Re: 1st time buyer of a convertible car seat & need help!!
Welcome to Car-Seat.org :happy-wavehello:
I'm sure on of the techs will be along shortly, but in the meantime I'll try to help with some info.
It's great that you're looking for a convertible to rear-face your 12 month old since the current recommendations from the AAP is to keep a child rear-facing until at least 2 years old & preferably until the rear-facing limits of that seat. Since most rear-facing convertibles go to anywhere from 35-45 pounds, that gives your child a nice long time to be rear-facing.
While seat choice is important, the most important choice in safety is that one you've made already: to keep your child rear-facing for a while longer :thumbsup: There are not safety ratings for car seats. They either pass or fail the federal testing, which means if it's on the shelf it has passed. The most important factors in choosing a seat is making sure it fits your child & car properly, you know how to use it properly every time & it fits your budget.
If you could give us the following info, we can give more customized recommendations:
- Weight & Height of your child
- Vehicles you are purchasing seats for
- Any special needs/preferences you have regarding seats
Currently, the favorite seats around here are:
Graco MyRide 65 -
review link, $150 at
Target & BRU
First Years True Fit Premier -
review link, $230 online at [ame="http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-True-Convertible-Black/dp/B002WN20GA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1270065298&sr=1-4"]Amazon[/ame]
Safety 1st Complete Air -
review link, $180 at
BRU & Target
Sunshine Kids Radian -
review link, $200+ (depending on the model) mostly
online only & some boutique baby shops. *note: they are the ONLY car seat manufacturer that publishes the results of their crash tests. This is done voluntarily & NO other company is willing to follow suit*
Hope the info helps get you started!