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Which types of seats are appropriate for rear-facing children?
Two types of seats may be used rear-facing: Infant Only seats and Convertible seats.
Infant Only Seats
These have a carrying handle and snap onto strollers and onto a base which you leave in your vehicle--so they're very convenient. You can run errands, get in and out of the car, etc., all without waking the baby. Most infant carriers can be used without the base, a feature you will find very convenient for use in taxis, planes, and other types of travel. Getting a bigger infant carrier seat, where the weight limit is 30 lbs or more, is a good idea, since it extends the length of time during which travel with your sleeping baby is easy. Who wants to wake a sleeping baby to take them in or out of a car seat?
Convertible Seats
Called convertible seats because they convert from rear-facing to forward-facing, these seats can take a baby on their first ride home from the hospital all the way through the preschool years and even beyond!
This chart will help you compare these two types of seats.
Types of Rear-facing Child Safety Seats
| Features |
Infant Seats |
Convertible Seats  |
| Direction? |
Only Rear-facing |
Rear-facing OR Forward-facing |
| Carry Handle? |
Yes |
No |
| Has Base? |
Yes. Base adds convenience, not safety. Once the base is installed in the vehicle, you just click the carrier in and out. |
No. Exception is Orbit Baby Toddler seat when used ONLY in rear-facing mode. |
| Requires Base? |
Most do not require the base. Exceptions include the Evenflo Embrace, Compass Via and old Peg Perego models |
No |
| Stroller Compatible? |
Yes |
Snap-on wheeled attachments and wheeled bags are available separately for most convertible seats to allow some portability.
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| Rear-facing Weight Limits? |
22 to 35 lbs.
Infant seats with 30+ lb max:
-Baby Trend Flex Loc (note: base will not install tightly in most vehicles
-Britax Chaperone
-Evenflo Serenade
-Graco Snugride 35
-Chicco KeyFit30
-Cybex Aton
-Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 30/30 SIP (note: base will not install tightly in many vehicles)
-Teutonia T-tario 32 and 35
-Safety 1st Onboard 35
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35 to 50 lbs.
Rear-facing is 5.32 times safer than forward-facing! All manufacturers recommend keeping children rear-facing for as long as possible, meaning until the child exceeds the maximum height or weight limits for his child safety seat's rear-facing mode. More about when to turn your child forward-facing.
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| Rear-facing Height Limits? |
When top of head is within 1 inch of top of seat |
When top of head is within 1 inch of top of seat |
| Forward-Facing Weight Limits? |
n/a |
From 20 or 22 lbs to 40, 65 or even 80 lbs--check your seat's instructions.
Rear-facing is 5.32 times safer than forward-facing! All manufacturers recommend keeping kids rear-facing for as long as possible, meaning until the child exceeds the maximum height or weight limits for his child safety seat's rear-facing mode. More about when to turn your child forward-facing.
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| Forward-facing Height Limits? |
n/a |
When top of ears are even with top of seat or when shoulders are even with highest harness slot |
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