Car seats by stage

The right seat depends on your child's age and weight. Here's what each stage covers:

Infant (rear-facing carrier)

Rear-facing-only carriers with a detachable base — for newborns up to ~30-35 lb. Click in and out of a stroller; outgrown soonest.

Convertible

Rear-facing for infancy, then forward-facing with a harness. The 'keep them rear-facing longest' workhorse — many parents' one big seat.

All-in-one (4-in-1)

Rear-facing → forward-facing harness → high-back booster → backless booster in one seat. Birth-to-booster value; bulkier.

Booster

Positions the vehicle's lap-and-shoulder belt on an older child (~40-100+ lb). High-back or backless. NOT for air travel (planes have no shoulder belt).