Infant Car Seats

The safest infant car seat combines crash protection with non-toxic materials and a correct fit. Look for a load leg or stability leg, anti-rebound panel, side impact protection, rigid LATCH or red-to-green install indicators, and GREENGUARD Gold certification with no added fire retardants. Top picks at Modern Nursery include the Nuna PIPA series, Clek Liing, and UPPAbaby Aria, all FR-free and packed with these features. The right seat is the one that fits your baby's size and installs correctly in your vehicle.

Infant seats click out and travel with you; convertibles stay in the car. Infant car seats are rear-facing only, fit babies from about 4 to 30 pounds, and detach from a base to double as a carrier or click into a stroller. Convertible car seats stay installed and convert from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows, lasting from birth through roughly 65 pounds. Many families use both, starting with an infant seat for the carrier convenience, then moving to a convertible.  Watch this video to learn more about infant car seats vs. convertible car seats.

Yes, but only within the infant stage. Infant car seats like the UPPAbaby Aria are designed to grow with baby through removable infant inserts, adjustable headrests, and no-rethread harnesses, fitting preemies on the low end through about 30 to 32 pounds and 30 inches tall on the high end. For a single seat that lasts longer, look at all-in-one car seats, which start at 5 pounds rear-facing and grow with your child up to 120 pounds in booster mode.

Most babies use an infant car seat for 9 to 18 months. The exact duration depends on growth rate, since taller babies often outgrow the height limit before the weight limit. Petite babies sometimes stay in the infant seat closer to two years. The main advantage of staying longer is the click-in carrier convenience for stroller transfers and quick errands. Once your baby reaches the seat's limits, the next step is a rear-facing convertible car seat.