When to Switch from an Infant Car Seat to a Convertible Car Seat

A parent’s car seat guide to height, weight, and safety signs it’s time to make the move. 

Wondering when to transition your little one from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat and beyond? Read on for everything you need to know about your child’s car seat journey – or, check out our helpful guide in our new Car Seat Center!

Is It Time?
The right time to move from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat is based on your child’s growth. When your child exceeds either the height or weight limit listed for your infant car seat — or when the top of their head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat shell — it’s time to switch.

For example, our lightweight Aria V2 infant car seat fits babies from 4–30 pounds or up to 30 inches in height, while our Mesa V3 accommodates 4–30 pounds or up to 32 inches. Many babies outgrow these by their first birthday, but timing will vary! It’s all about your baby’s unique growth pattern.

What to Look for in a Convertible Car Seat
Once your baby outgrows their infant car seat, the next step up is a Convertible Car Seat used in the rear-facing mode. These are designed to accommodate larger babies and toddlers and can be turned from rear-facing to front-facing once your child reaches their seats’ specific rear-facing height or weight limit.

Our award-winning Rove Convertible Car Seat, recently recognized by Car & Driver as a top choice for parents, grows with your child from toddler through their early school years (approximately 1 to 6 years old). Wrapped in plush fabrics and cushioning and offering an effortless 3-step setup with its QuickGuard installation system, it’s the perfect combination of comfort and peace of mind for your backseat. With the Rove, we’ve extended rear-facing to up to 50 pounds. It should be switched to forward-facing once your child reaches the weight limit OR is within one inch of the seat back. It is suitable as a forward-facing car seat up to 65 pounds OR 49” in height, whichever comes first!

When to Transition from Convertible Car Seat to Booster
When your little one graduates from their Convertible Car Seat, they’ll be ready for a high-back booster seat like the Alta V2. If you’re reading this article, don’t worry–time flies, but you still have plenty of it before your little one reaches the booster stage! If you need additional help, you can always reach out to our Customer Experience Team, schedule a Virtual Car Seat Check, or visit our Car Seat Education Page.

From our infant car seats, to our award-winning Convertible Car Seat, to our big kid booster seat, every UPPAbaby design is built to grow with your family, delivering trusted safety and premium comfort at every stage. We are always here to support, virtually or at our Hub Service Center & Showrooms.