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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, making them 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 |
No. Exception is Orbit Baby Toddler seat and Sit 'N Stroll. Snap-on wheeled attachments are available separately for most convertible seats to allow some portability. |
| Rear-facing Weight Limits? |
22 or 30 lbs.
The Graco Safe Seat, the Chicco KeyFit30 and the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 30/30 all go up to 30 lbs. The Graco SnugRide 32 goes up to 32 lbs.
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30 or 35 lbs.
The Combi Zeus is an exception, it allows rear-facing only to 22 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.
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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. |
| 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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