The Only 4 Tips You'll Need to Choose Your Baby's Car Seat

Basically we’re looking at rear-facing, combination, front-facing and booster seats.

Helpful? Not so much…

OK, in summary:

Rear facing – birth until they get too big

Combination – birth until they get too big

Front – 9 months until they get too big

Booster – 4 – 12 years

When I last did a search for car seats there were HUNDREDS of options, we’ve laid out the 4 main types in this article to serve as a starting point for your car seat research.

You can also view our article on car seat covers to find out more about the best infant car seat.

Useful Tips on Different Types of Infant Car Seats

Child car seats prevent your child from collisions, provide him with comfort when you are travelling and keep him calm. You don’t want to move with worry and discomfort because of your kid. So to avoid this, you do need to purchase a car seat that perfectly suits yours and his needs.

There are numerous types of cars seats in the market depending on various factors.

There are infants car seats that based on the: age of your child, your lifestyle.

Unique technological features, weight and height of you baby, among other factors. With these numerous types, you do need to carefully examine your needs so as to choose the right one for you and your infant.

Tips to Consider in Choosing the Best Type of Infant Car Seats

You need to ask yourself some questions, like: What’s the age of my child? What are some of the must-haves of a car seat for me? How much does the position need to influence my lifestyle?

What levels of safety and comfort do I need the seat to provide for my baby? What a unique features of a seat do I need? These are just some of the questions you need to consider because there are countless types and brands of car seats out there.

I remember a car seat with my sister was full of confusions and unavoidable dilemmas. The number of car seats that are on display on various websites and pages made us have headaches. The products are quite many; there were different brands with better features, same brands with even better features; we kept going on a merry-go-round.

It was the most difficult decision we had to make in a year. We were lucky enough to know what we needed so as we read through various reviews. So our decision became clearer, and we finally got the one we wanted. So you need not worry car seats are many. However, it needs you to get your priorities in the seat right so as to get that perfect one.

Words from the Wise on Infant Car Seats

Frank Von Holzhausen, an American designer- ‘My sister has kids, including two in baby car seats and she drives a minivan. I had to climb over the car seats to get onto the back seat, and it seemed ridiculous to have to do gymnastics to get in and out of the car.’

It sounds a bit funny. In fact, it’s hilarious when you imagine a grown man having to do gymnastics so as to get himself out of a car. However, this just goes to show that baby car seats are necessary, luckily there are so many different options to choose from.

The Different Collection of Infant Cars Seats

Child car seats are an essential item in your vehicle when you give birth to your baby.

In fact, most hospitals make sure of this before they go ahead to dismiss you. It’s a law in most states so you can clearly see the rate of importance the government accords it.

You need to ensure that your baby is appropriately and carefully restrained to prevent them from accidental collisions and death. Surveys show that most child deaths are due to road accidents.

So you must protect your child from these collisions through these child car seats.

Child car seats are different categories that are according to various factors.

There are those that are differentiated according to their material, brand, features, others according to the child’s age and weight, among other factors.

The main factor though is the weight of your baby. For example, the I-size infant seats are made and carefully designed to keep children rear-facing until they are at least 15 months.

Guides on the Types of Infant Car Seats

The various types of car seats include booster car seats, rear-facing child seats, forward-facing child car seats, Isofix seats, i-size child car seats, convertible child car seats and infant car seats.

This guide is for parents with babies or toddlers, nannies in charge of kids, child care centres with baby day care units, expecting mums and families. Upon reading this, you will get all the tit bits of car seats, and at the end, you will be an expert on child car seats. We do give you the best and most detailed information on types of child car seats in the market.

So with this guide, you are bound to learn the various types of child car seats:

• Type #01. Rearward-facing car seats
• Type #02. Combination car seats, Extended car seats or Multi-group child car seats
• Type #03. Forward-facing child car seats
• Type #04. Booster Car Seats

Type #01. Get to Discover About the Rearward-Facing Child Car Seat Category

As we’ve said, the height and weight of your child are an essential factor of any infant/child restraint systems. The safety of your baby is always the number one factor you consider when buying infant car seats right?

So you need to know the type of car seat that you should purchase for him. The rearward-facing car seats are the very first stage of child car seats for you. They cater for tiny toddlers.

They’re of the group 0+ classes of child car seats. For the Group 0, they require a weight of 0-10kgs (22lbs) and an age of 1 week to 6-9 months. The Group 0+ class involve the child’s weight of 0-13kgs (9lbs) and an age of 1 week to 12-15 months.

They are also i-size which isn’t determined by weight rather than by the height of your kid, which should be within the range of the seat and an age of up to 15months.

These seats are one of the three options you will have for your baby’s first car seat safety.

They often form a travel system which enables you to attach the seat to a stroller for easy transportation. They’re light and portable and make your work as easy as ABC.

The standard recommendation of all child car seats is that you should use the rear-facing car seats as long as your kid is of these ages. The rearward-facing infant seats are safer than the forward because they provide more support for the child’s head in the event of a collision.

This infant car seat is ‘bucket-like’ and cradles the baby with the 5-point harness,¹  which is the safest harness. It also includes a carry handle which enables you to take the baby wherever you need without waking them and acts as a rebound bar in case of a collision. Most infant car seats like the Maxi-Cosi and Britax brands of car seats belong to this category.

Lastly, they have features like the Isofix system, newborn inserts, incredible tall back heights and strong bases which help in forming quality travel systems.

