When to Switch From Infant Car Seat to a Convertible One

It is necessary to begin with the. Before using a car seat, make sure you fit the height and weight requirements listed in the owner’s manual.

Then, hold off on making the change until baby reaches one of those milestones. Even if your arms are becoming tired from carrying baby around by the infant seat’s handle, there’s really no need to rush.

When to Switch From Infant Car Seat to a Convertible One

When upgrading to a larger car seat, you shouldn’t turn your child around either. When there is an accident, a baby is much safer in a rear-facing car seat.

There is a consensus amongst paediatricians that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the age of 2.

The safest option for a child under 2 years old who has outgrown their infant seat is a rear-facing convertible seat.

After she turns two, if she no longer fits in a rear-facing seat, she can switch to a forward-facing one.

When Is the Right Time to Make the Change?

Despite the fact that infant car seats have weight limits ranging from 22 to 35 pounds, almost all babies are too tall for the seat well before they reach the weight limit, especially in the 30+ pound range.

When a child’s head is more than an inch from touching the top of the seat, it is too high. To make sure your child is riding safely in a car seat, you should become acquainted with the seat’s specific height and weight requirements.

Once your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit for their infant seat, you should switch to a rear-facing convertible seat, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For safety reasons, a kid should not use the seat if he or she weighs more than the maximum allowed for the seat’s height (and vice versa also is not safe).

When your kid outgrows a certain age or height requirement, that’s it. While most infant car seats can be used until the child’s head is an inch or so below the top.

Consumer Reports’ (CR) crash testing suggests it may be advisable to switch to the rear-facing convertible seat before the child’s head is within an inch of the top.

Conclusion

Car seats should be used correctly, with infants and toddlers riding rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.

Your baby should ride in a rear-facing car seat until at least 2 years of age, and possibly longer if necessary.

Whether in an infant seat or a convertible seat, infants and young children can safely travel facing the back of the vehicle from birth.