Infant Car Seat or Convertible Car Seat?
First, consider that infant car seats are smaller, which means a better fit for a little baby. And infant car seats like the Graco® SnugRide® snap into a base, so you install the base in your car and then snap the infant car seat in and out as necessary. This means you can have a base in each automobile, and share one infant car seat between them. Plus, the seat also doubles as a carrier for easy transport to and from your automobile.

Secondly, you'll find that our SnugRide® infant car seats are compatible with most models of Graco® strollers. This means you can take your SnugRide® infant car seat out of the stay-in-car base, click it into the stroller, and go - without disturbing your sleeping baby. You will appreciate this convenience when you're on the go.

Convertible car seats get their name because they convert from rear-facing infant seats to forward-facing toddler seats. They are a perfect transition seat when your little one has outgrown the Snugride® infant car seat but should still be riding rear- facing.

Infant and Convertible Car Seats: Key Features
• Seat Angle. One of the most important aspects of a rear-facing car seat is the ability to attain the proper seat angle. Your baby's head and neck should be fully supported when driving, so the ability to control the installed seat angle of a car seat in a rear-facing position is very important. Look for an adjustable base that allows you to more easily install the seat with level indicators that show the proper seat angle for your car seat. (all Graco® infant and convertible seats come with level indicators).

• Head Support. Along a level indicator, you should look for a soft head pillow, which adds head support and cushioning for infants. Make sure the head pillow can be removed in order to make room for your growing baby.

• Weather Protection. If you want to keep bright sunlight away from your child, buy an infant seat with a canopy; if you're worried about cold or rain, a boot will help keep your tot snug and toasty.

• Snug Fit. Seats usually feature a 5-point harness to keep your child snug. Certain car seats feature front adjusting harness straps that make it much easier to adjust the fit of your child's harness. Harnesses should fit snugly: you should only be able to fit one finger between your child and the harness.

When is it time for a Booster Seat?
There are two types of booster seats: those that come with an integrated harness, and Belt Positioning Boosters, which use the automobile's lap/shoulder belt to keep your child secure. Why might you pick one over the other? Harness Booster seats provide you the opportunity to keep your child in a harness longer. Belt Positioning Booster seats are generally considered "more grown-up" seats that keep your child secure and work with your automobile's lap/shoulder belt to restrain your child.

Features that matter to kids and parents include hideaway cup holders for drinks and storage places for important kid stuff like toys or videogames. Some models include deep side-wings and a high back for added comfort and support. A height adjustable headrest is a nice feature because it grows with your child and helps with proper seatbelt positioning.

Sometimes kids want to grow up too fast, and they don't want to sit in a booster seat any longer. In that case, there's the Graco® TurboBooster® - a youth booster seat that comes in cool fashions and colors, and converts to a backless booster where the back of the booster can be removed leaving only the seat. Backless booster seats are for kids a little bit older and bigger. It's totally kid-approved! Click here for our interactive demo.