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. Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat booster seat or seat belt whichever is appropriate for their weight height and age.
When Is The Right Time For A Booster Seat Consumer Reports
Weight and height for booster seat. 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. Thats the height at which seat belts begin fitting kids correctly for the best protection. The move to regular seat belts should not occur until kids are old enough and large enough for the seat belts to protect them properly which usually isnt until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall 57 inches and are between 8 and 12 years old. All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Kids can next move to a belt positioning booster seat when they reach the weight and height harness strap limits of their forward facing car seat. And even as much as 80 lbs.
However some models made by britax can accommodate children up to 65 lbs. 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. That usually happens between the ages of 10 and 12 when the child is close to five feet tall or 120 pounds. Facts on booster seats when most kids turn 4 that is when parents need to move them from their forward facing car seat to a booster seat. 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. Most forward facing car seats accommodate children between 20 and 40 lbs.
And check out these booster seat requirements. But every child and every car is different so make sure your vehicles seat belt fits the child in question before ditching that booster seat. 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. Thats usually 30 to 60 pounds 136 to. The american academy of pediatrics encourages parents to keep kids in a booster seat until they are anywhere from 8 to 12 years old and at least 57 inches tall. Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 24.