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Seat Sizing

 

Birth to 12 months

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. 

1—3 years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible.  It’s the best way to keep your child safe.  Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seats manufacturer.  Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4—7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing seat with a harness until she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.  Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8—12 years

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.  For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.  The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not across the neck or face.

 

https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#age-size-rec