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What parameters (age/height/weight) should be considered when determining which type of car seat a child should use, or whether to use one at all? When should they be allowed to sit in the front seat?

Ideal guidelines would fill in a table sort of like this:

             | Infant Carrier |    Car Seat    |     Booster    |     No Seat    |    Front Seat  |
===================================================================================================
Age Range    |                |                |                |                |                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Height Range |                |                |                |                |                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight Range |                |                |                |                |                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Citations of industry standards, publications, or laws would be appreciated.

P.S.: I know some existing questions may cover certain aspects of this, but I don't think I've found total coverage of them all. I'm hoping this can be an all-in-one.

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4
  • The 'age' row is mostly irrelevant.
    – DA01
    Oct 30, 2011 at 18:19
  • @DA01 - It is true that physical characteristics are more important, but much of this can generally be summed up by describing the average age at which most children meet those qualifications. Besides, most parents - especially those with school age children that aren't home schooled - are generally familiar with where their child fits in size-wise, when compared to most other kids of a given age, and can apply that knowledge appropriately.
    – Iszi
    Oct 31, 2011 at 2:41
  • 3
    Well, the guidelines are pretty much weight and height. The age can be used as a generic ballpark, but kids at these ages have quite a range of sizes, so it really is best to focus on weight/height.
    – DA01
    Oct 31, 2011 at 4:19
  • Many states now have laws requiring two of three criteria, I would check the laws in your state regardless of recommendations that come from manufactures and others.
    – Erin
    Nov 3, 2011 at 1:26

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
21 
             | Infant Carrier  |   Convertible Seat    |    Car seat    |     Booster    |     No Seat    |    Front Seat  |
============================================================================================================================
Age Range    |  birth - 1 yr  |  birth - 2 yr (rear)   |    1 - 4 yr    |    4 - 10 yr   |   over 10 yr   |   over 13 yr   |
             |                | 1 yr - 10 yr (forward) |                |                |                |                |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Height Range |   19 - 29 in.  |   19 - 36 in. (rear)   |   29 - 36 in   |   36 - 50 in   |   over 50 in   |      n/a       |
             |                |  34 - 53 in. (forward) |                |                |                |                |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight Range |   5 - 22 lbs.  |    5 - 35 lbs (rear)   |   20 - 40 lbs  |   48 - 80 lbs  |  over 80 lbs   |      n/a       |
             |                |  20 - 65 lbs (forward) |                |                |                |                |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

  • For rear-facing seats, the child's head must be at least one inch from the top of the car seat, regardless of other height limitations.
  • For my purposes, a "booster" is a seat that raises the child so he can use an adult seat belt safely.
  • "Convertible seat" refers to a seat that can transition between being rear-facing and forward-facing. They're popular enough that I though they deserved a column as well.
  • Where age was not specified, I estimated using an average height/weight chart, and using the more restrictive of height or weight.

Sources:

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4
  • Wow! Very thorough answer!
    – Marie Hendrix
    Oct 31, 2011 at 0:40
  • Thank you! It was a very thorough question, which helped.
    – Sarato
    Oct 31, 2011 at 20:30
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    The age a child can move to the front seat can also be governed by local laws. In Australia, the child must be at least 12. My 10 year old daughter is the same height as my wife but is stuck in the back seat for another two years.
    – dave
    Nov 2, 2011 at 19:05
  • I wasn't allowed on the front seat until I could reach my left ear with my right hand, with my arm reaching over the top of my head. Silly, yes -- but body growth ensures that that is achievable at a certain body height, and it's profoundly easy for a kid to "grasp".
    – KlaymenDK
    Feb 16, 2018 at 8:19
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Although Sarato has given a good general overview, The answer to this will vary depending on the make and model of the carseats as well as local laws.

For example, some infant carrier carseats support a weight limit of 22 lb, but others have a weight limit of 30 lb. An infant carrier carseat can be used as long as the child is within the height and weight limits of the seat, and the seat fits properly (ie: the shoulder harness goes high enough and their head is not too close to the top of the seat). For some children and seats, it may be only 4 months before they outgrow their infant carseat, others may be able to use one until they are a year or more old.

In the state of California (where I happen to live), the new law going into effect in January is that children must sit in the backseat until they are 12 (with exceptions, such as backseat is already full with additional children), and be in a booster seat or carseat until they are 8.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a page summarizing the carseat laws in each of the 50 US States.

The NHSTA has a helpful infographic representing the age-appropriateness of the different types of seats. Eg: rear-facing 0-3, forward-facing 1-7, booster seat 4-12, seat belt 8+. Notice that these do not reflect the American Academy of Pediatric's most recent stance that children should be kept rear-facing until at least age 2 or as long as possible (within the limits of the carseat).

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