Basic Guidelines

• Infants must be rear-facing in the back seat until at least 1 yr. old and at least 20 lbs.
• Children over 20 lbs. and 1 yr. of age may then be forward-facing, still in the back seat, in a child safety seat with an internal harness.
• Once the child weighs at least 40 lbs., the child should ride in a booster seat in the back seat until he/she is 80 lbs. and about 4’10″ tall.
• Before being allowed to use only the regular vehicle lap & shoulder seat belt, the child should be able to sit up with knees bent at the edge of the vehicle seat, the seat belt shoulder strap should fit comfortably across the chest (not across the neck), and the seat belt lap strap should fit low and tight across the upper thighs.

Tips for Choosing the Best Seat for your Child

• Take your time choosing a child safety seat. Shop around. There are lots to choose from. Think long term. Remember that you may need to buy all 3 types of seats (infant only, convertible and booster) as your child grows up.
• Before you buy any seat, practice changing the harness and adjusting the length of the straps. If you choose an infant-only seat with a handle, carry the seat around the store to make sure it feels comfortable. If the seat has a removable base, check to see how easy it is to remove.
• If possible, install the child safety seat in your vehicle before buying it to make sure that if fits well in your vehicle. Cars with small rear seats or bucket seats may present special problems. Practice buckling the seat tightly into your car before your child’s first ride. It is very important that you choose a child safety seat that is easy for YOU to use and that it will be used correctly every time your child rides.

Infant-only seats are designed for use with infants from birth up to 20-22 lbs. and should always be used rear-facing in the back seat of your vehicle. Some infant-only seats have a base that fits in your car, allowing you to remove the seat and use it as a carrier.

Convertible seats may be used rear-facing in the back seat for larger newborns until 1 year of age and 20-22 lbs., and then turned (converted) and used forward-facing, still in the back seat, for children 20 to 40 lbs. Each seat is different, so it is important to read the manufacturer’s guidelines very carefully in regard to the seat’s weight limits.

Booster seats are designed to help an older child transition from a convertible seat to a regular vehicle seat belt. Booster seats may be used in conjunction with an internal harness system to 40 lbs. or may be used in conjunction with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder seat belt to around 80 lbs.

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