The Britax Roundabout, a popular convertible car seat.

All About Car Seats

There are three main types of car seats on the market today. First, the infant car seat is designed for the youngest of children, up to 20 or 22 pounds. Most of these seats have two parts, the base which stays strapped in to the vehicle's safety belt system and the carrier which snaps out and allows the baby to be carried without unfastening the infant from the harness (very important if Baby has finally fallen asleep!) The infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing, where the infant faces the rear of the vehicle. It is important for infants to be seated rear facing for the first year of life, until the muscles of the neck are strong enough to withstand the force an accident could impose on them.

A second type of car seat is called the convertible seat, and is designed for newborns through toddlers, or up until 40 pounds. This seat is designed to be used rear-facing for the first year of life, or up until the weight restrictions (usually 30 pounds). After this, the seat can face forward until the child reaches the upper weight limit, usually 40 pounds, although some car seats can be used longer. The most popular type of harness system for infants and toddlers is the five-point system, where the child is clipped by a series of three clips designed to evenly disperse the force of impact. The five-point system is highly recommended, although other systems (such as the three-point or overhead bar) may still be available.

After the child graduates from the convertible seat, it's time for a booster seat. These seats no longer use a separate harness system, the child and seat are both strapped directly into the vehicle's seat belt. The booster is designed to raise the child up in the seat so the vehicle's harness can function correctly. Booster seats should be used until the child is 80 pounds, at which time the child will be ready for the use of the regular seat belt. While some boosters are rated for children as light as 30 pounds, it is important to keep children in the 5-point restraint systems for as long as possible.

Convertible Car Seats: What to Buy and Why: Carseatdata.org

Reviews of convertible car seats that tend to fit well in cars, last children a long time, and have other features which make them easy to use...

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Target : Baby : Car Seats : Convertible Car Seats

Find, shop for and buy Convertible Car Seats at Target.com ... Target : Baby : Car Seats : Convertible Car Seats ... Convertible Car Seats. Infant Car Seats ...

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Best Convertible Car Seats?

Many parents ask about the best car seats on the market today. Actually, the best car seat is one that you'll install correctly and use correctly each time your baby is in the car. However, ...

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Car Seat Compatibility Listing

What to Buy ... infant ... convertible ... combo Database Check Your Seat ... Database: Check out the database to see if the seats you want tend to...

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ConsumerSearch: Product Information: Convertible Car Seats

Convertible Car Seats. Consumer Reports earns our highest reviewer rating in this category.

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Comparison Shop for Car Seats: Booster, Infant, Toddler, Graco, EvenFl

...Car Seats..Toddler Car Seats..Booster Car Seats..Convertible Car Seats..Folding Car.....a real winner. Like all Graco convertible car seats - the ComfortSport convertible car.....for, ...

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Convertible Car Seats

Convertible car seats can be used rear and forward facing for infants from birth to 40 pounds.

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Car-Safety.Org Vehicle and Carseat Safety Information

Home | Forums | Carseat Basics | FAQ | LATCH | Free Carseat Inspection | Site Index Are Your Kids Safe? Motor Vehicle Crashes are the #1 cause of death for children and adults, ages 1 to ...

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Elite Car Seats

Offering convertible, youth, and toddler seats from an assortment of manufacturers.

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Convertible Car Seats from Britax, Eddie Bauer, and Cosco

Convertible Car Seats Britax Roundabout Car Seat with LATCH With the introduction of the new LATCH laws Britax improves upon their famously popular Roundabout Car Seats. This car seat has ...

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