Rear-facing car seats are the safest option for young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing child safety seat for as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat. 

For most children, this will be well after their second birthday and probably closer to, or even beyond, age three. Rear-facing supports the head, neck and spine and allows the car seat to absorb most of the crash forces. Many states, including Vermont and New York, have laws requiring rear-facing to at least two years old.

More About Rear-Facing Car Seats 

Most children will stay below the height and weight limits of rear-facing car seats until well after their second birthday. Some states, including Vermont and New York, have laws requiring rear-facing until at least two years old.

As rear-facing children get bigger, parents often ask about the possibility of leg injuries. The AAP has concluded that rear-facing does not increase the risk of leg injuries, as children are able to bend their legs easily and find a comfortable position.

Choosing a car seat for your new baby can be a complicated decision. The best seat is one that fits your car, your child, your budget and that you will use correctly every time you drive.

Once your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat, use a forward-facing car seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Always place a forward-facing car seat in the backseat and use a top tether (a strap with a hook on the back of the car seat) in addition to the seat belt or lower anchors to install.

More About Forward-Facing Car Seats

A car seat harness spreads crash forces over a large portion of the body, protecting developing bones and muscles. The harness holds the hips and shoulders to slow the body down as the car comes to a stop and keeps the head and upper body away from the interior surfaces of the vehicle.

It's important to keep your child in a harnessed seat for as long as possible – until at least the age of four, and ideally until the age of five or six.

Your child has outgrown their forward-facing seat when one of the following happens:

• The tips of your child's ears pass the top of the car seat shell, OR
• Your child's shoulders pass the top harness slot, OR
• Your child’s total height exceeds the limit stated by the car seat manufacturer, OR
• The forward-facing weight limit is met

Use belt-positioning booster seats for children under eight years old who have reached the forward-facing limits for their harnessed car seat. Vermont law requires children to remain in a harnessed car seat until they are at least five years of age, until it is outgrown. Always use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder seat belt – never a lap-only seat belt.

More About Booster Seats

With a belt-positioning booster seat, the vehicle’s seat belt, rather than a harness, restrains your child. The booster positions them so that the seat belt fits correctly – the lap belt lies low and snug across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the chest and shoulder, off the neck.

It is best to wait until your child is five to six years old to use a booster seat. This is not only because they will have the right physical development, but they will also be mature enough to keep the seat belt properly positioned – no slouching, putting the belt behind their head or under their arm, or leaning over to reach for a toy.

You can begin to use a seat belt when your child is at least eight years old and the seat belt fits them correctly. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

More About Seat Belts

When determining if your child is ready to use a seat belt, follow this five-step checklist in any vehicle in which your child rides. If you answer "no" to any of these questions, your child should remain in a booster seat, regardless of age.

• Does your child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
• Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat with their feet touching the floor?
• Does the belt cross their shoulder between their neck and arm?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching their thighs?
• Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Seat belts save thousands of lives each year. Research shows that when caregivers buckle up, children are more likely to as well — so remember to put on your own seat belt and make sure everyone else who rides with you does, too.