How Long Should A Baby Be In A Car Seat When Driving? Read This!

In this article, we are going to discuss How long should a baby be in a car seat when driving. Read on. 

No matter the child’s age, it is important to always make sure they are buckled in correctly. If your car seat does not have a five-point harness system, never use this type of strap with an infant or toddler who weighs less than 20 pounds.

How long should a baby be in a car seat when driving

For infants and toddlers under 20 pounds should ONLY be placed in rear-facing car seats.

Once the baby reaches the weight limit for their specific model of the car seat (usually 22 or 35 pounds), you can then switch them into a forward-facing mode that will accommodate their height until they reach 40 – 80 lbs., depending on which brand/model you purchase.

When transitioning from rear-facing to front-facing, please remember these rules: belt-positioning booster seats should only be used on a vehicle’s seat with an active frontal airbag, the child must be at least four years old and 40 lbs., or no older than eight years of age or 80 lbs.

 

Are infant car seats safer than convertibles?

Infant car seats can be used for smaller babies. It is also easier to move the child from one location to another with an infant seat than a convertible or toddler seat that will not fit in your vehicle until they are older, taller and heavier.

Many parents choose their baby’s first car seat based on how safe it is for their child—and rightly so! According to reports by SafeKids Worldwide, more than 53% of all children under age five were killed inside vehicles between 2001-2010 as compared with only about 15% who died outside them (age 0-14).

An important part of safety when travelling with young kids includes knowing which types of baby carriers offer the best protection during accidents.

 

How do I choose a convertible car seat?

Convertible car seats are great for families with multiples. They grow alongside your child, starting as a rear-facing seat, then making the transition to forward-facing on its own.

Most convertible car seats will last you several years before needing replacement – some even continue past the booster stage! That means one or two car seats can serve most of your children’s needs until they’re old enough to drive themselves around town.

When choosing between styles and brands each brand must follow the same safety guidelines so that their products are safe when used together in any combination (rear-face only through age five; harnessed up to 65 lbs). Carseat makers do not test all possible combinations but generally double-check if their seat works with a competitor’s.

Keep in mind that the safest configuration will always be to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, so it makes sense to choose a convertible car seat that can easily extend its use through this stage of development.

 

Can you leave the hospital with a convertible car seat?

There are a few things you can do, such as:

Ask if your baby’s paediatrician will be at the clinic when you leave. If so, they may have some extra car seats lying around that could fit in your car.

Otherwise, ask them to let their nurse or front desk staff know that you need one for the ride home and hopefully someone has been thoughtful enough to donate one from another family who didn’t use it—or possibly buy an inexpensive seat on Craigslist before giving birth!

 

How do I make my Graco car seat into a high-back booster?

Graco makes several convertible car seats that can be turned into a high-back booster seat. For example, the Graco Nautilus and the Graco Contender both have features to make them work as a belt-positioning booster (without any additional parts). The convertibles are easy to install with LATCH or your vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt system.

They also include cup holders for those long road trips! If you want even more comfort and convenience, then check out our list of best backless boosters, which range from $20 – $100 depending on whether you need head support and how much padding is needed around the child.

 

How do I remove my son’s harness but not his whole carseat?

If you want to make the transition from a harnessed car seat to a belt-positioning booster, then check out our list of best convertible car seats.

Convertibles are easy to install with LATCH or your vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt system and they also include cup holders for those long road trips! If you want even more comfort and convenience, then we recommend looking into some backless boosters.

However, if this is not an option due either to lack of space or child’s size (we suggest doing some research on how much weight can be supported by different seats) then there is always the option of leaving your child in their existing carseat but removing the harness so that it functions as a high-back booster.

This method is a little more difficult, but you can read our guide on how to remove your child’s harnesses and keep them safe.

 

Is an all-in-one car seat good?

When it comes to buying a car seat, you want one that is safe and comfortable. Safety always comes first when purchasing anything for your child because the investment in their safety and comfort should be well worth whatever money is spent on an item.

However, we understand how important affordability can play into this equation as well; nobody wants to pay more than necessary for something they will only use temporarily until their baby outgrows it!

Because of all these factors working together here are some questions you might have about choosing the right infant car seat.

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