What are the safety guidelines for car seats?

Current California Law: (California Vehicle Code Section 27360.) ​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4’9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

What are the 3 types of child safety seats?

When it comes to selecting the right car seat for your child, one size does not fit all. There are three types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and the booster, with each best suited to protect a child based on their age and size.

What are the requirements for a child to sit in a forward facing child seat?

You can make your child sit face forward in a car seat, once they are two years of age or older, and once they have outgrown the height and weight limits of a rear-facing car seat. This is typically at a height of 3 feet and a weight of 13.5 kgs.

What age does a child not require a car seat?

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.

What type of car seat should a 4 year old be in?

As previously mentioned, the NHTSA recommends that 4-year-old children should stay in the forward-facing car seats for an extended period. However, if they outgrow these seats, they can freely use booster seats but still in the back. The best option is a harness system for ultimate stability and protection.

What do you need to know about child car seats in UK?

The seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight. Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital ‘E’ in a circle and ‘ECE R44’.

What should you do if your child is in the front seat?

Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag. Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip, no matter how short the trip. Set a good example and help protect everyone in the car by always using your seat belt.

How tall does a child have to be to sit in a car seat?

Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Proper seat belt fit usually occurs when children are about 4 feet 9 inches tall and aged 9–12 years. Seat belt fit can vary by vehicle so check fit in all vehicles.

How old does a child have to be to get out of a car seat?

You can choose a child car seat based on your child’s height or weight. Height-based seats are known as ‘i-Size’ seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they’re over 15 months old.