subject: Types of Car Seats Available [print this page] Types of Car Seats Available Types of Car Seats Available
Believe it or not, there are numerous types of car seats on the market today. When parents go out to buy their car seats they either realize this fact or simply do not realize it just due to the fact that car seat shopping is overwhelming in itself. There are specific car seats available for infants, while there are other car seats made specifically for toddlers or children with special needs. By understanding the types of car seats you can be prepared when you head to the baby store to make your purchase.
Infant Car Seat An infant car seat, also referred to as a "rear-facing car seat", is meant for infants that are less than 25 pounds in weight. These are usually connected to the car using the LATCH system and are one of the safest forms of transport. Some of the more well-known brands for infant car seats are Britax, Peg Perego and Graco.
Travel System A travel system is a car seat and stroller combo that are sold together. These are made to make taking your baby from the car seat to the stroller easy by allowing parents to snap the car seat directly into the stroller rather than removing the baby from the car seat and placing them physically in the stroller. A well-known brand that creates travel systems would be the UPPA baby brand.
Convertible Car Seat A convertible car seat is one that starts as a rear-facing car seat and then converts to a toddler booster seat that faces forward. These can help parents save on the cost of two car seats and can stay with your child until they are up to a year old in the rear facing position and up to 80 pounds in the forward facing position.
Toddler Booster Seats A toddler booster seat is specifically designed for toddlers that are at least 20 pounds in weight. These will have a five-point harness and when the child reaches 40 pounds, they can be converted into a normal booster seat that will position your child in a safe spot to use a normal seat belt for safety.
Belt Position Booster Seat This is another type of booster seat that is made for toddlers that are over 30 pounds. These types of seats simply position your child in the proper position so that they can use a normal seat belt restraint. These are not meant for children less than 30 pounds.
Though there is a lot of type of car seats out there, there are only a certain amount that will actually work best for your child. Ensure that your child is the right height and weight for their car seat prior to purchasing it. Refer to the manufacturer's guide or even their website for instructions and information regarding seats you are thinking of purchasing. Brands such as Peg Perego, UPPA Baby and Britax have extensive buying guides available on their website for new parents to learn from as well.
