Infant Car Seats

1. Infants need extra support while you're on the road. Some seats include newborn inserts to help support the head, while others offer deep and padded wings to keep the fit snug and secure.

2. Rear-facing seats help protect infants in the event of a collision by using the seat to absorb the force of the impact, rather than straining them against the harness. Experienced parents and safety experts agree that rear-facing seats are a must have for anyone who's not yet a toddler.

3. Just because infant seats meet specialized needs doesn't mean that they can't be versatile as well. Infant seats can be compatible with strollers or travel systems, and can sometimes be converted into forward-facing toddler seats as your children grow.

4. Sure, we love them, but babies aren't known for their impeccable hygiene and superior table manners. Car seat manufacturers are fully aware of this and make most seats easy to clean, but removable car seat covers are always a great option. Choose from a wide variety of colors, patterns and fabrics, and just toss them in the wash when cleaning time comes.

5. Of course you put your kids first, but these days there are so many choices and features that you can afford to think of what you need, too. The standard LATCH system makes for easy installation and many infant seats are compatible with strollers and travel systems. You may have more to do these days, but now there's no reason that your little ones can't come with you.