A bigger car-seat

While car seats save innumerable lives each year, it’s
important to remember that they are designed and constructed for kids of specific size and
weight. When your children start outgrowing their infant seats, you will have to get them a
bigger seat.

• Children over a year old or weighing at least 20 lbs. are meant to sit
  facing forward in a convertible seat.
• Larger forward facing child vests and seats can hold
  children of varying sizes. Some of these seats come with harnesses and belt-positioning boosters.

Make sure you read the label and relevant instructions before you decide to buy the
right seat for your toddlers. Expensive seats can cost anywhere from $130 to $270. What you should
be looking for is the correct choice. Try looking for the following features in a safety
car seat:

• The seat should be easy to install.
• It should lock smoothly and
  automatically into the harness once installed. Try locking and unlocking the straps repeatedly.
• The seat should have adjustable straps if you choose to change its position.
• For smaller
  infants and newborns, a special convertible seat is available. This will be rear facing. It can be
  turned around to face forward when your infants grow up.

More than 80 percent of car
seats are installed incorrectly according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). So make it a
habit to check the car seat every 3 months for alignment and fitting. This will only take a minute
and can save you a lot of worry about your infant’s safety.

 

The chart below gives
state-wise requirements related to the use of car seats for toddlers.
(Source:www.elitecarseats.com)

	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age
Alabama			4			4			6
Alaska			4			4			16
Arizona			5			5
Arkansas			6	60		6	60		15
California			6	60		6	60		16
Colorado	1	20	4	40		6		55	16
Connecticut	1	20	6	60		6	60
Delaware			6	60		6	60		15
Florida			3			5			5
Georgia			6			6			16
	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age
Hawaii			4			4			15
Idaho	1		4			6
Illinois			8			8			16
Indiana			7			7			16
Iowa	1	20	6			6			11
Kansas			4			8	80	57	14
Kentucky					40			40	All
Louisiana	1	20		40			80		13
Maine				40		8	80		18
Maryland			6	40		6	40		16
	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age
Massachusetts			5	40		5	40		12
Michigan			4			4			16
Minnesota	1	20	4			4
Mississippi			4			8			8
Montana			6	60		6	60		All
Nebraska			6			6			18
Nevada			6	60		6	60		All
New Hampshire			6	55		6	55		18
New Jersey			8	80		8	80		18
New Mexico	1		6	60		6	60		18
	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age
New York			6			6			16
North Carolina			8	80		8	80		16
North Dakota			7			7			17
Ohio	1	20	4	40		4	40
Oklahoma			6			6			13
Oregon			4	40		6	60		All
Pennsylvania			4			8			18
Rhode Island			7	80	54	7	80	54	All
South Carolina	1	20	5	40		6	80
South Dakota			5	40					17
	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age
Tennessee	1	20	4			8	60		16
Texas			5		36	5		36	17
Utah			4			5			15
Vermont	1	20	8			8			16
Virginia			6			6			15
Washington	1	20	4	40		6	60		18
West Virginia			8			8
Wisconsin	1	20	4	40		8	80	57	All
Wyoming			8	80		8	80
	Rear Facing Age	Rear Facing Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Age	Car Seat Weight (lbs.)	Car Seat Height (in.)	Booster Age	Booster Seat Weight (lbs.)	Booster Height (in.)	Must Be Restrained – Any Seat Until Age