What Car Seats Should I Buy After Infant Seats?

You face a myriad of safety decisions after your baby born. One of these concerns is choosing among the many types of infant safety seats, convertible seats and toddler car seats for your child.

  1. Car Seat Types

    • Making a decision about the best or safest car safety seat your baby should use after she graduates from the infant seat is important. Each type of safety seat is different, with the rear-facing infant seat being the first one your baby used. She will use this seat until she weighs at least 22 lbs., then you can transfer her to a rear-facing convertible seat. This seat is bigger and bulkier than the infant seat and can be used by infants and older children.

      Once she has reached the highest weight or height recommended by the manufacturer of her convertible seat, you can turn her seat around to face the front. Once she is between 40 and 65 lbs., she can stop using the harness system. At 4 years of age, if she has outgrown her convertible seat, you can put her into a booster seat with a harness.

    Guidelines

    • Once your child weighs between 22 and 32 lbs., you can put him into a rear-facing convertible seat. Until he weighs 20 lbs. and is at least 1 year old, he should ride in his infant seat facing the rear of the vehicle; keep his infant seat rear-facing for as long as possible.

      Toddlers and preschoolers can ride forward-facing in their toddler seats, as long as the seat is correctly tethered to the back seat of your vehicle. Make sure the harness height is adjusted so the straps come out of the slots above your son's shoulders. When he weighs between 40 and 65 lbs., you can transfer him to a booster seat or combination forward-facing car seat/booster seat.

    Safe Usage

    • If you accept a used infant seat or infant convertible seat, make sure it is less than six years old and has not been involved in a collision. Do some research and ensure that the seat you are considering accepting has not been identified in a recall due to safety issues (visit recalls.gov).

      Make sure your infant seat and infant convertible seat is correctly and safety installed in your vehicle. Read the owner's manual before installation. Adjust the strap height according to your baby's size. If you are not sure you have done the job right, visit nhtsa.gov or your local police department for a free inspection.

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