If you spend some time to research and purchase well, it could go a long way in protecting your child for years.
If you want to purchase a car seat for your infants, but want a money-saving, dual purpose alternative, convertibles are a good option.
These seats can hold a new-born infant, and also a child weighing 30kg.
This broad range makes them more affordable and a good option for long term usage.
You will need these to take your baby home from the hospital for the first time, and for any and every other trip there after! They can be placed to face rearward till the child is an year old, after which they can be turned around to face forward.
In essence, infants face rear of the car and toddlers face the front.
Some convertible cars have an overhead shield system that can be pulled over a baby's head; but most of them have 5-point harness to secure the baby.
Pediatricians and NHTSA recommend babies to be kept in rear facing seats for as long as it is convenient.
In Sweden, children often ride facing in rear-facing position for up to 4 years of age.
Convertible car seats come with two separate belt paths, one for rear and other for front facing.
Before installing and using them, ensure that you have read the manual.
It is recommended that parents keep their children in harnessed seats before switching them to booster seats.
Safety and security are paramount when you are making a purchase for infant car seats.
ConsumerReports provides the most intensive safety testing reports.
Experts at NHTSA test these seats to find out their ease of use.
Most professionals recommend purchasing from Evenflo and Britax, so be sure to check them out.
Convertible car seats offer a long term option for securing your children, so please use it.
However, before you do, please ensure that you research well, read Consumer reports and follow professional recommendations.