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A bigger car-seat

May 23, 2007 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

While car seats save innumerable lives each year, it’s
important to remember that they are designed and constructed for kids of specific size and
weight. When your children start outgrowing their infant seats, you will have to get them a
bigger seat.

  • Children over a year old or weighing at least 20 lbs. are meant to sit
    facing forward in a convertible seat.
  • Larger forward facing child vests and seats can hold
    children of varying sizes. Some of these seats come with harnesses and belt-positioning boosters.

Make sure you read the label and relevant instructions before you decide to buy the
right seat for your toddlers. Expensive seats can cost anywhere from $130 to $270. What you should
be looking for is the correct choice. Try looking for the following features in a safety
car seat:

  • The seat should be easy to install.
  • It should lock smoothly and
    automatically into the harness once installed. Try locking and unlocking the straps repeatedly.
  • The seat should have adjustable straps if you choose to change its position.
  • For smaller
    infants and newborns, a special convertible seat is available. This will be rear facing. It can be
    turned around to face forward when your infants grow up.

More than 80 percent of car
seats are installed incorrectly according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). So make it a
habit to check the car seat every 3 months for alignment and fitting. This will only take a minute
and can save you a lot of worry about your infant’s safety.

 

The chart below gives
state-wise requirements related to the use of car seats for toddlers.
(Source:www.elitecarseats.com)

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

Alabama

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

6

Alaska

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

16

Arizona

 

 

5

 

 

5

 

 

 

Arkansas

 

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

15

California

 

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

16

Colorado

1

20

4

40

 

6

 

55

16

Connecticut

1

20

6

60

 

6

60

 

 

Delaware

 

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

15

Florida

 

 

3

 

 

5

 

 

5

Georgia

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

16

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

Hawaii

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

15

Idaho

1

 

4

 

 

6

 

 

 

Illinois

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

 

16

Indiana

 

 

7

 

 

7

 

 

16

Iowa

1

20

6

 

 

6

 

 

11

Kansas

 

 

4

 

 

8

80

57

14

Kentucky

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

40

All

Louisiana

1

20

 

40

 

 

80

 

13

Maine

 

 

 

40

 

8

80

 

18

Maryland

 

 

6

40

 

6

40

 

16

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

Massachusetts

 

 

5

40

 

5

40

 

12

Michigan

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

16

Minnesota

1

20

4

 

 

4

 

 

 

Mississippi

 

 

4

 

 

8

 

 

8

Montana

 

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

All

Nebraska

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

18

Nevada

 

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

All

New
Hampshire

 

 

6

55

 

6

55

 

18

New
Jersey

 

 

8

80

 

8

80

 

18

New Mexico

1

 

6

60

 

6

60

 

18

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

New York

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

16

North Carolina

 

 

8

80

 

8

80

 

16

North Dakota

 

 

7

 

 

7

 

 

17

Ohio

1

20

4

40

 

4

40

 

 

Oklahoma

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

13

Oregon

 

 

4

40

 

6

60

 

All

Pennsylvania

 

 

4

 

 

8

 

 

18

Rhode
Island

 

 

7

80

54

7

80

54

All

South
Carolina

1

20

5

40

 

6

80

 

 

South Dakota

 

 

5

40

 

 

 

 

17

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

Tennessee

1

20

4

 

 

8

60

 

16

Texas

 

 

5

 

36

5

 

36

17

Utah

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

15

Vermont

1

20

8

 

 

8

 

 

16

Virginia

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

15

Washington

1

20

4

40

 

6

60

 

18

West
Virginia

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

 

 

Wisconsin

1

20

4

40

 

8

80

57

All

Wyoming

 

 

8

80

 

8

80

 

 

 

Rear Facing Age

Rear Facing
Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Age

Car Seat Weight (lbs.)

Car Seat Height
(in.)

Booster Age

Booster
Seat Weight (lbs.)

Booster Height (in.)

Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Baby Gear

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