When to Change

Unborn - 1 yr. & Below 4 lbs.

Moving to a Regular Car Seat

Talk with your child’s doctor to find out when you can move your baby from a car bed to a regular car seat. When your child is ready, check out our tips by entering your child’s age and weight at the beginning of this guide.

Unborn - 2 yrs. & 4 - 40 lbs.

Rear-Facing Until 2 or more

The safest car seat for children under the age of 2 or even more is a rear-facing one. Kids grow a lot during the first two years, so may have to move your child from a rear-facing-only car seat to a convertible car seat or a 3-in-1 car seat installed in the rear-facing position to get maximum protection.

Your child will be ready for a larger, rear-facing car seat when she passes the weight or height limit on the car seat label or when her head is within 1 inch of the top of the car seat.

Riding in a rear-facing car seat will help protect your child’s head, neck and spine in a crash.

2 - 5 yrs. & 21 - 65 lbs.

Tips FOR Moving to a Booster Seat

Your child is safer in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and top tether, so wait until your child reaches the weight or height limit of the car seat before moving her into a booster seat. When you keep your child forward facing in a harness, there is more protection than using a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt or a seat belt alone.

Once your child outgrows the harness of a forward-facing convertible car seat, forward-facing-only car seat, or combination car seat, it’s time to move to a booster seat.

If you are using a combination car seat or a 3-in-1 car seat, there’s no need for a new seat. Just follow the seat directions for changing the seat into a booster.

6 - 8 yrs. & 40 - 120 lbs.

Ready for the Seat Belt?

Think your big kid is ready for the seat belt alone? Do the Seat Belt Fit Test.

If your child doesn’t pass every step, keep him in a booster seat until he does.

Remember, just because the seat belt fits your child in one car doesn’t mean the seat belt will fit in all cars. Do the Seat Belt Fit Test in every car before permanently moving from the booster seat to seat belt alone.

Do not feel pressure to move your child too quickly from a booster to seat belt. Your child is safer in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits correctly, usually between the ages of 8 and 12.

9 - 12 yrs & Over 80 lbs.

The Seat Belt Fit Test

Do not feel pressure to move your child too quickly from a booster to seat belt. Your child is safer in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits correctly, usually between the ages of 8 and 12.

If your child asks whether he can stop sitting on the booster seat, have him do the Seat Belt Fit Test:

  • Your child’s knees bend at the edge of the seat when her back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back. Her feet should touch the floor for comfort and stability.
  • The vehicle lap belt fits snugly across the hips or upper thighs.
  • The shoulder belt fits across the shoulder and chest, NOT across the face or neck.

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