The child needs to continue to use the booster seat until the vehicles seat belt lies correctly across the childs chest and lap. If you need help installing your car seat trust a professional and find a car seat inspection station near you. Rear facing seats forward facing seats booster seats the safety guidelines all start to blend together after a while. Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 24. Heres a simple lesson to help you navigate the age requirements weight limits and various styles of childrens car seats. Parents must also check their car seat manufacturers height and weight limits and follow recommendations from health and safety organizations.
Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat booster seat or seat belt whichever is appropriate for their weight height and age. Children between the ages of 3 and 4 who are at least 40 pounds are good candidates for booster seats as long as the lap and shoulder belt fits properly when the child is seatedthe child should be able to sit comfortably for the entire trip without altering his position by sitting on his knees or leaning forward. Visit our main car seat safety page for additional age weight and height guidelines. For the best possible protection infants and toddlers should be buckled in a rear facing car seat in the back seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limits of their car seat. In this state all children who weigh less than 80 pounds or are under eight years of age need to be in a booster seat or appropriate car seat. Most forward facing car seats accommodate children between 20 and 40 lbs.
The american academy of pediatrics aap recommends babies be in rear facing seats until age 2 or until they reach the car seats height or weight limit. However some models made by britax can accommodate children up to 65 lbs. And even as much as 80 lbs. Thats usually 30 to 60 pounds 136 to. The state also recommends that they stay in a booster seat until they are 100 pounds in weight or 49 in height although this is not mandatory.