Car Seat, Smar Seat

Car seats. They are a lot of things: important, necessary, expensive, confusing, and the topic of conversation in our household these days. As sad and scary as it is to say, Lauren is approaching the one year mark (I winced as I typed that). One of the milestones that comes with this achievement is the green light to allow a child to be forward facing in the car. Subsequently she will be able to leave the warm snuggles of her infant car seat and move on to her big girl car seat.

When we were registering for gifts it was very easy to pick out the first car seat. They are often called baby carriers but are more technically known as infant car carriers. It was easy because it was obvious. This next phase of child safety seats, not so much.

From the research I've done there are two options we can use for this next stage, a convertible car seat or a convertible booster seat. The convertible car seat can be used instead of an infant car carrier but lacked the convenience of allowing the baby to stay in the seat outside of the car. Which, I assume, is why most people by the carriers. Baby is asleep- no mind- just take the seat out and leave baby sleeping!

Now, the convertible car seat sports a five point harness to be used at all times. Where a convertible booster the five point harness to begin with but it can be removed and the seat can still be used with the car's seat belt. Also convertible car seats can be used in the rear facing and forward facing positions, while a convertible booster can only be forward facing. With a convertible, you will subsequently need to purchase a separate booster seat once your child has sized out of the car seat (taking into account the height and weight). The plain booster seats are a lot cheaper.

So the dilemma, do you purchase a convertible car seat or a convertible booster seat? Part of me thinks that the convertible booster would win out. Lauren doesn't need to be rear facing and this seat would last longer (we wouldn't need to buy any more). But there are not many of these available on the market and they don't seem as protective on the sides. Plus, even though she's a year, the recommendation are they be rear facing for two years (not that I want her to be, but the convertible would be able to do this).

So the conclusion...we are going to purchase a convertible seat for my car. Which Lauren rides in 95% of the time. We feel this one is the safer route since she is still so small and it offers more protection on the side. Plus, in my car Lauren rides right behind the driver and will need more side protection in case of an accident. Then we are going to get a convertible booster for Matt's car. She can be forward facing in the middle seat, which still offers great protection. She isn't in his car often so this car seat will be a better move financially too. This way won't have to purchase two more car seats in the future- just one booster seat for my car once she out grows the convertible car seat.

So in Lauren's life time we will be able to only purchase four car seats- why better than the six I had originally envisioned. Baby number two will be cheaper still, since we'll be able to reuse the infant car seat we bought for Lauren! Goodness- this was my research and findings. And of course many, many discussions with Matt about it. Now onto baby proofing... :-)