Child Safety Seat Sizes

Child restraints are grouped into a number of categories, each one suitable for a particular weight range or a broad age group. The majority of restraints will fit into 2 or more stages, allowing them to be changed and converted to fit the child as it grows.

Seat Stages

The major stages of child restraint is as follows:

Birth to 1 Year

Weight: Up to 35 pounds

Infants should ride rear-facing child seat until they are at least 1 year of age AND at least 20 pounds; longer if possible. Make sure that the seat is at a 30-45 degree angle in order to keep the child's head from falling forward. Do not tip the seat too far back, or the infant could come out of the seat in a crash.

It is worth keeping your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible, as it will provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than a forward-facing seat. Infants who outgrow a smaller infant-only seat before the age of 1 should ride rear-facing in a child safety seat with a higher rear-facing weight limit (over 22 pounds).

Over 1 Year to 4 Years Old

Weight: 20 to 40 pounds

A child over the age of 1 AND over 20 pounds may ride facing forward in a cnvertible or forward-facing only seat. Always use the upright position or the position recommended by the manufacturer.

The child should use a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, preferably until the age of 4. Children who weigh 40 pounds or more who are too young or too active to sit still in a booster seat may use restraints with harnesses labeled for use over 40 pounds.

4 to 8 Years Old

Weight: Over 40 pounds

All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats (either high-back or backless) until they are at least 8 years old or at least 4' 9" tall.

Child Seat Tips

For maximum protection, keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible (up to the weight or height limit of the seat). Infants should be kept in a rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds.

When your child outgrows their rear-facing seats, they may be moved to a forward-facing child safety seat, in the back seat, until they reach the upper height or weight limit of the seat (usually around 40 pounds and age 4).

Once your child outgrows their forward-facing seat, they should use a booster seat, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly; that is, when the lap belt lays across their upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across their chest. This is when they reach 4' 9" tall, usually at around age 8.

When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat; parents must ensure that this fits properly.