Convertible Infant Car Seat
Purchasing a car seat can be a daunting and confusing task. There are rear facing seats for infants, forward facing seats for toddlers, and a convertible infant car seat that can be used as both. Infants from 5- 20 lbs need to be in a rear facing position in the back seat, while over 1 yr and 20 lbs can be put in a forward facing car seat. For safety reasons, it is recommended that infants be in the rear facing position until the safety features of their car seat are exceeded.
One type of car seat, called a convertible infant car seat, or infant-toddler car seat, can be safely used for small infants in the rear facing position, and then can convert to the forward facing position once your infant gets larger. These convertible infant car seats are convenient and save you some money. They are a little bulkier than infant only car seats, but they generally have higher rear facing height and weight limits, allowing your child to stay in the rear facing position longer (generally believed to be safer).
If you decide to go the convertible infant car seat route, there are some things to consider before you purchase. First, make sure the seat has adequate padding and protection for comfort and safety. Second, check on the ease of installation. If a convertible infant car seat is very difficult to install, it might be incorrectly installed and can severely limit the effectiveness of the seat. Third, make sure the seat has a removable cover to wash, or make sure you purchase a car seat cover. Fourth and finally is safety. 5-point restraints are generally considered safest, and make sure the belt adjustments are easy to use. If your car was made after 2002, it might have a LATCH system. This system will allow you to securely anchor your convertible infant car seat to your car.