As parents our number one responsibility is to keep our kids safe from the time they are born. Even before baby comes home from the hospital, we ensure that our houses are baby proof, that their cribs are free of unnecessary objects and that everyone that visits your household is germs free. 😉 However, ensuring that your baby is safe at home is just the beginning, you must also make sure your baby is safe every time he/she rides in the car. Today, I want to share with you a few safety tips to keep in mind when shopping for a car seat.
Car Seat Safety: What you Need to Know!
Car seats at a glance:
- Infant/Toddler, must ride in Rear-Facing only or Rear-Facing Convertible seats. Babies and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
- Toddlers/Preschoolers, must ride in Forward-Facing with harness or Rear/Forward-Facing Convertible seats. Your toddler and/or preschooler should be riding in forward-facing with harness or rear/forward-facing convertible seats up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.​
- School age kids, must ride in Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Car seat installation at a glance:
- Always follow your car seat manufacturer instructions. However, as a standard, all car safety seats may be installed with either the vehicle’s seat belt or the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system.
- LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, this anchors are designed to make car seat installation easier and safer. LATCH anchors are available in all new vehicles since 2002. The LATCH system allows car seats to attach directly to the vehicle without relying on seat belts.
- Car seat belt installation, always check your car owner’s manual for installation suggestions. Whether you are installing your car seat with the LATCH system or your car’s seat belt, your car seat should be installed in the back seat, preferably in the middle seat.
Common mistakes:
- Hand-me down car seats. If you are considering getting a used or hand-me down car seat, make sure to check that it hasn’t been in a car accident. Car seats expire, so make sure it is not expired or older than 6 years.
- Bulky clothing. Don’t make the mistake of over dressing your child while he/she is riding in their car seat. Bulky clothing may prevent the car seat’s harness from doing its job.
- For older kids using seat belts, make sure the shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder, not the neck. The lap belt should fit across the upper thighs, not the stomach and she should be able to place his or her feet flat on the car floor while sitting back against the seat.
One important thing, you must take away from the tips above is to always follow your car seat manufacturer instructions for installation, weight and height limits. Rear/forward-facing, convertible (like the Cosco Scenera), and booster seats are meant to protect your kids but only if used properly. The Scenera NEXT is one of the only car seats on the market to fit three car seats across. The seat is forward and rear facing from 5-40 pounds, has side impact protection and machine washable fabric. The harness on this Cosco baby car seat features five heights and three buckle locations so you can be sure you’re giving the best fit to your growing child. The best part is that the Scenera retails for only $46.00 at Walmart or Walmart.com HERE
Disclosure: The product mentioned above was received to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received. All express opinions are 100% mine and not influenced by anything or anyone.
Infants/Toddlers Should Be Moved From A Rear-Facing To Forward- Facing Car Seat When They Reach The Highest Weight Or Height That The Car Seat Manufacturer Has Set. So It Is Based On Height/ Weight Not The Age Of The Child.
Experts now recommend that you keep your toddler’s car seat facing backward until she’s at least 2-years-old or has reached the seat’s height and weight limits for the rear position (usually 36 inches and 30 to 35 pounds).
They should when they are toddler and/or preschooler age, but it is also based on the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.​
They should be at least 2 years old and should weigh over 20 pounds. Until then they need to remain rear facing.
In a new policy statement published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age two, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for the car seat, which can be found on the back of the seat. Many parents currently choose to flip their child to forward-facing around his or her first birthday.
I believe it’s not really based on exact age, but more on their height/weight. Your toddler and/or preschooler should be riding in forward-facing with harness or rear/forward-facing convertible seats up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.​
You must keep your toddler’s car seat facing backward until she’s at least 2-years-old or has reached the seat’s height and weight limits for the rear position (usually 36 inches and 30 to 35 pounds).
Not before 2 and when they reach the limits on the seat.
It is recommended that kids are rear-facing until 2 years old or when they reach the height and weight requirements.
Infants and toddlers have to ride in a rear-facing only or rear-facing convertible seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seats manufacturer. So there is a set age.
I think when they are 2 and close to 30 pounds. But never should ride in the front seat until they are like 80lbs.
