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OVERVIEW Convertible car seats are christened such because they convert from an infant seat to a toddler seat. Most parents prefer an infant car seat carrier for newborns and then switch to a convertible seat once baby has outgrown the carrier seat, but many opt for the convertible seat right out of the gate. The most important features of any car seat are safety, installation ease and vehicular fit. There is no perfect seat for all children or all cars. Pick one that best suits your child and your vehicle. And because not every car seat fits perfectly in every vehicle, you should save all packaging and receipts until you are sure you have a good fit. Since all car seats sold in the United States must meet stringent government safety standards and are closely regulated, more expensive models don't necessarily mean a safer buy. In many cases, the extra money is for luxury conveniences like fancier fabric or child cup holders. But thanks to a higher class cache and deeper product development pockets, the more expensive car seat brands have historically been ahead of the curve for offering extra safety features that go above-and-beyond government requirements, like side impact protection. Children are our most precious cargo, so if you can afford it, we recommend getting a seat with the most safety features available. Thankfully, the newest safety features trickle down to the less costly seats rather quickly, as we've recently seen with side impact protection. Most convertible car seats are suitable for infants from birth, and the newest seats have raised their weights limits considerably, so you can use the seat in a safer position for longer than ever. The old rule of thumb was to keep a baby rear facing until he was 20 pounds or 1 year old, but new research suggests that keeping a child reversed as long as possible can greatly decrease their chance of injury in an accident. Babies have immature, still developing bones and connective tissue; the longer you give their neck muscles to strengthen, the better! The American Academy of Pediatrics cites the 20 pounds/1 year mark as a minimum, but states "it is best for baby to ride rear-facing until he reaches the highest weight or height limit allowed by the car safety seat." The weight and height limits for convertible seats differ dramatically, so check with the manufacturer directly or the owner's manual for the last word on their particular model. But consider investing in a seat with higher rear-facing weight limits so that your child can ride safer longer. Convertible car seats are strapped into your car via either your vehicle's seat belts or the LATCH system. Convertible car seats have a deep recline for smaller babies that adjusts to more straight backed for older children. Great Car Seat Safety References:
A NOTE ON SAFE INSTALLATION Because the safest seat in the world won't do its job if it's not installed correctly, we highly recommend stopping by child passenger safety seat inspection location to check your seat. Think you've got it down? Think again! The NHTSA estimates that eight out of 10 children riding in car seats are incorrectly buckled in. For a listing of inspection locations near you, visit: http://www.seatcheck.org/. FEATURES TO CONSIDER:
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