When it comes to ensuring the safety of your kids, it is vital that you select a high-quality car seat. It is mandatory for children to ride in a child car seat until the age of eight when they are tall enough to sit without slouching. In fact, most hospital authorities won’t even allow the newborn baby to leave the hospital unless you already have one installed.

Are you planning to buy a car seat for your kid? If so, here is an in-depth guide that highlights the specifications of the different types that you can purchase to ensure the safety of your child:

(Important Tip: Acquiring a used car seat for your child shouldn’t be an option if you want top-notch security. If the car seat has already been through an accident, consider it unusable, as any incident of the kind compromises the safety of the product).

Infant Car Seat

Also referred to as a “rear-facing car seat”, this seat is for newborns and infants who are less than 26 inches tall and weigh less than 25 pounds. You can connect the seat using the LATCH system and install it in the car, facing backwards. It has an internal harness that straps your baby tightly and safely into the carrier, offering complete protection.

Some well-known brands of infant seats are Graco, Britax, and Peg Perego. Bear in mind; seats may vary in terms of weight and length. Therefore, make sure you choose one that best suits your needs. You can easily carry around infant car seats, which means you don’t have to wake your little one up when getting out of the car at your destination. You can also snap some car seats into a compatible stroller, which can prove useful for people looking for value and utility.

Convertible Car Seat

A convertible car seat starts as a rear-facing seat that you can convert into a toddler booster seat that faces forward. It is suitable for kids weighing up to 40 pounds, which means it is a one-time purchase. You can turn it around (forward facing) or adjust it to accommodate an older child. However, if you need to seat a toddler, you can leverage maximum safety by connecting it to the LATCH system.

One of the best things about these seats is that you get more bang for your buck. Rather than buying an infant seat and replacing it when your kid gets older, convertible car seats can serve your needs for a longer time, as your child grows up. However, you can only use this car seat till your kid is about four years old. After that, you might have to consider opting for a bigger and more protective alternative.

Toddler Booster Seats

Toddler booster seats are for toddlers who weigh around 20 pounds. These are multi-purpose seats that feature a five-point harness for keeping your toddler safe. But when your child reaches 40 pounds, you can convert the seat into a normal booster seat that positions your child in a safe spot using a normal seat belt for safety. There are three types of booster seats, combination, high back, and backless.

1. Combination Booster Seat

These seats, as the name implies, are a combination of the booster seat and the forward-facing car seat. They boast a different harness strap, which you can easily remove when your child grows older. They are ideal for children who outgrow their convertible car seats but aren’t ready to sit in a normal booster that uses the car’s seatbelts.

2. High Back Booster Seat

These seats offer maximum security and protection to your child by providing a height kids need for using the car’s seatbelts. They are high enough for positioning your child’s shoulder and chest appropriately for strapping the seat belts. This also protects your child’s from possible whiplash while providing an ideal spot for your child to rest their head when sleeping.

3. Backless Booster Seat

These seats are suitable for older children but don’t provide any support for their head. They provide maximum safety for taller children, as they are less conspicuous as compared to high back booster seats.

Therefore, now that you are familiar with the various types of car seats available, choosing one that best suits your needs and budget requirements won’t be a problem.