When to Transition Car Seats (and How!)

Car seats are such a tricky topic, and with the "new rules" you  may have heard about, they might seem even scarier! So, let's break it down and make it as simple as we can.

Mico AP infant seat - don't carry it when it gets too heavy!

Before the baby is born, most people buy an infant car seat (like this one from Maxi Cosi!) You can take it out of the base in your car, and put in into your stroller with the right attachments. (Maxi Cosi recently announced a partnership with Baby Jogger, actually, so you can buy your car seat, stroller, and the adapter to fit them together at a discount!) While you can use that until your baby outgrows the height or weight restriction, most babies get heavy enough that carrying the baby and the car seat together is pretty heavy around six months... don't hurt yourself! Stop carrying it! You can either leave it in the car, or...

Maxi Cosi Pria - this one faces rear or forward!

Transition to a rear facing convertible car seat, like this one from Maxi Cosi or this one from Diono. All car seats in the US pass the same standards, so the difference is ease of use. Make sure you know how to use it, and get it checked by a NHTSA-Certified Child Passenger Safety technician. If you're really super totally into car seat safety, check out this awesome blog. If not, just know that your child should be rear facing until at least age 2 (legally), and you can keep them rear facing until they reach the height or weight limit for your seat. Once they've reached that point, it's time to...

Diono Radian RXT - this seat will rear face, forward face, and can be used as a high  back booster. Pretty cool.

Turn them around forward facing, or use a forward facing seat (we can order these for you!) When they are around age 5, outgrow the weight or height restrictions on that seat, and they can sit still enough for the shoulder/lap belt to stay on correctly in a booster, you can...

Transition to a booster (some forward facing car seats are also boosters!)

Diono Santa Fe - this is a backless booster.

 When your child reaches 57" tall (4'9") - congratulations! It's seat belt time! Got all that? How about a quick recap?


tl;dr version: Get your car seat installation inspected, each time you install a new seat. Keep your child rear facing at least to age two, preferably longer (their legs are fine! It is not uncomfortable, just safer!) Keep your child harnessed to age five, preferably longer. Keep your child in a booster until he's 4'9" and the lap and shoulder belt sits correctly. All car seats in the US follow the same safety rules, so pick one that you like the ease of use and the look!