The laws vary from state to state the minimum in most states is 1 year and 20lbs but most experts agree that children should now rear face to age 2 and beyond that if the seats’s weight/height limit allows
The child should be at least 2 years old and should weigh over 20 pounds, if not they need need to remain rear facing.
Thanks for the giveaway! =)
I think for rear facing it should be when the recommended seat will allow on weight limit.
I think it depends on the car seats weight limit and safety standards.
I think toddler age is a good time – so 2-3.
Babies and toddlers need to set in a rear-facing seat until they reach the highest weight or height specified on the car seat. It depends on the child and the seat.
Yourt toddler should remain rear-facing until they exceed the weight or height limitations.
some places have the law at 1, and some the law is 2. its great to wait as long s possible
I would say you need to change that around the age of two years old.
They should be moved at around 2 years old.
I would say around age 2
It looks like it is recommended that kids are rear-facing until 2 years old or when they reach the height and weight requirements.
It has to do with the weight on the carseat
Age 2 or weight of child.
I would say the best way to go is move the child once he/she has outgrown the seat by height and/or weight.
Not before they are 2.
They need to be at least two years old, and they should ride in a rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
I would follow the manufacturers instructions because it depends on the brand/model of the seat. I’ve heard people say this can vary from 2 years to 5 years.
Toddlers should be moved to forward facing whenever they exceed the rear facing weight limits of their car seat. They should at least be two years old at this time, but they can stay rear facing for longer.
Toddlers/Preschoolers should be moved to a forward facing seatbelt seat up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.​
The child should remain rear facing until he or she is 2 years old. The weight should be over 20 pounds as well.
Experts recommend keeping your toddler’s car seat facing backward until they are at least 2 years old or have reached the seat’s height and weight limits for the rear position (36 inches and 30-35 pounds).
You should change around age 2…..if they are weight/size appropriate.
Both the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend children face backward until they outgrow their seat. That means most children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they’re at least 2 or 3 years old.
Until they are as old as possible! Not before the age of 2 though.
I go by weight.
They should be at least 2 years of age.
I turned my son around at 1 because our pediatrician said she had done the research and she believed it to be safe. My daughter just turned 1, but we have not turned her around yet, only because she is not 22 pounds yet. As soon as she reaches that weight, she too will be turned around.
I kept my little one rear-facing in her seat until she was two years old, then switched the seat to front-facing.
till the child is atleast 2 years old
Your child should stay in the rear facing position until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer, which is usually around 2 or 3. If you have a smaller child that is between 2 and 3, they should probably still stay in the rear facing position until they reach the maximum weight/ height specs. based on the carseat’s manufacturer.
I think the age is around two. My kids have all been tiny for their ages, so it took much longer.
until 2 yrs
I should move my child from Rear-facing car seat to a Forward-Facing car seat after the age of two.
It should be after they turn two. It is also based on height and weight, so I would refer to the owner’s manual to get the recommended figures.
two years old and about 30 pounds
I have always heard it is age based (like 2 years old??)…however, I would imagine that height and weight should really play into the decision. If you have a very small child, it may take longer!
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A child should be at least two years old, and appropriate size, to switch to forward facing in their car seat.
You should change to a forward-facing seat when your toddler exceeds the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer for a rear-facing seat.
Well, considering when my babies were little you didn’t have to do that, and now my babies are having babies, and even one of their babies had a baby… so I’m way out of touch with the age, but I would imagine it depends how big the child gets. Some babies really get big and chubby and they’re still only one or younger, but then maybe there’s a law out there that you have to keep them that way until a certain age. I just don’t know that answer, but here’s my opinion. 🙂
Its not really about the correct age. You should move them when they reach the appropriate height and weight to reverse directions.
In Ohio it’s a minimum of 1 year and 20 lbs. It’s definitely recommend to keep them in longer, though!!
We kept our younger daughter in a rear facing car seat until she was about 18 months old. After that, she was a bit long already and her legs were often folded so we changed her to a front facing car seat then.
I read somewhere that the child should be at least 2 years old. I’ve read other places that it goes by weight.
