09/01/2023
How to Choose a Car Seat
Choosing a car seat is a big decision. You’ve got questions? We’ve got the answers
A car seat is a registry must-have if you’re looking to take anything from a road trip to a ride to the grocery store with your little one in tow. But what type of car seat do you need? Are some seats safer than others? What factors should go into picking out the right seat for your family?
Choosing a car seat is a big decision. You’ve got questions—and this guide has all of the answers.
Types of Car Seats
There are three types of car seats: 1. Infant car seats 2. Convertible car seats 3. Booster seats
Infant Car Seats
An infant car seat is a seat made specifically for infants and younger babies. An infant seat always rear-faces in the car and can be used from birth until your baby reaches the seat’s maximum height or weight limits, which usually happens around one year of age.
Infant car seats attach to a base. The base stays installed in your car and the seat clicks in and out, making it easier to get your baby in and out of the car.
Convertible Car Seats
A convertible car seat can be used with children of various sizes and can flip from a rear-facing to a forward-facing seat. A convertible seat starts in the rear-facing position for babies and toddlers and switches to forward-facing once your little one has outgrown the seat’s maximum rear-facing height or weight limits. A convertible car seat can take you from day one through the preschool years and beyond.
Convertible car seats are heavier and bulkier than infant car seats. Instead of attaching to a base, convertible seats use your car’s seat belt or LATCH system for installation directly into your car. (LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It’s a system of built-in straps and hooks on a car seat and anchor hardware in your vehicle designed to make car seat installation safer and simpler.)
Booster Seats
A booster seat does what its name implies: boosts your child up higher in your car’s seat. This ensures that your car’s regular lap and shoulder belts cross over your child’s body at the correct points to securely hold them. Booster seats are designed to be used for children who are at least four years old and at least 40 pounds.
There are two types of booster seats: high-back and backless. High-back boosters are similar to car seats in that they are a smaller-sized seat with a bottom and a back. They have a guide where you can thread your vehicle’s shoulder belt so it correctly fits your child. Backless boosters only have a seat component. They’re designed to provide the extra height needed so your little one can be safely strapped in.
