New guidelines:
Birth to at least 2 years old:
- Rear-facing in an infant or convertible child safety seat.
At least 2 years old AND has outgrown the rear-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight:
- Forward-facing with an internal harness.
4 years old AND has outgrown the forward-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight:
- Ride restrained in a belt-positioning booster seat using the lap belt and shoulder belt.
9 years old or has outgrown the booster seat AND the child can pass the five-step test that demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly:
- Ride restrained with a lap belt and shoulder belt secured correctly on the vehicle seat.
Additionally, children under 13 years old must sit in the back seat if possible.
If a child falls into more than one category, then the child must be placed in the safer restraint for them. For example, a child who is 2.5 years old and weighs 35 pounds but has a car seat with a rear-facing limit of 40 pounds must stay rear-facing even though they are over 2 years old. It’s very important for parents and caregivers to always read their car seat and vehicle owners’ manuals for proper installation.
