| Car Seat Type |
Advantages |
Challenges |
| Infant Only Car Seats with base Infant (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 Convertible (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 All-in-One (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 Toddler Booster |
* 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 Booster |
* 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. |
