Navigating the world of Car Seats and all the information that comes along with it can be incredibly confusing. But have no fear, Caro Bambino is here to offer help and shed some light on this topic!
To begin, let's talk a bit about the different types of car seats and when you’re ready to move to the next step!
Rear Facing Only Infant Seats
Infant seats are extremely popular. They offer portability for your baby within the first year of the baby's life. Most infant seats offer the feature of being able to take the carrier out of an attached base in your vehicle and attach the carrier to a stroller. This is a total lifesaver when it comes to quick errands for a fast in and out.
When do you transition out of the infant seat and what is the next step?
Rear facing only seats have lower limits that can accommodate babies for the first year of life and will need to be transitioned to a convertible car seat either shortly before or after their first birthday. Most infant seats are usually outgrown by 32” or 35lbs, whichever they reach first. We strongly recommend reading your infant seats manual to understand the limits of your baby's infant seat.
Some of our most popular Infant Rear Facing Only seats are:
Carrier Weight 8lbs*
Sky Drape Included
Includes the new Relx base!
Convertible Car Seats
Convertible car seats will be one of the larger car seat investments you make. This seat is installed into your vehicle and will stay put and usually does not have the portability that an infant seat offers. Most convertibles can accommodate newborn all the way to about 6-7 years old depending on your child's height and weight. These seats are unique in that it can begin its life in rear facing mode and be flipped forward once your child has reached maturity.
When should we move the convertible car seat to a forward facing position?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should be riding in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible! Each state also offers different minimum guidelines, in California, it is the law that a child must be riding in a rear facing car seat until they are 2 years old. Most seats have an average rear facing limit of 40lbs and 40”, whichever the child reaches first. Best practice is to max the rear facing limits of the seat and Caro Bambino offers many with extended rear facing capabilities.
Some of our most popular Convertible Car Seats
Instead of using a five point harness restraint, high back and boosters offer belt positioning guides for your vehicle's seat belt to ensure that it is properly positioned along the child's lap and shoulder. This requires maturity from the child as they will not be harnessed any longer. The vehicle seat belt is easy to move and allows the child more freedom, therefore they must understand the importance of sitting upright and not playing with the belt. For these seats, we recommend a child be around the age of 6 and up. Most boosters however do offer limits that can accommodate a younger child. It will be up to parental discretion on when you feel your child is ready to transition as long as they are within the minimum requirements.
Some of our most popular High Back Booster seats
All in One Car Seats
Now that we have gone through the three major stages of different child safety seats, there are car seats that offer all in one. That’s right, only one seat will take you through all the stages*. You can begin rear facing from newborn all the way through toddlerhood. Then flip the seat forward as they grow. Once they have maxed out the harness, you will then be able to transform the seat into a high back booster with the vehicle belt.
*It is important to note that they do not offer the same portability as the infant seat.
Some of our most popular All in One Car Seats:
