Forward facing car seat. For the best possible protection infants and toddlers should be buckled in a rear facing car seat in the back seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limits of their car seat. Weight limits for most seats range from 2065 pounds lb. Children are safer riding rear facing and should ride rear facing as long as possible until they reach the maximum rear facing height or weight rating for their car seat. These are the basic requirements. Generally children must be at least 4 feet 9 inches tall before they stop using a car seat.
This can be quite some time as. Graco offers a line of car seats that help your child safely ride rear facing longer until they reach 50 lb. Make sure you observe the weight and height limits for this seat as well but try to keep your child in this position until the maximums are reached. This usually means around 40 to 50 pounds and up to 44 to 49 inches tall depending on the make and model. Legs bending or pushing on vehicle seats is not a safety concern or a reason to turn forward facing durocher says. Once your child has graduated to a forward facing car seat its recommended they remain in it until they reach the height and weight limit of their seat.
Although this means that some larger infants and toddlers might have to graduate to a rear facing convertible car seat there are several models of infant only. As a rule of thumb there should be at least 1 of space between the top of your childs head and the top of the car seat with any less meaning an upgrade is necessary. All children whose weight or height is above the forward facing limit for their car 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 between 8 and 12 years of age. Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat booster seat or seat belt whichever is appropriate for their weight height and age. Height limits also vary. Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 24.
The total weight an infant only seat can hold is 22 25lbs and a rear facing car seat can fit 40 45lbs with both pending on the brand and model. Once your child reaches the weight or height maximum for your particular rear facing seat you will then switch to a forward facing seat. If your infant arrives early how do you safely accommodate a premature baby in a car seat. Graco supports the american academy of pediatrics and. Once the babies reach the proper weight weigh more than 20 pounds and acquire appropriate skills they can pull themselves up they can be moved to a front facing car seat. Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear facing car seat infant only rear facing car seat or rear facing convertible car seat until they are 2 years old or until they have reached the weight and height limits of their car seat.
Babies and toddlers weighing about 20 40 lbs and between 1 4 years of age can ride in such convertible seats.