According to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), children under the age of 13 should always ride in the backseat of the car, in a car safety seat appropriate for their height, weight, and age.
There are currently three different general categories of child safety seats:
- Rear-facing child safety seats. These seats are designed for use from newborns up to a maximum weight designated on the seat, typically from 22 to 45 pounds. They can be for vehicle-only use or they may be part of a stroller system that secures into a vehicle-mounted base.
- Front-facing child safety seats. Front-facing seats are for children that have outgrown the requirements for their rear-facing seat. There are a wide range of weight allowances depending on the style and manufacturer. Generally, children should use a front-facing child safety seat until at least 4 years of age.
- Booster seats. For children who have outgrown a front-facing child safety seat, a booster seat is recommended until they’ve grown to 4 feet 9 inches in height and between 8 and 12 years of age.
Knowing where the child safety seat should be installed is another important part of the puzzle. It is widely recommended that children should always be safely buckled into the backseat in their child safety seat. However, what is the best location for the child seat to be installed?
Child seat placement requirements may be different depending on the state where you are traveling. Here are state-specific recommendations for the where a child safety seat goes in a vehicle:
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Alabama
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Alaska
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Arizona
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Arkansas
- Child Seat Safety Laws in California
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Colorado
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Connecticut
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Delaware
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Florida
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Georgia
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Hawaii
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Idaho
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Illinois
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Indiana
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Iowa
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Kansas
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Kentucky
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Louisiana
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Maine
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Maryland
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Massachusetts
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Michigan
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Minnesota
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Mississippi
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Missouri
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Montana
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Nebraska
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Nevada
- Child Seat Safety Laws in New Hampshire
- Child Seat Safety Laws in New Jersey
- Child Seat Safety Laws in New Mexico
- Child Seat Safety Laws in New York
- Child Seat Safety Laws in North Carolina
- Child Seat Safety Laws in North Dakota
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Ohio
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Oklahoma
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Oregon
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Pennsylvania
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Rhode Island
- Child Seat Safety Laws in South Carolina
- Child Seat Safety Laws in South Dakota
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Tennessee
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Texas
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Utah
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Vermont
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Virginia
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Washington
- Child Seat Safety Laws in West Virginia
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Wisconsin
- Child Seat Safety Laws in Wyoming
Aside from placement, choosing the right car seat and knowing the child seat safety laws in your state are important to know. Bookmark this page and refer to it when you are traveling to a different state and when your child has graduated to another type of child seat.
