What are the requirements for rear-facing car seats?

National child restraint laws

• Children up to the age of six months must be secured in an approved rearward facing restraint.
• Children aged from six months old but under four years old must be secured in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness.

Is there a rear-facing car seat law?

Children must use a rear-facing seat until the they are 15 months old. Never fit a rear-facing child seat in the front if there is an active airbag on the passenger side of the car. Children of 12 years old or taller than 135cm do not need to use a child seat. Before this age or height they must do by law.

Is a rear facing car seat so bad?

A rear-facing car seat offers the best protection for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even young school-age kids and should be properly used for as long as possible, to the limits of the car seat. Keeping your child rear-facing to the limit of the seat is the safest choice. You can check your car seat instruction book or the labels on the car seat sides to find the rear-facing weight and height limits.

What are the benifits of a rear facing car seat?

The benefits of keeping a child rear facing include: Added head and neck support in case of a crash. A rear facing seat spreads out impact more evenly. The belts don’t become a hazard because they are worn across the body properly. Necks are supported when children doze off. Their body placement also remains cradled.

When should I switch to a forward facing car seat?

The law now says that a child is to remain in a rear facing seat until they are 1 year old AND 20 pounds. You can go ahead and switch him to a convertible car seat, though becuase they can be rear facing and front facing.

When do you switch to forward facing car seat?

When your child starts to get a little older they will be ready to move out of a rear facing car seat and into a forward facing one. Remember most states require a child be at least two years old before being switched from a rear facing to a forward facing seat.