Car seats are a very important part of baby gear, your child needs a car seat right from birth to teenage. Kids are always energetic and fresh, this energy is a big challenge for parents at some times. Parents always look to give comfort and safety to their children at any cost. And sometimes they may confuse while buying some gadgets for their baby. A lot of parents have a question in their minds about whether they should buy an infant car seat or convertible car seat for newborns.
Newborns want extra care and protection as they are helpless almost, it is the responsibility of parents to give them the basic facilities and they do. Any car seat that you are to use for your infant must provide head and body support.
In this article, we will compare infant seats and convertible seats with different perspectives and aspects. Our aim is to give full guidance about the benefits and disadvantages of infant seats and convertible seats
Infant seats are properly designed for newborns and they are far safer than any other car seat. They are used in the rear-facing mode which is the safest way to ride for a newbie, although some convertible seats allow you to put your newborn in rear-facing mode the point is that they are not the safest option.
The biggest plus point of infant seats is their compatibility with strollers, they give you the ease to use them with a stroller/jogger. The convertible seats do not offer this luxury.
Comparison of Infant Seat and Convertible
A comparison has been made considering different points and aspects that make it clear for you which car seat to buy for newborns.
| INFANT SEAT | CONVERTIBLE SEAT |
| 1. Only can be used in a rear-facing way 2. Can be used with a stroller 3. Highly safe for an infant 4. Can be an expensive choice 5. Outgrows after 2 years 6. More comfortable for a newborn 7. Infant can stay longer in it 8. Primary and only target are infants | 1. Can operate in multi modes 2. Can’t be used with a stroller 3. Not best for a newborn 4. Can serve for years and proves to be affordable 5. Offers high age limit 6. Comfortable but not much for newborn 7. Not good for longer journeys 8. Considers infants as a secondary option |
Conclusion
As a buyer, you may have your preferences and choices but as a guide, we must say it is a far safer option to buy an infant seat for a newborn, although you can take into account the affordability and long term use of convertible seats if you are more concerned with the safety of your infant, it is better to invest on the infant seat.
Convertible seats also can operate in rear-facing mode and there are some brands that are almost the best suits for newborns such as Cyber Sirona S Rotating car seat, and Britax Marathon ClickTight. The biggest advantage of these seats is their extended use in a rear-facing way which is not bad at all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Infant and convertible seats
People look for answers to the following queries who are interested in buying a car seat for their newborn.
Can you put a newborn in a car seat?
Of course, you should use a car seat for your newborn because that is the safest way to ride for a newbie.
In under developing countries, people tend to hold their babies and don’t use car seats for their infants which is not safe from any angle. Most countries and states force parents to put their child in a car seat, parents have to pay the penalty for disobeying the car seat laws.
Different states have their own regulatory authorities and agencies to make sure they use baby car seats in a proper way. They approve different brands of seats and recommend the age limits for different types of car seats. In the US there are different such agencies such as AAP ( American Academy of Pediatrics), NHTSA, etc.
What kind of car seat does a newborn need?
Infant car seat.
A newborn needs an infant car seat due to some reasons; it gives full body protection, grips the baby perfectly and gently, and most importantly its mode of operation(rear-facing).
Rear-facing is the only way an infant should ride because it is the safest way as it minimizes the risk of injury in a crash/collision.
Regulating agencies like AAP, NHTSA recommends putting your newborn in an infant seat at least for 2 years in a rear-facing way.
How long can a baby stay in an infant car seat?
Not more than 2 hours in a day.
An infant can’t stay longer in a place as his body lacks coordination, although the infant seat grips the infant with 5-point harnesses that is not enough.
Although infant seats almost recline fully the head of the infant is pressed forward a little, if you keep your infant for a longer period of time it can cause a spine strain.
Another risk factor is the lack of airflow due to a slight downwards pressed head, it can increase if your infant falls asleep. Read for more information.
Are infant car seats safer than convertible?
Infant car seats are much safer than any other type of car seat for a newborn.
Due to a lot of extra safety features and the rear-facing way of operating, infant car seats are far safer than other types of baby car seats. They cover most parts of the infant’s body and keeps him safe from any sort of accident and collision.
When to switch from infant car seat to convertible?
Usually, after your baby reaches 18 months, you can replace the infant seat with the convertible. But this is not the bottom line, some infant seats accommodate the baby much longer than 2 years.
It is better to put your child in an infant seat as long as possible because these are the safest type of car seats.
Can you speak the infant seat?
Some baby car seats are 4-in-1, they can convert from infant to toddler seat and from toddler to a booster and backless booster seat.
If you are wanting to save money, you can skip the infant seat altogether and can start from a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 baby car seat. But if you don’t have a budget problem it is always better to have the infant seat upfront.
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