A summary of the different types of car seats, pros and cons to each, and what to think about and look for when using and purchasing a car seat.

NOTE: We know this can be a triggering topic; one that can be scary to read about. We promise to keep this discussion focused on what you need to do and why, no catastrophizing. All too often, car seat safety turns into a lesson in anecdotal horrors. This is not that kind of post.

As (slightly) older parents, we remember a time before car seats were a thing. Even seatbelts were optional for a lot of families. Do you remember sitting in the way-way back? Because we do. 

We live in different times now, which is a good thing, because car seats have made car travel much safer for kids. But it can also be very hard to navigate the choices placed before you. 

If you take nothing else away from this post, we hope you remember the following things:

1. Try to keep your kid rear-facing as long as possible. As long as possible would be until your child hits the height and or weight limit for rear facing, and those limits tend to be quite high! Even if your kids’ legs are bent in the seat, they can still sit backwards. The back of the seat gives more support to the child’s neck, which can help in the event of an impact. You can see the best practice guidelines for rear- and front-facing car seats from the CDC here. 

2. Children should be in the back seat until they are over twelve years old. 

3. Don’t buy used car seats. This isn’t where you want to save cash. Car seats need to be retired if they have been in an accident, and you don’t know the seat’s history. Car seats also expire. Just trust us, get a new one.

4. Try it out first. Not all car seats are the same; the buckles may be different, the weights may vary as well. You want to know you are getting a seat that is easy for you to work with, and that will fit easily in your car. Even if you’re planning to buy online, find a local store and test out what you can ahead of time. It might make a difference in the car seat you choose.

Types of Car Seats 

Infant Car Seat

An infant car seat is compact, and designed for babies and young toddlers. It will have a handle across the top, so you can carry it with the baby inside. Most hospitals in the United States require that parents leave the hospital with their baby already strapped into a car seat, so the handle helps with this. It’s also easy to move the seat from the car to a stroller without unbuckling the baby.

Fun facts about infant seats:

• You can use the seat belt buckle the seat directly into your car, or you can install a base in your car that clicks into the seat itself. 

• There is a five-point harness in the seat that holds the baby. Five-point harnesses have straps that secure the baby in five places: over each shoulder, around each hip, and between the legs.

• Infant car seats should be installed in the car rear-facing only.

• Although many of these seats say they are safe for children up to 24 months, many babies will outgrow the height and weight requirements before that time, so make sure to keep an eye on those restrictions.

• Technically speaking, you can skip infant seats all together and start with a convertible car seat (see below), but you can’t really carry a convertible car seat around very easily, so the infant seat’s handle makes it a hit with many parents of new kiddos.

Convertible Car Seat

A convertible car seat is a bigger seat with a high back, designed to work for a wider range of children. Although manufacturers have different parameters (so you should check to make sure it works for you before you buy), most convertible seats will work for children from 4-65 lbs, and up to 5+  years old.

Fun facts about convertible car seats:

• They are larger than infant seats, and usually stay in the car all the time.

• Like infant car seats, convertible seats are strapped into the car, and then the baby or child is secured to the seat with a five-point harness.

• Convertible car seats, too, should be installed rear-facing, though they can be turned front-facing when the child is old enough (hence the word “convertible”), and reaches recommended height and weight requirements. 

• You can start using a convertible car seat with babies as small as 4 lbs in the rear facing position. 

• Some convertible car seats also convert into a booster seat making it a great option to grow with your child. 

Booster Seat

There are two kinds of booster seats: ones with backs, and ones without. Backed boosters look similar to convertible car seats, but instead of a 5 point harness, your child sits in the booster seat and is buckled in using the car’s seat belt. Booster seats are simply designed to ensure that the seat belt is aligned in the proper areas for your child as they transition out of a car seat.

Fun facts about booster seats:

• Booster seats are front-facing, and should only be used for older kids, preferably once a child has outgrown the height and weight restrictions of their car seat. 

• Booster seats do not need to be tightly secured to the seat of your car like car seats do. Some booster seats have latches, but that’s simply so the booster seat doesn’t move around your car when your child isn’t in it. 

• Booster seats tend to be cheaper than car seats for younger kids, but that doesn’t mean you can skip straight to a booster! Make sure you check the height and weight guidelines before you move up.