Get to Know the Types of Car Seats

By: Dene Johnson

May 10, 2019

Father assuring child is properly restrained in car seat

Parents often struggle with installing and choosing car seats for their children. Picking out a car seat for your child is a never-ending battle. Safe Kids Washoe County has made it simple for you to understand the types of car seats that will work for your child.

Types of Car Seats

Rear-Facing Only Seat. Your baby's first car seat is often used from 5 to 40 pounds. People usually buy this type of seat because it is portable.

Convertible Car Seat. This seat is larger and stays in the car; it may be rear-facing until your child is two years or more. After that, it can change to a forward-facing seat.

Forward-facing-only car seat. This type of seat is used in one direction and has a 5-point harness and top tether. 

Combination seat. This is a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness and top tether and can change into a booster seat when you remove the harness. 

3-in-1 car seat. This seat also stays in the car. You can use it rear-facing, forward-facing, and then later, as a booster seat.

Booster seat.  It boosts the child for a safer and more comfortable fit of the adult seat belt. Make sure your child has outgrown the weight or height limits allowed in the forward-facing car seat. The seat belt must lie flat across your child's chest, on the bony part of the shoulder, and low on the hips or upper thighs. Most children will be between the ages of 8 to 12 years old before they are ready for the seat belt alone.

Have a trained car seat technician check your installation

Why: 3 out of 4 car seats are installed improperly, with some studies show that the misuse rate is 90%, with the average car seat having three mistakes.

Solution: Ensuring that your child's car seat is installed correctly by a certified car seat technician will ensure your child's safety. 

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