Toddler car seats are a necessity for parents of children right in the grey area of not quite meeting the height and weight requirements to ride without the help of a little extra safety. What sort of car seat parents choose to purchase depends upon what they bought during their child's infancy, and what they are looking for in the near future. Below are a few recommendations and things to think about when going shopping for such a seat.

If you have previously invested in an infant-only car seat, chances are you're out of luck when it comes to making this specific seat work for your rapidly growing child. Once a toddler exceeds height and safety requirements for your specific seat, it is time to buy a replacement. Children who are over the age of one and weigh at least 20 pounds are eligible for a toddler-style car seat.

Since actual toddler car seats feature a very small selection, many parents opt for a convertible car seat instead. If you have happened to pick up a convertible seat when your child was an infant, you can simply flip this around to its front-facing position to create a toddler car seat that will work perfectly in most cars. They are able to hold children of all sizes, up to around 60 pounds depending upon the make and model.

Some car seats convert into a booster, which is another option for parents looking for the ideal toddler car seat. While this seems like an easy solution, it is important to note that many toddlers are not large enough to ride safely in a booster. Before taking this step, you should check with your manufacturer's safety standards and any instructions that came with the seat. Most toddler car seats will remind you to use a full harness with your child up to 40 pounds.

If you are back to starting from scratch and need to purchase a whole new seat, then try the Orbit Baby Toddler Car Seat , which is the standard sequel to the popular Orbit Infant System. It can be installed in both front and rear facing directions, still allowing a fair bit of growing room for your child. Combine that with an adjustable headrest and two classy color choices, and you're on your way to owning one of the most stylish and practical toddler car seats around!