Do you know that there is more than one type of seat that you need for your infant? For every age window, there is a car seat for kids. The choice of seats depends on what sort of security you are willing to provide to your baby while you are busy driving.
The two most regular seats that parents choose to switch between are infant car seats and convertible car seats. Knowing when to switch from infant car seat to convertible is also an essential factor if you keep your baby’s priority at its peak.
Some parents choose to go with a convertible seat from the very beginning. But there are parents who tend to choose infant car seats for their newborns.
For those who have gotten an infant seat for their little angel, it’s obvious to seek information about when they can switch to convertible seats. In this article, we will cover every aspect of choosing car seats for your infant according to their growth.
But first, let’s find out more about infant car seats and convertible car seats.
Infant Car Seats
Infant car seats have recently become an ideal choice for parents to go with. These seats are fixed with the car seat with a base, and they are rear-facing. For the first few years, the babies are suggested to face backward. For infants, forward-facing seats have a high risk.
Usually, infant seats are perfect until the age of 8 to 9 months. These seats are mostly used because of their portability. You can directly carry your baby from to car to anywhere within the seat. Some models can be directly attached to strollers.
The mobility actually forces parents to go for infant car seats though infants can outgrow infant seats in less than a year. Still, they are usable till the age of 3.
Convertible Car Seats
Convertible car seats are one of the 3 options that parents choose for their children. It’s a seat that you can keep both rear-faced and forward-faced. It’s a little bigger than the usual infant seat.
Convertible seats are for kids who are 3 years and above. Obviously, it depends on the growth of a baby. But the standard measurement is for kids from 3 years to 7 years.
Why Infants Should Be Kept Rear Faced?
Infants are really fragile, and their bones don’t grow properly while they can’t walk. Their body starts to gain strength from 6 months and above. At 6 months, they learn how to sit, and from 9 to 15 months, they learn how to stand and walk.
So, during that fragile period, the most vulnerable part of their body is their head. The best way to support an infant’s head while they are traveling on a vehicle is to keep them on a seat and keep the seat rear-facing.
That’s why parents go for infant seats at first. Because infant seats are rear-faced, some parents, on the other hand, go for convertible seats.
They think that convertible seats are a more convenient option considering they can be kept both forward faced and rear faced. This actually sounds like convertible seats are a convenient option. But is it actually so?
Are Convertible Seats More Convenient Than Infant Seats?
The fact that they can be used both forward-facing and rear-facing makes them sound convenient, but they are actually not. Why wouldn’t it? Rear-facing convertible car seats actually sound pretty enticing given the fact that they have better longevity.
You see, a seat that is perfect from the starting age of 3 can never be suitable for an infant who’s only 3 months old. That’s because of their height, weight, body structure and fragility. None of these four factors match.
So, even if you get a seat that you can keep your baby there for 7 years and keep it both forward and rear-facing as necessary, you can’t actually keep them there because it will be too big for them.
Also, infant seats are convenient in a way that they can be carried anywhere you go. They’re lightweight, and the fact that babies are supposed to outgrow them within a year is not necessarily true. You can keep using an infant seat till they reach the age of 2 or 3, depending on how they grow.
So, the real question still persists. Let’s answer that.
When To Switch From Infant Car Seat To Convertible?
As I’ve said earlier, a baby is a very fragile being. You have to be very cautious with them. Deciding when can a baby ride in a convertible seat can also take a lot of thinking.
It’s not a decision that you can take in a matter of seconds. You have to consider their growth and their age. But if anyone has to deliver a very in general answer to this question, the answer would be that you can switch from infant to convertible seat when your baby reaches the age of 24 to 30 months.
That is 2 years to 2 and half years. You see, convertible seats come with the rear-facing option because some kids might require head protection even after they are 3 years old. So, keeping that in mind, it’s evident that you keep your baby rear-facing for at least 2 years.
That’s the best way you can keep them protected. Car seats are made in a way that you can actually keep your baby for longer than the age restriction. So, the best time to switch from infant to convertible seat would be 24 months to 30 months.
Final Words
Now that you have your answer, if your kid has the optimum age and if you think that you can’t fit your baby in an infant car seat anymore, you can switch to a convertible car seat without thinking twice.
But don’t rush. Don’t let your baby be in a convertible seat from the very beginning. Some parents might do that. But it’s not safe for the baby. Given the fact that you drive extra carefully while you’re with your baby, no accidents would happen. But that doesn’t mean you can place your baby in a seat that is not suitable for them.
So, stick to the correct time window. Get an infant car seat first, then switch to a convertible car seat when your child is ready.