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Infant And Child Restraints
Safety experts recommend that children ride rear-facing in the vehicle until they are two
years old or until they reach either the height or weight limit of their rear-facing child
restraint. Two types of child restraints can be used rear-facing: infant carriers and convert-
ible child seats.
The infant carrier is only used rear-facing in the vehicle. It is recommended for children
from birth until they reach the weight or height limit of the infant carrier. Convertible
child seats can be used either rear-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle. Convertible
child seats often have a higher weight limit in the rear-facing direction than infant carriers
do, so they can be used rear-facing by children who have outgrown their infant carrier
but are still less than at least two years old. Children should remain rear-facing until they
reach the highest weight or height allowed by their convertible child seat.
•
Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an air bag. A deploying passen-
ger front air bag can cause death or serious injury to a child 12 years or younger,
including a child in a rear-facing child restraint.
•
Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle with a rear seat.
Older Children And Child Restraints
Children who are two years old or who have outgrown their rear-facing convertible child
seat can ride forward-facing in the vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible child
seats used in the forward-facing direction are for children who are over two years old or
who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their rear-facing convertible
child seat. Children should remain in a forward-facing child seat with a harness for as long
as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the child seat.
All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for the child seat
should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle' s seat belts fit properly. If the
child cannot sit with knees bent over the vehicle' s seat cushion while the child' s back is
against the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning booster seat. The child and belt-
positioning booster seat are held in the vehicle by the seat belt.
GETTING STARTED
WARNING!
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