• Rear-Facing Car Seat
  - From birth to 1 year old
  - Up to 20 pounds
• Combination Car Seat
  - For Toddlers
  - 20 to 40 pounds
  - Up to 4 years of age
• BOOSTER SEATS
  - For bigger kids
  - Greater than 40 pounds
  - Up to 4' 9"
  - Usually 4 to 8 years old
• Seat Belts Alone
  - Made for adult bodies
  - Taller than 4' 9"
  - Greater than 80 lbs.

Choosing the Correct Restraint

Knowing that your child needs to be in the back seat is the first step. Choosing the proper restraint is equally as important. Be sure that the child safety seat you use is designed for vehicles — the restraint should have a label stating that it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

• Infants up to 20 pounds and under 1 year old should always ride in a rear-facing car seat in the vehicle's back seat.
• Toddlers from 1 to 4 years old and 20 to 40 pounds graduate to a forward-facing safety seat.
• Bigger kids, 40 to 80 pounds and under 4'9" tall, are not yet ready for seat belts. They must be protected with a belt-positioning booster seat. Not only does this reduce their risk of injury in case of an accident, it also allows them a better view out of the vehicle — a win for child and parent alike!
• Kids who weigh more than 80 pounds and are taller than 4'9" may be able to use adult seat belts alone. A child who has reached this stage will be able to sit up straight with his or her back against the seat and his or her knees bent at the seat edge without slouching. Until these milestones are reached, a child should stay in the booster seat.