HOW TO CHOOSE A CAR SEAT
What is a convertible car seat?
Convertible refers to two modes of use—rear-facing for newborns and toddlers to forward-facing when height or weight requirements are met. Multiple recline and headrest settings in both modes keep your baby comfortable and secure. Time to graduate from the convertible when your child is 65 lbs. or 49 inches.
Convertible Car Seat Checklist
Transition smoothly from rear-facing to forward-facing with a car seat that converts Keep your little one rear-facing up to 40 lbs. Get one single car seat that will last from infant through preschool 
If you choose a convertible for your infant, keep in mind that it won't click into a stay-in-car base or strollers To keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, transition to a convertible car seat when your child outgrows either the height or weight guidelines for your infant car seat.
Keep your child rear-facing in their car seat until they have reached either the rear-facing height limit or the rear-facing weight limit of the car seat. Are your kid’s feet touching the seat back? Do they look a little cramped? That’s okay. Kids are a lot more flexible than adults. The benefit of keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is protection of their developing head, neck and spine. Kids do not need to be turned forward-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit of the car seat. Kids are fragile, and they are best protected rear-facing, even if that means they have a little less leg room. See the recommendation from NHTSA.gov
Even when your child fits the height and weight guidelines to use a seat belt instead of a full harness with their booster seat, that doesn’t mean they should. Maturity matters - most children younger than 5-years old are not mature enough to sit without a full harness. You know your child best, so don’t make the switch until you’re confident your growing child will sit still and safely without a full harness.
Some retailers might allow you test the fit of a car seat before purchasing but most have displays that allow you to check out the car seat in-store to research the features that make installation simple like bubble level indicators and multiple recline angles.
In most instances, the middle rear seat is the safest place for your car seat. However, there are multiple factors to consider; the most important being a seat location that allows you to install your car seat correctly and works best for your family. See the recommendation from NHTSA.gov.
Chicco convertible car seats have an 8 year life span.
Yes, you must replace your car seat and base if it has been involved in a vehicle crash, even if you can’t see visible damage. A damaged car seat or base may not protect your child in a future accident.