When I was seven months pregnant with our first, I woke up one night in a panic realizing we didn’t have a car seat yet — and our baby was due in eight weeks. The hospital wouldn’t let us leave without one, and I had no idea what to buy. That last-trimester scramble is something I now help other parents avoid. Here’s a complete timeline for getting your car seat sorted during pregnancy, so you’re ready well before your due date.
View our lists of free car seat programs by type:
When to Start Thinking About Car Seats During Pregnancy
The ideal time to research and purchase your car seat is during the second trimester (weeks 14-27). This gives you enough time to research options without the urgency of a looming due date, shop sales and compare prices across retailers, order online if the best option isn’t available locally, and practice installation before you’re too uncomfortable to bend into the back seat. Many parents wait until the baby shower, hoping for a car seat as a gift. That can work, but have a backup plan — you need to know the seat is in your vehicle and properly installed at least two to three weeks before your due date, in case baby arrives early.
Choosing Your First Car Seat: Infant Carrier vs. Convertible
The first decision you’ll face is whether to get an infant car seat (also called an infant carrier) or go straight to a convertible car seat. Both are safe for newborns, but they serve different purposes in daily life.
Infant carriers have a detachable seat that clicks into a base installed in your car. You can carry the seat into the house, snap it into a compatible stroller, or move it between vehicles with multiple bases. They’re convenient for the first 9-12 months but get heavy quickly as your baby grows. Most max out around 30-35 pounds.
Convertible car seats stay in the vehicle permanently. They start rear-facing for newborns and convert to forward-facing as your child grows, typically lasting until 40-65 pounds forward-facing. They’re more economical long-term (one seat instead of two), but you’ll need to unbuckle your baby for every trip in and out of the car.
For a detailed comparison, see our infant vs. convertible car seat guide. If you’re going the convertible route, check our best convertible car seats for newborns.
What to Look for When Shopping
Every car seat sold in the US passes the same federal crash test (FMVSS 213), so safety isn’t determined by price. What does vary between seats is ease of installation, harness adjustment convenience, vehicle compatibility, and comfort features. Here are the things that actually matter:
Check that the seat fits your vehicle. Not every car seat works well in every car. Narrow back seats, short seat belt lengths, and unusual seat contours can make installation difficult or impossible. If you can, try installing the seat before you buy it (some stores allow returns of opened car seats if they don’t fit).
Look for a no-rethread harness. This feature lets you adjust the harness height by sliding the headrest up or down instead of rethreading the straps through different slots. As your baby grows, you’ll need to adjust the harness height frequently, and a no-rethread system makes this much easier.
Consider the weight of the seat. If you’re getting an infant carrier, you’ll be carrying it with the baby inside. A 7-pound seat with a 10-pound baby is manageable. A 12-pound seat with a 15-pound baby gets heavy fast.
For our full recommendations, see the best-rated convertible car seats guide and our coverage of the safest infant car seats.
Getting Your Car Seat for Free or at Reduced Cost
If budget is a concern, there are many ways to get a car seat before your baby arrives without paying full price. Many programs specifically serve pregnant women in their third trimester.
If you’re enrolled in WIC, Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, you likely qualify for a free car seat through state and local programs. Your WIC counselor or Medicaid case manager can often connect you with these programs directly. See our WIC and free car seats guide for details.
Many hospitals have car seat programs for families who deliver there. Ask your OB’s office or the hospital’s social services department about car seat availability well before your due date. Some hospitals require advance registration for these programs. Check our hospitals that offer free car seats directory.
Non-profit organizations and community programs distribute free car seats year-round. Call 2-1-1 to find programs in your area, or browse our free car seats by state directory.
Installing Before Baby Arrives
Don’t wait until you’re heading to the hospital in labor to figure out installation. Install the car seat at least two to three weeks before your due date. Read both the car seat manual and your vehicle owner’s manual, as both contain critical information about proper installation.
After installing, check that the seat doesn’t move more than one inch side to side or front to back at the belt path (the inch test). For rear-facing seats, verify the recline angle is correct using the seat’s built-in indicator — newborns need a more reclined position to keep their airway open.
The single best thing you can do is get your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician before the baby arrives. These checks are free and take about 20 minutes. The technician will verify your installation, show you how to adjust the harness, and answer any questions. Find one near you through NHTSA’s technician locator.
For step-by-step installation help, see our 9-step installation guide. And for understanding what makes a car seat safe, read what makes a car seat safe.
