# baby seat guidelines

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 28, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596 "2004-05-28T23:22:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596/1 "2004-05-28T23:22:25Z")

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Any one have general guidelines of age/weight used in the US for requiring kids to be in a baby seat/booster seat? thx

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596/2 "2004-05-28T23:24:42Z")

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Varies from state to state. That’s all I know. Need 'em in CHina?

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**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596/3 "2004-05-28T23:27:23Z")

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I went looking for California, where I am, but I found this:

[http://www.hwysafety.org/safety\_facts/state\_laws/restrain2.htm](http://www.hwysafety.org/safety_facts/state_laws/restrain2.htm)

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**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-seat-guidelines/247596/4 "2004-05-29T01:26:17Z")

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The general rule of thumb is to keep your child in the most secure seat possible until they outgrow it. In other words, as long as they fit in the rear-facing seat, keep them rear-facing. As long as they fit in the car seat, use the car seat. Keep them in the back seat more or less indefinitely. And so forth. That having been said, here are the specific Washington state laws, followed by the general NHTSA and AAP guidelines:  
**Washington state law**

Infants must be in a rear-facing car seat until 1 year of age or 20 pounds.

Children 4 and under (or 40 lb or under) must ride in forward-facing child safety seats.

Children 4-6 or 40-60 lb must ride in booster seats when both lap and shoulder belts are available.

Children under 6 must ride in the back seat if there are air bags in the front.  
**National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics “Best Practice” Recommendations**

Infants need to remain rear facing until at least one year AND at least 20 lbs.

Keep the child in the convertible seat as long as they fall within the height/weight recommendations for the seat. Be careful not to graduate your child to the next seat too soon.

Booster seats, used with lap and shoulder belts, are recommended until the child is eight (8) years old unless they are 4’ 9” tall. Be cautious not to graduate your child to a seat belt too soon.

Children 12 and under are safer in the back seat regardless of the presence of an air bag.