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: This seat typically comes with two parts--a base that stays in your vehicle and a carrier that can snap in and out of the base. With most seats, the carrier can also be used by itself, without the base--a feature you will find very useful for taxis and other types of travel.

These seats typically fit babies weighing at least 5 pounds, although some start at 4 pounds and others have no weight limits (helpful for premies). Weight limits usually go up to 20 or 22 pounds, although one current model goes up to 30 pounds (Graco Safe Seat Step 1), and one former model went up to 35 pounds (Cosco Opus/Designer 35). The height limit is that the top of the child's head must be at least 1 inch below the top of the car seat.

While all of these seats are made for infants, those featuring a very low placement of the first shoulder strap slot and a very close placement of the crotch buckle will best accomodate a small baby.

Convertible: These seats are called convertible because you can use them either rear-facing or forward-facing. Therefore, these seats last much longer than infant only seats. Typically convertible seats fit babies weighing between 5 and 30 or 35 pounds rear-facing and babies 22 to 40 pounds forward-facing. Several new models go up to 65 pounds forward-facing. Many new models also fit newborns extremely well-those with a very low first shoulder strap and those that can recline up to 45 degrees.