Infant seat – Photo: Michael Hession An infant seat is the rear-facing, bucket-style car seat that most parents opt to use through the first year of their baby’s life, and sometimes up to age 2. (No matter where you live in the US, an appropriate car seat is required when you’re driving with an infant.) All dedicated infant seats are rear-facing-only, and the most common type snaps in and out of a base that typically stays installed in the car.
So if you’re a two-car family, it’s likely that you can get just one seat and two bases. (Some parents may decide to forego the infant-specific seat and rely on a convertible car seat rated for newborn use; they usually come with an added infant insert cushion for extra support.) All infant seats have a five-point harness, and they include a newborn insert to use from birth until a child is between 11 and 15 pounds.
(Check the manual for exact guidelines, but generally if the baby’s shoulders don’t reach the straps without the insert, you should use the insert.) Most infant seats have more than one recline option. For newborns, you want the seat in the most reclined angle possible.
What carseat should a 6 month old be in?
TODDLER CAR SEATS – If you chose the “classic path” and had an infant carrier before, the toddler car seat is the second car seat for your child. It can be used from approximately 6 months of age up to approx. four years, depending on the height and weight of your child. According to the regulation UN R129 (i-Size), children must remain rear facing for at least 15 months, but we at BeSafe recommend to keep your child rear facing until at least 4 years of age, preferably longer.
How long is a car seat good for Graco?
Graco defines ‘useful life’ as 10 years for belt-positioning boosters and for steel-reinforced belt path car seats and 7 years for plastic-reinforced belt path car seats.
What age is a stage 2 car seat?
TODDLER CAR SEATS – If you chose the “classic path” and had an infant carrier before, the toddler car seat is the second car seat for your child. It can be used from approximately 6 months of age up to approx. four years, depending on the height and weight of your child. According to the regulation UN R129 (i-Size), children must remain rear facing for at least 15 months, but we at BeSafe recommend to keep your child rear facing until at least 4 years of age, preferably longer.
What are the car seat stages by weight?
No back booster – 
Image via National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Age: Older school-aged kids Weight: Approx.40-120 pounds No back or backless booster seats simply raise the child up so the seat belt fits properly. Backless boosters are compact and easy to store, making them a great option for vehicle travel following an airplane trip or to have on hand for frequent carpools with other booster-aged kids.
Most backless booster seats start at 40 pounds and max out between 110 and 120 pounds,” says Haverstick. “And again, many booster seats also provide a minimum age requirement for their product.” While each car seat type has general size ranges, again, it’s important to check your specific model’s requirements.
The AAP has a great, comprehensive list of car seat makes and models, along with their height and weight limits, which is great for easy referencing before or after purchasing a car seat. And for parents and caregivers who want to know the type of car seat their child should be using before buying, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an interactive chart that will show the right car seat for your child, based on their age, height and weight.
Can my 8 month old sit in a forward facing car seat?
Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
What age can a baby be in a car seat longer than 2 hours?
When traveling with a baby the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you take your baby out of the car seat every 2 hours, but when can you start doing longer drives? When a baby is older than 6 months and has full head control, talk to your pediatrician about longer stretches in the car seat.
- Always monitor your baby while they are in a car seat, if their head flops forward, it should be repositioned by an adult immediately.
- Whenever possible a second adult should ride in the car next to your baby to monitor their breathing and their position.
- If you are traveling alone, use a mirror to monitor the baby and plan to stop more frequently.
The car seat should only be used when the baby is traveling in the car and the straps should always be properly secured. As soon as you stop driving, take the baby out of the car seat. It can be frustrating to wake a sleeping baby, but the car seat is not a safe place for the baby to sleep when the car is not moving.
When you arrive, put the baby in a flat laying position like on a play mat or into a pack and play. Laying flat is the best position for babies to sleep. Strollers may put the baby in the same semi-reclined position as a car seat. Avoid the use of a car seat travel system and consider a lay flat stroller or baby carrier for sight seeing or traveling around your destination.
Each year babies die from suffocation or strangulation in car seats, but the vast majority of these tragedies occur when the car seat is not in the car. We love to road trip, we travel several times a year with our 4 young kids. We have found that the 2 hour rule keeps even older kids happier in the car. 
What is the height and weight limit for an infant car seat?
Phase 1: Infant Car Seat – REAR FACING INFANT SEATS, or “bucket seats” are the most common seat used for newborns. They are portable, convenient, and help tote your new babe around while out and about. Most have a weight limit of 30-35 pounds and a height limitation of 32 inches tall.
State laws and regulations vary, but it is strongly encouraged that you keep your child in their current seat until they max out the height and/or weight limitations of it.
