Car Seat Reviews

Your child's age and size go hand in hand when trying to figure out just what type of car seat you should buy.

Newborns and infants must sit in a rear-facing baby seat; likewise, toddlers should remain in rear-facing seats until they reach the minimum age, height and weight requirements to move onto forward facing seats. When children reach around school age, they should move onto booster seats. And finally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), once your child is big enough for the seat belt to cross from their shoulder completely over their stomach and down their lap, they're ready to transition permanently to seat belts.

If you're concerned about the expense of buying multiple car seats, there are also convertible car seats that can act as both rear and forward-facing seats. These can save you money and time.

You may be tempted to save a few bucks by simply using a hand-me-down or used car seat but you should be careful that the car seat still meets minimum standards. In general, a used car seat is fine if it was manufactured after January 1st, 1981 and if it's never been in an accident.