Car seat timeline

From birth until your child reaches a height of 4 feet, 9 inches, he or she will potentially go through several car seats: an infant car seat, a convertible car seat, a front-facing only car seat, and ultimately a belt-positioning booster or booster seat before being ready for the vehicle belts alone. But which seat should you use when? Use this guide to gauge when it’s time to sit tight or move up to the next level.

Infant car seat: Use an infant car seat (always rear-facing) from birth until your baby reaches the seat’s height and weight limits. Weight limits are typically 22 pounds, but sometimes higher depending on the model. Weight limits are listed on the seat itself as well as in the instruction manual. When your baby reaches the seat’s limits, which may be as soon as 6 to 9 months of age, you’ll need to switch to a convertible car seat in order to keep them rear facing at least until their first birthday.

Convertible seat: Use a convertible car seat rear-facing until your baby is at least 1 year old and weighs 22 pounds or more. Some convertible seats can be used in the rear-facing position up to 30 to 35 pounds, and research shows that babies are safest in a rear facing orientation so it’s best to keep them that way as long as you can. When your baby reaches a convertible seat’s height and weight limits in the rear-facing mode, switch the seat around, and use it front-facing until your toddler reaches the height and weight limits for the forward-facing seat. Weight limits for most are generally up to 40 pounds, though more and more convertible models have weight limits up to 65 pounds or more.

Forward-facing only seat: As an alternative to a front-facing convertible seat, some seats are forward-facing only. This front-facing only seat is used with an internal harness for toddlers typically between 20 to 40 pounds, though again some models can be used with the internal harness at higher weights. The internal harness can then be removed and the forward-facing seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster from 60 to 80 pounds, depending on the model.

Belt-positioning booster seat or booster seat: When your child reaches the weight and height limits of the harness system of either their convertible or front-facing only seat, it’s time for a belt-positioning or standard booster seat for your child. Boosters raise the child up in the vehicle seat to allow the seatbelt to pass correctly across their sternum (not their necks) and low across the child’s upper thigh area (not their abdomen). Both use the vehicle’s own safety belt to restrain the child, but belt positioning models also have some sort of belt guide to better position the seat belts over a child’s shoulders.

Your car’s seat belts solo: When your child is tall enough to use the car’s safety belts, typically at least 57 inches and between 8 and 12 years old, and can ride comfortably seated in the vehicle’s seat, she can ride with just a car’s safety belts. Even with a seat belt, all children under age 13 should ride in the back seat.

See our latest car seat ratings.

Comments

[Jen]

Jo: This might be a little late, but try the Britax Regent. It goes up to 53" and 80 lbs. My son has been riding in one for 2 1/2 years and loves it and Britax is a great brand so I know he's safe.

[Jo]

I need some advice. My child is 2 1/2...weighs 37 lbs, and is almost 40 inches tall. We are going to be needed a new car seat because she is just about past the height and weight limit on the one she is using. I have been researching which seats to buy and am feeling more confused as to which type to purchase. I would really like to keep her in a 5 pt harness as long as I can. Can anyone give me some advice??

[toni]

Have there been any testing updates on the Graco Nautilus?

I would like to know if there are any additional information for 'combination' convertable to booster seats?

We have 1 19 month old son, 24 pounds, with baby number two potentially coming next year.

Car number one has a Britax Roundabout. I was thinking I should get a car seat that converts to a booster seat up to 85/100 pounds instead of buying a second convertable.

I was thinking Safety First Summit, Graco Nautilus or is there anything else comparable?

Thanks

[CR expert]

Alison--Convertible car seat ratings are live right now. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/car-seats/convertible-car-seat-ratings/ratings-overview.htm

[Melissa]

We are expecting our 2nd in November and I keep hearing about carseats expiring. I haven't seen anything on CR so I'm not sure how much of this is true. I would really like to know if we need to get a new infant seat if our 2 year old car seat has expired.

[alison]

You said that new Convertible car seat ratings will be out this Fall? Do you know what month? I need to purchase 4 new Convertible carseats and really want to see your new ratings before I spend $800 to $1200. Also, will you be testing the new Side Impact Protection features? I really would love to know how well that does in simulated crashes or if it is just an expensive gimic.

[M]

Actually, there are booster seats that are secured with latch. Sunshine Kids makes a seat called the Monterey that is held into the car with latch. It keeps the seat itself from moving in an accident with or without the child in the car. We got one this summer and love it! My 8yo has plenty of room in the seat and is very comfortable. I wanted a seat to keep him in a high back as long as possible. There is another company that makes a low back to be latched in as well, but I don't remember their name. I haven't seen video crash tests to show that a seat will move with a child to continue protecting in an accident, but I'd be interested in a link.

[CR expert]

The most recent recalls of the Recaro Signo seat address issues with the seat's harness adjustment mechanism and the harness attachment to the seat, but do not relate in any way to the cracking exhibited in our testing.

[alison]

I am concerned about the Ricaro Singo's rating? I know Ricaro has had a couple of recalls recently. Have those recalls fixed the issue Consumer's reported with cracking? Or are the seats still liable to crack in a strong impact crash? Please provide some feedback as I'm sure I"m not the only concerned parent with a Ricaro Signo. In fact I am in the market for another convertible and was going to purchase a second Signo but am now questioning.

[Kimberly]

About the question about used car seats. As long as you know it wasn't in an accident, it should be ok. There is an expiration date on the car seats. It's a little sticker that I saw on our britax's at least that says that the car seats expired. From what I heard, the plastic is only good for so many years. So... just check the sticker and you should be good.