Type #02. The Combination Category of Child Car Seats

It is imperative to know the weight and height of your child before you do buy a car seat.

You don’t want a situation whereby you buy any car seat without considering the weight factor only to return it to the store. Combination child car seats are both rear-facing and forward facing car seats.

They are of Group 0+ and Group 1 whereby the child is 40 Pounds (0-18kgs), the age of the child is from birth to 4 years and Group 0+, 1 and 2 with a weight of 55lbs (Birth to 25kgs) and the age of from birth to 6 years.

So in these types of seats, the child usually starts off with rearward-facing until he/she has a maximum weight of 9kgs. Upon getting 9kgs, they are then turned forward facing. It balances the seat and keeps them snug in the child car seat.

These child car seats also have 5-point internal harnesses and can be used as a belt-positioning booster car seat. They are the first-stage child restraint systems and mostly have a ravel-system. They’re mostly infant car seats. In fact, most Maxi-Cosi and Britax brands of infant car seats are in the 0+ class of child car seats.

These groups of seats are suitable for a broad range of cars thus making them reliable if you and your baby travel regularly in different vehicles.

They’re also portable thus carrying them from car to seat, and vice versa doesn’t require much effort. The Group 0+ seats also come with sun visors, newborn inserts and a carry handle.

You can view the demo for the type of child car seats here

Meghan Dianne Mojica, Some cards designer- “I have to realise that I unintentionally judge people’s parenting ability by their capacity to use a car seat correctly.”

It just goes to show how child car seats are necessary. They are a must requirement for you and your baby especially if you travel regularly.

Type #03. Discovering the Beauty in Forward-facing Infant Car Seats

When you start using these types of seats, then it means your child is growing up. Forward-facing seats are of the group 1, 2 and three classes. In this category, the child uses the seat’s integral harness or impact cushion  until they are 15kgs and then they use the car’s seatbelt, which secures him firmly. These positions bear the weight of between 9-36kgs (20-79lbs) and an age of between 9 months to 11 years.

Unlike the Group 0 class which consists of infant car seats, these seats do not have a travel system. They’re entirely for the car. They are larger than the Group 0+ and therefore take up more space in your vehicle.

Convertible car seats are categorised in this group although they are also in the group 0+. They have the 5-point harness which is the safest harness for any child restraint system. They also have other features like the sun visor, energy-absorbing foam liner,²  spectacular bases and latch³  systems.

Type #04. The Booster Car Seat Category

Infant and convertible car seats are mostly rear-facing types of child car seats which are the standard recommended side to face for a child. However, as your baby grows, they increase in weight and height thus, you need to purchase the booster car seats for them. The booster car seats position the child so that the adult seat belt is head in the correct position for safety and comfort.

They’re mostly forward-facing car seats. They’re recommended for kids until they’re big enough to use a seat belt. properly. Booster car seats lift the child and allow the seat belt to sit firmly across the child’s collar bone and their chest.

There are two types of booster car seats, the high-back and no back.

They are of Groups 2 & 3, and they have a weight limit of between 15-36kgs (33-79lbs) and an age of between 4-11 years.

The high-backed booster car seats have the energy-absorbing foam liner and the no back booster seats, also known as the booster cushions which are for children shorter than 125cm and weigh less than 22kg. The high-back booster seats also have side wings that help protect the child’s head in an impact.

Types of Child Car Seat	Weight Recommendation	Age Limit
Rearward-Facing Child Car Seat: Infant Carriers/Infant Car Seats	Group 0 22 Pounds	Birth to 9months
Group 0+ 29 Pounds	Birth to 15 months
I-Size Not based on weight but the height of the seat	15 months
Rearward-Facing and Forward-Facing Child Car Seats (Combination Child Restraint Systems)	Group 0+ and 1 20- 40 Pounds	Birth to 4 years
Group 0+,1 and 2 Birth to 55 Pounds	Birth to 6 years
Forward-Facing Child Car Seats	Group 1, 2 and 3 20 to 79 Pounds	Nine months to 11 years
Booster Car Seats	Group 2 and 3 33 to 79 Pounds	4 to 12 years

My Personal Takeaways

As overwhelming as the infant car seat market may prove to be, one thing we all agree on is that safety must come first. It’s expedient that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Although some baby car seats come with various harnesses, a 5-point safety harness gives more security, especially for older children.

It has been tested and proven by infant car seat experts. You do need to consider the child’s height and weight too as you look for the seat you need.

Knowing what group of seat you need does help you in choosing the seat you require.

You may want to review the return policies and warranties very well. Sometimes some of the cheaper baby seat models may not be a great deal after all.

So, beware of the weight, age and height of your child for the best infant car seat choice.

Next Steps

I know that you will carefully read the baby car seats descriptions and understand their importance differences before committing to purchase. If you are not satisfied with your infant car seat, you can always return it if it has that policy or gets a replacement. I know you want to enjoy your baby seat for as long as you can. If you are not satisfied with its features as well, you can always customise some seats by attaching add-ons.

If you have never bought one before, you can swing by a retail shop and have a feel of the baby seats you are considering or they might have. Sometimes, this is more helpful than just making a final decision online and it’s also easier to find a cheap infant car seats.

Our Most Commonly Asked Questions

To Conclude

A baby car seat sure does give you the freedom to live a more comfortable lifestyle, and little details go a long way in making a big difference.