Choosing the right car seat can feel overwhelming. With infant seats, convertible seats, forward-facing seats, and booster seats available, it’s easy for parents to wonder which one their child needs—and when it’s time to move to the next stage.
The good news is that learning how to choose the right car seat doesn’t have to be complicated. The most important things to consider are your child’s age, height, and weight, as well as the car seat’s height and weight limits.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the safest approach is to use the right car seat at the right time and in the right way.
How to Choose the Right Car Seat
Rather than switching seats simply because your child reaches a particular birthday, use your child’s size and the manufacturer’s instructions as your guide.
Birth Through Infancy: Rear-Facing Car Seat
Newborns and infants should ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
Parents may choose an infant-only car seat or a convertible car seat that can be used rear-facing and later transitioned to forward-facing.
Keep your child rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Many children can—and should—remain rear-facing beyond their first birthday.
Always follow the instructions for your specific car seat and make sure the harness fits your child correctly.
When Your Child Outgrows the Rear-Facing Seat: Forward-Facing
Once your child reaches the manufacturer’s maximum height or weight limit for rear-facing use, it’s time to transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
Your child should continue riding in the back seat.
Don’t rush this transition simply because your child has reached a certain age. If your child still fits comfortably within the car seat’s rear-facing limits, continuing to ride rear-facing provides additional protection.
Once the seat is forward-facing, continue using the harness and tether according to the manufacturer’s instructions until your child reaches the seat’s limits.
When Your Child Outgrows the Harness: Booster Seat
Eventually, your child will outgrow the height or weight limits of the forward-facing car seat. That’s when a booster seat may be appropriate.
A booster seat raises your child so that the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly across their body.
The lap belt should lie snugly across the upper thighs or hips—not across the stomach. The shoulder belt should cross the middle of the chest and shoulder rather than sitting against the neck or falling off the shoulder.
Children should continue using a booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits them properly without one.
When Is a Child Ready for a Seat Belt?
There’s no single age at which every child is ready to stop using a booster seat.
A child is ready for the vehicle’s seat belt when it fits properly without the booster. As a general check, your child should be able to sit all the way back against the vehicle seat with their knees bending naturally at the edge of the seat.
The lap belt should sit low across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should cross the chest and shoulder. Your child should also be able to remain seated properly for the entire trip.
If the seat belt doesn’t fit correctly, continue using a booster seat.
Other Things to Consider When Choosing a Car Seat
Knowing how to choose the right car seat isn’t only about selecting the correct type. There are several other important things to consider.
Check the Car Seat’s Height and Weight Limits
Every car seat has specific limits for rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster use. Check the label and owner’s manual before purchasing and as your child grows.
Don’t assume that two car seats of the same type have the same limits.
Make Sure the Car Seat Fits Your Vehicle
Not every car seat fits every vehicle in exactly the same way. Before purchasing one, make sure it can be installed correctly in your vehicle.
If possible, have the car seat installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Read the car seat owner’s manual and your vehicle owner’s manual carefully. Installation instructions, harness positioning, tether requirements, and other details can vary.
Don’t rely solely on what worked for a friend’s car seat or an older sibling’s seat.
Check the Expiration Date
Car seats don’t last forever. Check the manufacturer’s expiration date before purchasing or using a car seat, particularly if you’re getting one secondhand.
You should also check whether the seat has been recalled.
Be Careful With Used Car Seats
It’s important to know the history of a used car seat before putting your child in it. You should know whether it has ever been involved in a crash, whether it has been recalled, whether it has expired, and whether all of its parts and instructions are present.
If you don’t know the seat’s history, it’s safer to choose one with a known history.
Keep Your Child in the Back Seat
Children are generally safest riding properly restrained in the back seat.
Continue following the recommendations for your child’s particular car seat and vehicle, including any requirements regarding where the seat can be installed.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to choose the right car seat starts with remembering that children don’t all move through car-seat stages at the same age. Instead, use your child’s size and developmental needs, along with the car seat’s specific height and weight limits.
Keep your child rear-facing as long as they remain within the manufacturer’s limits, use a forward-facing harness when appropriate, and transition to a booster when they outgrow the harness. Continue using a booster until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly.
Most importantly, take the time to read the instructions and make sure the car seat is installed and used correctly. A properly selected and properly installed car seat is an important part of keeping your child safe every time you travel.
