It will be a nightmare for you when you see your kid hurt in an accident. So, it is the most significant consideration to stay safe when the kid is in cars. In any circumstances, a car seat will be a safe zone for your child. Parents are using infant, convertible, or booster car seats for their kids in a car. But the question is when to put baby in convertible car seat? Before breaking this riddle, let’s see what infant and convertible car seats are.
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Car Seat Types: Infant/Convertible Seats
A lot of car seat amenities and facilities bestow newborn babies. Most parents’ dilemma to decide on a car seat depends on the right fit and size for the children. Among so many alternatives, it is hard to find the right fit for one’s baby. Here’s an outline of car seat alternatives to check if your kid has outgrown the development stage.
Infant Seats
Most parents choose infant car seats for their newborn babies. Infant seats are available attached to the base, and they are bucket-style and rear-facing car seats. A clickable button is ready to remove this seat from the base. These car seats have carrying handles meaning that you can now remove the seat in and out, keeping your baby inside it.
If the toddler is old enough, choose wisely a booster seat anyway. However, the best rear facing car seat group 1 is an excellent alternative for your kid younger than a year.
Most parents use infant car seats for their babies from the first year to two years of age. It is wise to have a car with one seat and two bases keeping one base to install the infant seat.
You might have some travel system infant seats. The system offers you a car seat and a stroller, and both of them are compatible. It will help you bring your baby into the stroller.
It comes with a harness with five points and a newborn insert that can tackle babies up to 11 to 15 pounds. Infant seats come with multiple reclining positions, and they will allow the most possible reclined angle for your baby. But the expert users stated not to set infant seats at an abrupt angle. It may cause discomfort and make your baby cry.
Keep in mind that the little kid may sleep in the seat. If it happens in your case, remove her from the infant seat asap, and keep her in a safe zone. The best way is to keep her on a flat car bed to avoid suffocation.
Convertible Seats
When infant car seats are only rear-facing, the convertible seats offer both rear-facing and forward-facing facilities to the mom to carry comparatively older kids. Over time, the growing kids can ride in a convertible forward-facing seat until they are grown up to move to the booster seats. In most cases, the upper limit of convertible seats is 40 to 50 pounds.
But the experts suggest using this car seat rear-facing though you have the option to use it either way.
Unlike infant seats, it has no bases and is installed on its own, meaning that babies should be carried to and from the car.
Did you notice that the convertible car seats are larger than infant seats? Yes, it is. And you might wonder how your baby can fit this seat? It is a legit question at all, but no worries. You can look at the specifications carefully and see if it meets the requirement of your baby.
If you intend to buy a convertible seat, see here a list of the best compact convertible car seat.
Booster Seats
Booster car seats are appropriate for those kids who have outgrown the car seat harness and are still not fit to sit on the back seat. These seats have a design with a seat belt to provide a secure alignment across your kid’s shoulder. Booster seats are of two types – high back and backless. Your kid will get extra protection for head and side-impact from the high back boosters, which backless boosters lack. A kid at four (4) and forty pounds weights is perfect for moving to a high back booster.
When to Switch from Infant Car Seat to Convertible
Children reaching 22 to 40 pounds are the best time to move. Over time, kids grow faster, and by the time being, infant car seats keep them safe and secure. But in most cases, it depends on the models and the brand. Keep sharp eyes to look at the specifications that perfectly suit your kid.
The experts from AAP recommend it is safe to switch once the babies meet one year old, regardless of weight and height. Another report depicts that kids younger than 2 are safe in rear-facing car seats, but it is safer to keep them there as long as it is possible.
However, the most accepted opinion is to keep the kids in a 5-point harness is safe until they outgrow. Other than it will be early to move for boosters.
How do you determine that your kid has outgrown?
You can do that easily if you see your kid has just left 1 inch behind the top of the car seat. Or if the kids cross the weight limit of 40 to 50 pounds. Some parents are eager to move forward-facing, but before doing so, you kids should be at least:
- 2-years old
- or at least 20 pounds(typically)
A kid might have outgrown the convertible seat for boosters, when;
- hits 65 pounds weight
- harness becomes shorter and outfits their shoulder
- the head goes above the seat shell
Outgrown for a high back booster, when;
- it reaches 40 pounds
- Or 4-years old
Finally, outgrown for an adult belt fitting, when;
- self-restrained and keep itself in place
- able to sit, reaching back against the seat, bend the knees, keep feet on the floor
- Overall, they fit with the seat belt properly
Safety Considerations
Three major things every parent should keep in mind while switching to a convertible car seat. It will save your kid if the car gets crashed, and you will be safe from violating state law. Please click here for more details about child safety in the govt. web page.
Perfect Installation of a Car Seat is a prerequisite. Be sure it is installed with either a seat belt or latches. Observation shows that proper installation allows only one inch front to back/side by side movement.
Usage of Harness properly will provide comfort to your kid. The straps stay below the shoulder for rear-facing and above the shoulder for forward-facing. If the straps got twisted, adjust the harness, and place the chest clip.
Knowing State Laws is an advantage for car owners. In the United States, different states have conflicting driving laws. You may drive forward-facing kids under two somewhere. But in some other states, it might not be allowed. So, it’s wise to be sure of state lows.