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.

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Toddlers Today: Trouble-Free Airplane Trips with Toddlers

... Parents then figure in a screaming toddler and the whole scene becomes torture ... FAA also recommends that parents only use car seats that are FAA approved. Check for a sticker ...

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BabyCenter | Community: BBS - Expat families | FAA approved car...

Pregnancy. Baby. Toddler. Preschooler. Big Kid. Topics A-Z ... "FAA approved car seats on NW flights" Posts: 1 Last Post: Jan 16, 2005, 2:34...

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Car Seats - Convertible Car Seats by Cosco, Britax, Century, Evenflo

Home > Shopping > Car Seats > Convertible Car Seats (Page 2) Convertible Car Seats (Infant / Toddler / Booster Car Seats) << Back to Page 1

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Berkeley Parents Network: Carseats and Travel

...with my twin boys to Minnesota and used car seats. Specifically, the FAA reg states that.....seat (I think it is Century) that is FAA approved for use on flights that we take.....don't ...

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Toddlers Today: Trouble-Free Airplane Trips with Toddlers

...that parents only use car seats that are FAA approved. Check for a sticker on the car.....to actually board the plane last so your toddler isn't sitting strapped in a car seat.....FAA) ...

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Mom's Precious Angels

PRODUCTS My Precious Kid ID/Fingerprint/DNA Kit A "do it yourself" ID kit which includes: 2 ID card blanks, 2 self laminating pouches, Car Seat Velcro strips, Fingerprint card, FBI approved ...

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Air/Car Seats

Have you used an FAA approved car seat on a plane? ... are able to recommend the best car seats for ... grows with your child - from a toddler...

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How do I use a car seat on a plane?

See our expert's advice on the safest way to fly with your child. ... Toddler. Preschooler ... bring a car seat on board an airplane, make sure it's FAA-approved for that ... into the seat. ...

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Infant / Toddler Car Seats - Convertible Car Seats by Cosco, Britax, C

... Seats (Infant / Toddler / Booster Car ... by keeping seats more secure in ... is the convertible car seat that converts ... a stroller, is approved for use on ... beside you in the ...

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