They should be over 2 years old and weighing over 20 pounds. I think my daughter was 2 1/2 when we moved her!
It is best to base it on the height/weight of the child based on the car seat’s recommendations.
This seat looks perfect for small cars!!!!!!
Age 2.
I say 2 years at least, mine were 3 years.
I think you should always go by the car seat weight/height guidelines. I turned my daughters seat when she reached the weight limit of her rear facing carseat.
Research says you should wait until the child is about 2 years old. Of course, if you child is really small, you probably should keep them facing backwards until they get bigger.
What a great car seat! My niece could really use this for her little one. Babies and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
I’ve always heard that they should be at least two. We waited until then with my son and will with any future children!
Follow manufacturer guidelines for your specific seat.
Till at least 2 years old and the weight the the car seat says.
They should be in a car seat until they are at least 40 in tall. They should be in a booster seat untli they are 50 in tall.
I think I’ve read at age 2.
I think that it’s usually according to the height and weight limitations of the car seat. Height and weight are more important than age.
I believe it is age 2. Thanks for the chance.
I think after 2 or at least over 30 lbs, but I know each state has their own laws on this
It is recommended until the age of 2.
Until 2 years old or when they reach the height and weight requirements.
The current standards are you must keep your toddler’s car seat facing backward until he / she’s at least 2-years-old or has reached the seat’s height and weight limits for the rear position (usually 36 inches and 30 to 35 pounds).
I would probably switch it to forward facing when the child is two years old or the recommended weight and height for that particular car seat.
It is either the weight of the child or the age f two
New recommendations now state that you should leave your child in rear facing car seats until they are 2 years old but it is really more important to go by the height and weight instructions provided with your car seat. That is a safer way to judge.
It seem these rules are always changing. Always check your seat limits & follow them. I chose a seat that allowed extended rear facing after the age of 1, but now I believe it is mandatory until 2 or the average height/weight for a 2 year old.
My child is 30, so she is mostly the driver these days 🙂 However, she has a 4 month old (1st time grandma here), so she will tell me when, what and how about everything because things are so much different from when she was a baby.
Kids should be rear-facing until 2 years of age. Unless they meet the height weight requirements sooner
Children should remain in a rear facing car seat until the age of two for their own safety. There are also certain height and weight requirements that come into effect when it comes to children staying in car seats.
Until they are age 2
It isn’t based on age.. it’s based on height/weight of the child. The manufacturer of the safety seat lists the requirements.
Babies and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
You can move them to rear facing after age 2. However, you do need to take the child’s height and weight into consideration first.
We rear face for as long as possible, with height and weight, not by age.
i would say around 2 years old
Typically you can move a child at 2 years of age from back to front facing. BUT it all depends on the child and the car seat.
Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer. This will most likely be when she’s at least 2-years-old.
they should stay rear facing until the age of 2. then you can turn the car seat around
It is the size of the child that is more important in this milestone rather than the age, but generally they are around 2 years old.
I would have to say that you turn your child from rear-facing until they reach the age or the height that is determined by the manufacter.
I think it would depend more on height/weight than age because every child is different. For example my friend’s 4 year old was tiny she was the smallest in her class and they had to be extra careful with her as far as safety.
You move them when they are toddlers. I am learning all this as I am a firt time expecting mother.
We could use this for a our baby girl.
It depends on the height and weight.
It is based on height and weight of your lottle one. Your toddler should remain rear-facing until they exceed the weight or height limitations.
At age 2 or go by their weight for your state’s requirement
At least until 2 my daughter was longer due to size
I’ve always heard that it is recommended after age two but it really does depend on size and weight. I will wait until my babies are at least 25-30 lbs just to be safest.
It should go by each state’s law concerning the age/weight changing to a forward-facing seat when your toddler exceeds the highest weight or height and also check your car seat manufacturer’s recommendations.
Thank You for the giveaway…the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the age of 2 or until they outgrow the rear-facing height and weight capacity of their car seat, but at a minimum, children must remain rear-facing until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old. That means that if your child reaches 20 pounds at 9 months, they still need to remain rear-facing for at least one year.