Child Passenger Safety

STAGE 1:  This child is 9 months old and weighs 24 pounds.  She has met the weight requirement for a rear-facing child, however, she is not yet one year of age.  So, this child MUST remain rear-facing for three more months at a minimum.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the safest thing that you can do for your child is to keep them rear-facing until the maximum weight limit of the seat will allow (refer to your child safety seat manufacturer's instructions for weight limits). If your child is currently transported in an infant carrier and is over 20-22 pounds but is not yet one year of age, you need to transition your child into a convertible seat (one that can be rear-facing AND forward facing).  * Most infant carriers will only restrain a child until 20 or 22 pounds.*

STAGE 2:  This child is seventeen months old and weighs 23 pounds.  She must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat through the age of five.  She is shown appropriately restrained in a forward-facing harness system.  Forward-facing is appropriate for her due to her age and weight.  * Most harness systems will only restrain a child until 40 pounds.  Refer to your child safety seat manufacturer's instructions for weight limits.*

STAGE 3:  This child is four years old and weighs 42 pounds.  He must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat through the age of five.  He is shown appropriately restrained in a booster seat using the vehicle lap AND shoulder belt.
* According to ALL belt-positioning booster seat manufacturers, these seats MUST be used with a lap AND shoulder belt.*

STAGE 4:  This child is 10 years old.  She must ride in a booster seat or seat belt through the age of ten.  She is shown appropriately restrained using the vehicle lap and shoulder belt, while her knees bend comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat and the shoulder belt is off of her neck but crossing over her strong collar bone.  

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