Children are safer riding rear facing and should ride rear facing as long as possible until they reach the maximum rear facing height or weight rating for their car seat. Once the babies reach the proper weight weigh more than 20 pounds and acquire appropriate skills they can pull themselves up they can be moved to a front facing car seat.
What Car Seat Should I Buy The Ultimate Car Seat Guide
Front facing car seat weight height. Rear facing car seats are still allowed by law and safety experts recommend that parents continue using them to the upper weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer because it provides the most protection. Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat booster seat or seat belt whichever is appropriate for their weight height and age. Although this means that some larger infants and toddlers might have to graduate to a rear facing convertible car seat there are several models of infant only. Visit our main car seat safety page for additional age weight and height guidelines. Legs bending or pushing on vehicle seats is not a safety concern or a reason to turn forward facing durocher says. If you need help installing your car seat trust a professional and find a car seat inspection station near you.
We took a look at the car seats on the market specifically comparing dimensions and features that affect how easy each is to install next to other car seats. Fitting three across child car seats into the back seat of your car can be tricky but its not impossible. Learn more about using a forward facing car seat including types to choose from and the age height and weight at which you might be able to make that change. Once babies turn 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds the law gives them the option of using a front facing car seat. Babies and toddlers weighing about 20 40 lbs and between 1 4 years of age can ride in such convertible seats. Parents must also check their car seat manufacturers height and weight limits and follow recommendations from health and safety organizations.
The harness from the forward facing car seat is simply. These are the basic requirements. 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. This usually means around 40 to 50 pounds and up to 44 to 49 inches tall depending on the make and model. Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear facing car seat infant only rear facing car seat or rear facing convertible car seat until they are 2 years old or until they have reached the weight and height limits of their car seat. After your not so little one has surpassed the weight or height limit of a toddler car seat a combination seat converts into a booster seat.
Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 24. Graco offers a line of car seats that help your child safely ride rear facing longer until they reach 50 lb. Graco supports the american academy of pediatrics and. If your infant arrives early how do you safely accommodate a premature baby in a car seat.