Therefore, a car seat that can only be positioned backwards facing is an infant car seat. Infant car seats are designed in conjunction with a stay-in-place car seat base. The car seat can be easily snapped in and out of the base so that you can remove the infant car seat from the car with your baby still inside, avoiding the need to wake a sleeping baby upon arriving at a destination.

Forward Facing Car Seat

A forwards facing car seat is a car seat that faces forward and is designed for babies over the age of one who weight more than 25lbs.  These car seats are usually good for a baby until 40-80 lbs, depending on the seat.

Booster Car Seats

Booster car seats are designed for older children who weigh at least 40 lbs and who have outgrown their forward facing or convertible car seat but who are not yet tall enough to be secure in the car with just a seatbelt. Booster car seat are recommended for use until a child reaches 80 lbs and grows to 60 in tall.

Convertible Car Seats

So then, what is a convertible car seat?  A convertible car seat is a car seat that can be used from birth (at least 5 lbs) until 40-80 lbs, depending on the maximum car seat weight limit. This kind of car seat can first be used rear facing during the baby's first two years, and then is turned around and converted into a forward facing car seat until the baby outgrows the seat when reaching 40-80 lbs. At this time, parents can then switch to a booster car seat. For many parents this seems like the most practical and cost efficient option. Why spend money buying an infant car seat, then a forward facing car seat, and then a booster seat when you can just have a convertible car seat and then a booster car seat?  However, many parents decide not to take this route when choosing car seats due to the invention of the travel system. 

Travel System: A Stroller and Infant Car Seat Combination

A travel system is the combination of an infant car seat and stroller in one. Most brands of strollers and infant car seats offer at least one of these options. When you purchase your stroller you also purchase an infant car seat designed to fit into your stroller.  This way you can move a sleeping baby from the stroller to the car or from the car to the stroller (or to the home/restaurant/shopping center etc...) without waking the baby.  This car seat comes with a handle and is easy for using as a baby transport device, even without the stroller.

**Important: Car seats have expiration dates. Most car seats are only good for six years of use (although check with the company for the lifespan of your particular car seat). The clock begins ticking on cars seats from the date of their manufacturer, not the date of purchase, so be sure to check the box that your car seat came in for this date. Also, double check the age of a car seat if buying second-hand.
**Important: Car seats need to be replaced after auto accidents. Any damage to a car seat can compromise its future ability to perform as designed. If you are considering purchasing a car seat second hand be sure to inquire about any accidents the car seat might have already survived. If you are not sure about the history of the car seat then do not buy.

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