Beginning at birth, children need to be kept safe in vehicles through the use of child safety seats. Choosing a child safety seat depends not only on the child's size and the vehicle that it will be used in, it is also important to use one that is up-to-date and has not been involved in a crash. Some parents are unsure of the ages at which when children should be moved to the next type of safety seat. Although the specific age requirements vary by state and car seat manufacturer, there are some basic minimum requirements and recommendations that apply to most every situation.
Infant Seats
Infant seats are made to face the rear of the car, which helps to protect a baby from whiplash in the event of an accident. These seats are small, have handles to make carrying easier and usually come with a plastic base that remains in the car. Different car seat manufacturers have different age and size requirements for infant car seats, but the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that infants remain in rear-facing seats until they are at least one year old or weigh 20 pounds. In simple terms, infants should be kept in rear-facing seats for as long as possible.
Convertible and Forward-Facing Seats
Convertible seats are designed to be used for the first few years of a child's life, from birth until the child reaches an average of 40 pounds, depending on the car seat manufacturer. They can be installed rear-facing and then forward-facing for older children. Toddlers should be in a forward-facing seat with a full harness, such as a convertible seat. They will remain in this seat until they outgrow it, which typically happens around 4 years or 40 to 80 pounds.
Booster Seats
After a convertible or forward-facing seat, children sit in booster seats until the adult seat belt fits them properly. The guidelines for booster seats vary by state. Some states require that children be in a booster seat until age 3, while others require children to remain in the seat until age 8 or until they reach a certain size. No matter the child's age or size, a booster seat should be used until the booster seats are outgrown. A child has outgrown a booster seat when his shoulders sit above the harness slots or his ears are above the top of the booster seat. An adult belt fits him properly when the shoulder belt lies across the middle of his chest rather than near his neck, and the lap belt is across his upper thighs and not across his stomach.
Safety Reminders
Child car seats should be placed in the back seat of a vehicle, ideally in the middle of the back seat. According to Healthy Children, this is the safest place for a child to ride. This is due to the dangers of a child riding in the front seat with front and side passenger air bags. If a child in a rear-facing car seat is in the front seat and the air bag deploys, the air bag can strike the car seat and cause brain damage, neck injuries and death. Air bags can also be dangerous for children in front-facing car seats or booster seats. Kids Health states that children ages 12 years and under should ride in the back seat for protection.