[Michal]

I just found out that my car seats (one infant and two convertible) have 'expired'. I have always only bought the top-rated ones and in such have spent a lot of money. Since getting rid of car seats that seem to be perfectly fine is such a waste in terms of money spent on new ones and environmentally speaking, I would rather find out if our car seats are still viable. Is there a lab that can do this? And if so, what is the cost associated with this? Thanks

[annabelle]

I am a huge fan of Consumer Reports and just renewed my subscription to find out about 5 point harness boosters and similar to others, I am very dissapointed. I was also dissapointed in Carmen's response to Tom. A little harsh!? I agree you should be careful about a second hand car seat, but if it is from a family member or trusted friend, I would not feel like an awful grandad, especially for just asking. We have used the Britax Marathon and ROundabout from 2004 and it had wonderful ratings then as well as held up extremely well for us. You are awesome for even checking it out on CS!

[John]

What about an opinion on the comfort of the child vs. length of time rear facing? I don't disagree with the infant/toddler being rear facing until 1 year and 20 lbs, but isn't there a trade off for safety/comfort/accessibility in leaving a larger, more developed and active child rear facing up to two years old? Additionally, if you have two small children, a large Britax Marathon in a rear facing position makes it uncomfortable for a tall person to ride in the front passenger seat of a sedan, if not unsafe for the tall person. Not exactly family friendly, and we don't want two SUVs.

[Carmen]

Tom--there are NO safe guidelines for buying a used carseat. You have no idea if a used seat has been in an accident or otherwise mistreated or misused. Why take chances with your grandchild's life?? Do the parents know that you are planning on trying to put their child in a used seat? If so, are they actually okay with that? I would question their judgment if they were. You can get a brand new convertible carseat at wal-mart for less than $50. Don't skimp on this important piece of safety equipment.

[Tom]

What guidelines do you have for purchasing a "used" car seat. Also I want to use my grandson's infant seat for our new granddaughter; Is the Graco "Snug Ride" Model# 7411MCH2 still a safe seat? Also is a Britax Marathon seat manufactured in 2004 to old to be used.

[Mark]

Lack of a range of coverage was a problem for car seats 4 years ago when my son was on the way, and I see nothing has changed. Review at least 50% of the range of seats available on the shelf of the nations top 2-4 retailers. I used what information you did have to select a second car seat for a 40 pound 4 year old that would allow us to retain the use of a 5 point harness for longer, only to find none of my selections available at any major retailers unless they ship it. And since I need it now, I have to select something off the shelf that you did not cover at all.

[Tiffany]

I also renewed to check out convertible seats and was disappointed in the lack of selection. I want to keep my son in a five-point harness as long as possible, but don't want to have to buy another car seat. I have an unopened Nautilus for my husband's truck and I am going to buy a frontier for my car - but I really want to see the ratings before I install them. My son is 39 lbs, so I want to get him in one of these seats as soon as possible! How are the ratings going?

[Holly P]

I, too, would love to see a review of the Britax Frontier on the site. I'm very drawn to the Frontier because you can use the 5-point harness until 80 pounds. It is very expensive, though, so I would love to read a reliable, tested review first!

[Dave]

Any updates on the June 19th posting regarding testing the Graco Nautilus?

[CR expert]

Regarding the KeyFit and Snugride lines:

Though the KeyFit and KeyFit 30 are similar, we would not say that they are identical. The KeyFit 30 does have many of the ease-of-use features that we liked so much in the KeyFit, but we would not want to extend the Ratings to that seat because its greater weight capacity requires additional simulated crash testing with larger child dummies than is part of our current Ratings.

The Graco Snugride and Snugride 32 are actually quite different in terms of installation.

We are currently in the process of testing all of these seats. New Ratings will be out this fall.

[Samantha S. Agricola]

I have two car seats which I plan on using for my next baby, however they "expire" in two years. What exactly does that mean? Is it just a precaution? Can I keep using them since we are the only ones that have owned them or do I need to buy a new car seat? Thanks!

[laura]

I saw that the Chicco KeyFit is top-rated. Does that rating apply to the KeyFit 30 as well? I have the same question in comparing the Graco Snugride and the Graco Snugride 32.

[Rebecca (Mom of Two - Former Flight Attendant)]

There is no such thing as a booster with LATCH. When you remove the interior straps to use a 5-pt. car seat as a belt positioning booster, you are using the shell of the car seat as a belt positioner only. These car seats are NOT to be attached to your vehicle by any other means. The seat needs to be able to come forward with your child in the event of an accident and press on the car seat belt with him/her and protect your child's head in the event of multiple impacts. If it's tethered tight to your car, the only thing pressing on the seat belt is your child.
Another note: boosters are not allowed to be used with airplane seats. If you want to use a car seat on an airplane, get one with a 5-point internal harness system that reads something like (this seat has been manufactured for use in motor vehicles and aircraft) (in red lettering).

[erica]

HI,

We have the Recaro Signo and just saw consumer reports new low rating...is there any more information about the car seat cracking during the test? With such a low rating and the very idea of a car seat cracking it seems we should we buy a new car seat?

[CR expert]

We are currently testing models such as the Frontier and Nautilus as part of a full update on child seat ratings. These types of seats offer the ability to keep your child harnessed longer, which is safer than using just the vehicle's belts (up to 65 lbs. with the Nautilus and 80 lbs. with the Frontier). They then convert to boosters once your child is tall enough to fit comfortably in the adult belts. The harness in the Frontier is likely easier to adjust upward as your child grows, as you don't have to "rethread" the straps. The Nautilus allows for the back to be removed to operate as a backless booster for older children who still don't quite fit the adult belts. Retail for the Frontier is $279.99. Retail for the Nautilus is around $180.