| Car Seat Type |
Advantages |
Challenges |
Infant Only Car Seats
with base
(rear-facing only)
|
- Has carry handle. Easy to take out of vehicle, even with baby asleep.
- Seat base stays in vehicle and if done up correctly stays tight for every ride.
- Maybe sold as part of a travel system that includes a stroller.
|
- Your baby may outgrow this seat before she is ready to go forward-facing.
|
Convertible Car Seats
infant / toddler
(rear-facing / forward-facing)
|
- Can be used as a rear-facing seat and then changed to a forward-facing seat.
- Many models have higher rear-facing weight/height limits than infant only seats.
- Works well for heavier babies under one year of age.
- Costs less than buying a rear-facing seat separately.
|
- Not easy to move in and out of the vehicle.
- Larger than rear-facing only seat. It may be hard to fit in some back seats.
|
All-in-One Car Seats
infant / toddler / booster
(rear-facing / forward-facing / booster)
|
- Combines all three types of seats.
- Many models have higher rear-facing weight/height limits than infant only seats.
- Works well for heavier babies under one year of age.
- Costs less than buying each type of seat separately but higher onetime cost.
|
- Not easy to move in and out of the vehicle.
- Larger than a rear-facing only seat. It may be hard to fit in some back seats.
|
High-back Boosters
|
- Offers head/neck protection.
- Good for vehicle Seats without head rests.
- Easily adjusts as a child grows.
- Good for taller children.
- Good choice for children under 40 lb who are taller than the height limit for the rear-facing / forward-facing seats.
- Some models may be used with the 5-point harness up to 65 lb.
|
- Can only be used with lap-shoulder seat belts.
- Can only be used by children over 40 lb.
|
Backless Boosters
|
- Costs less than a high-back booster.
- Good for vehicle seat with head rest.
|
- Can only be used with lap-shoulder seat belts.
- Can only be used by children over 40 lb.
|
