What is the law on forward-facing car seats?

Every parent wants to know that what is the law on forward-facing car seats to make sure that their kids stay safe in the car while they are traveling or on highways.

This is something that parents all try to get right. It can be confusing as it can vary from time to time and States to States. 

American Academy of Pediatrics came out with recommendations that increase the amount of time a child should be rear-facing from one to two years. Because really all the research shows that a child rear-facing is more protective for their head and neck. 

They also have to remain rear-facing until they are at the age of 2 or 30 pounds. If your child doesn’t have one of these conditions then they are staying in rear-facing.

After your child gets out of a rear-facing seat, they are in a forward-facing seat until they are at the age of 5 or 40 pounds. 

Then they move into a booster seat. Your children now have to stay in a booster seat until they are at the age of 8 or 60 pounds.

How to Check Car Seat Age?

For parents, the best way to check if they are doing it right is to go to a car fitting station near them.

Because one out of five seats is used incorrectly. That could be anything from the installation of the seat to where the chest clip is.

There are two types of seats that you can use for forward-facing. A convertible car seat can be used as rear-facing and then forward-facing car seats. Once your child reaches the recommended age or the weight limit of the car seat. 

Combination Seat:

The other type of car seat is a combination seat that can only be used forward-facing.

It can also be transitioned into a booster seat once your child reaches a particular weight recommended by the seat manufacturer.

Things to consider when you buy a car seat:

There are three things that you need to take into consideration when you are buying the seat for your children. You should consider what their sizes, how much do they weigh and how tall are they.

You should also look at the car seat that how big is the seat? Will it fit in your car and would sit with the other passengers that are riding with you? Will you be able to use it properly on every single trip?

Once you have those things and you pick the right seat for your child. You have to make sure that the child fits properly in the seat, which means that the harness should be snug.

You should not be able to pinch any of the harnesses from their shoulders.

Also, make sure that the harness clip is always at the armpit level. It offers them the best protection.

Safety Measures:

Something interesting about forward-facing seats is the harness should be at or above the child’s shoulders when they are forward-facing. Just like our seat belt comes out from above where we sit. 

This should be the way that this seat belt should fit them and the heart should fit them so at or above their shoulders.

Also, when you are installing your seat in the car. Your seat should not move more than one inch from side to side and front to front especially when you are using a forward-facing car seats. You should also check whether the LATCH system is allowed by the manufacturer of your car seat or not.

This is called a top tether. You can read more about it in your owner’s manual and how to use this. But the purpose of a top tether is to protect your child’s head and neck.

Remember on every single trip your children need to be buckled up properly in the car seat and the seat needs to be buckled properly in your car.