CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Switching Baby From an Infant Car Seat to a Convertible

Baby grows quickly! Find out the right age and weight to make the switch.
save article
profile picture of Erin van Vuuren
Updated February 12, 2020
mom putting her baby in to the car seat
Image: Getty Images

First things first: Read your car seat’s instructions, and check the height and weight limit for your particular seat. Then wait to switch until baby has reached one of those limits. Really there’s no rush—even if baby’s getting heavy when you carry him around in the infant seat’s handle.

“Rear-facing infant car seats offer the best support for babies’ heads, necks and spinal cords in the event of a car accident,” says Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, family physician and coauthor of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year. “Hands down, they’re the safest way for babies to travel in a car.”

When you do make the switch to a bigger seat, that doesn’t mean you should switch the way baby faces in the car. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping kids rear facing until age 2. Rear facing is simply a much safer position for baby if there’s an accident.

So if baby is under 2 years old and outgrows her infant seat, it’s safest to move her up to a rear-facing convertible car seat. If she outgrows those limits after she turns 2, she can graduate to a forward-facing seat.

The Bump’s Car Seat Types infographic:

Image: Smart Up Visuals

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

young child holding gummies
Study Finds 420% Uptick in Child ER Visits Due to Melatonin Poisoning
By Wyndi Kappes
jool baby nova infant swing recall 2024
Why Jool Baby Is Recalling Its Nova Baby Swings
By Wyndi Kappes
happy mom holding baby during winter in the snow
11 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Baby
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
lovevery slide and seek ball runs recall
Lovevery Recalls 47,000 Slide & Seek Ball Runs Due to Choking Hazard
By Wyndi Kappes
laundry detergent pods poison risk for children
Detergent Pods Remain Significant Threat to Kids, Study Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
Baby Walkers-hero
Are Baby Walkers Safe? Here’s the Deal
By Christin Perry
toddler climbing up stairs in home
8 Baby Safety Myths Busted by Pediatricians
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler opening christmas gifts on christmas morning
Doctor's Viral Video Reveals Top 5 Gifts That Land Kids in the ER
By Wyndi Kappes
Bugaboo Dragonfly Seat Strollers recall
Bugaboo Recalls Dragonfly Seat Strollers Due to Injury Risk
By Wyndi Kappes
mother kissing baby's face while sitting on grass outside
When Can Newborns Go Outside?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby wearing a santa hat playing with christmas tree ornaments
14 Need-to-Know Holiday Safety Tips
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
family opening christmas presents
This Toy Was Responsible for the Most ER Visits Last Year
By Wyndi Kappes
father buckling baby into car seat in the car
Can You Uber With Baby? What to Know When Ridesharing With Little Ones
Fact Checked by Denise Porretto
ADVERTISEMENT
little sleepies loveys and bandana recall 2023
Little Sleepies Recalls 450,000 Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bibs
By Wyndi Kappes
Best Kids Sunglasses Hero
14 Kids’ Sunglasses They’ll Wear Everywhere This Summer
By Megan Cahn
chuckle and roar water bead activity kits recall 2023
Popular Water Bead Activity Kit Sold at Target Has Been Recalled
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and baby crawling on floor at home
It’s Baby Safety Month: Here Are All the Sales You Don’t Wanna Miss
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
dad strapping baby into rocker
CPSC Members Propose New Safety Rules for Baby Rockers After Deaths
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of button batteries
CPSC Enacts New Safety Standards to Protect Kids From Button Batteries
By Wyndi Kappes
tomy Boon Flair and Flair Elite Highchairs recall 2023
TOMY Recalls Over 80,000 of Its Popular Highchairs
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List