Do I need to buy both an infant car safety seat and a toddler car safety seat?
Theoretically no. There are “convertible” car seats on the market. These are larger car seats rated for a child up to 65 pounds, depending on the model, and can be installed rear facing until the baby is ready to face forward- somewhere between 12-18 months old. At that point the car seat would be uninstalled, turned around and reinstalled forward facing. Keep in mind that, in most states, a newborn must be rear facing until they reach twenty pounds. This is typically seven to ten months. Some safety groups advocate that the child remain rear facing for at least one year or up to 30 pounds. The consumer, therefore, can buy the larger convertible safety seat and use it for four plus years. Great Beginnings recommends buying a newborn safety seat; one which is rated from birth to 20 pounds and allows the parents to enjoy the convenience of a carrier which snaps into a specially designed base which remains belted via the seat belts in the vehicle. Most parents choose to purchase an extra
