In crash tests conducted by Consumer Reports, just 4 percent of dummies in rear-facing convertible car seats banged their heads against the seat in front of them. But in rear-facing detachable seats, more than half of the dummies suffered head injuries.
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Though the specifics vary by state, infants and young children are required by law to ride in child safety seats. Generally, infants start in rear-facing detachable seats, which include a base and snap-on carrier that mom and dad can remove from the vehicle with baby in tow. Once the tots get a little bigger, they generally switch to convertible seats, which can be rear- or front- facing, have a longer shell, and stay in the car. Most experts recommend that children remain in some type of rear-facing car seat until at least age two.
Based on these tests, Consumer Reports is now recommending that parents switch to convertible car seats by their baby's first birthday – even if the child hasn’t technically outgrown the detachable seat.
"If your child’s getting close to the limits of their rear-facing detachable seat, don’t hesitate," says Jen Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports' Auto Center. "You’re going to buy this convertible model anyway -- we’re just saying, buy it a little sooner."
