Baby Car Seat Guidelines

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.

Baby car seat guidelines.

Keep your ch ild in a forward facing car seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat s manufacturer. Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 2 4. Fines will range from a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 75 per occurrence. Infant car seat rear facing only.

2020 national child passenger safety best practice recommendations. Once your child outgrows the rear facing car seat your child is ready to travel in a forward facing car seat with a harness and tether. 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. Read the forward facing car seat s owner s manual to determine height and weight limits and keep your child in a harnessed seat for as long as possible.

Most babies outgrow their infant seats before their first birthday. Once your child outgrows the forward facing car. Check the car seat manual and labels on the car seat for weight and height limits. Car seat manufacturers self certify that the car seat meets federal standards by crash.

Children ages 8 15 must use a child safety seat or safety belt. Don t wait for a ticket. Rear or forward facing child car seat high backed booster seat or booster cushion using a seat belt harness or safety shield manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3. A child is ready for a booster seat when they have outgrown the weight or height limit of their forward facing harnesses which is typically between 40 and 65 pounds.

Proper use this means the car seat is being used based on instructions for that particular car seat. Definitions for common terms. 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. Designed for newborns and small babies the infant only car seat is a small portable seat that can only be used rear facing.

Use a rear facing infant or rear facing convertible safety seat as long as possible up to the rear facing height or weight limit of the seat. These instructions include installation use child meets the size requirements. When that happens we recommend that parents purchase a convertible or all in one car seat and use it rear facing. Ohio buckles buckeyes provides free child car seats to eligible low income families in all ohio counties.