Gavini Pediatric & ADHD Clinics

26850 Providence Parkway, Suite 300, Novi, MI 48374 :: 248.348.4200
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Rear facing car seat. Child in a rear facing car seat

Convertible car seat. Child in a convertible car seat

Car Seats & Booster Seats

By law, children under the age of four are required to ride in the backseat of a car. Additionally all children under the age of two must be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Children are allowed to ride without a car seat or booster seat once they either reach eight years of age, or they are 4 feet 9 inches.

A child that is under the age of four may only ride in the front seat if all other seats in the back of the car are seated by children under the age of four, and the airbag for that seat is turned off.

Riding in the back of the car is the safest place for your child.

Booster seat. Child in a booster seat

A seat belt worn properly should sit snugly across the child's shoulder and chest, and across the thighs. If the seat belt comes across the face or neck, or around the child's stomach, then it is not secure or being worn properly and your child needs a booster seat.

It is recommended that during the first year of your child's life that you use a rear facing car seat. Between one and three years you can begin to forward facing car seats, but it is recommended that you keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible.

At four to seven years, your child should be in a forward-facing car seat that has a harness until he or she outgrows the car seat, and then it is recommended that a booster seat be used. The booster seat should continue to be used until your child outgrows it and the seat belt fits properly across your child, meaning that the belt is snug across the shoulder, chest, and lap.

If your car has a low seat back and doesn't offer a head rest, then use a booster seat that does. If your car has a high seat back and offers a head rest, then use the booster seat that is just meant to boost. If your car has a high seat back, but your child is still too small for just the booster seat, then use the booster that has the harness and padded headrest to offer more support and proper safety to your child when they travel.

A convertible car seat, allows you to change from rear-facing, to forward-facing once your child is old enough. Please check out TopTenReviews.com