安琪, 安杰 與安廷的成長日記

If there is any concern I have regarding the car seats.  These two questions are the ones I always wonder and not certain even after having 3 kids.  I came across the email with the guideline listed below and thought I better save them before my absent mind lost them again:

Original From: Baby Center: Car seat safety: The biggest mistakes parents make, and how to avoid them

When to move my child out of his car seat or booster?

Though safety-seat laws vary from state to state, all require that children under age 3 ride in a safety seat.  Experts are unequivocal in their recommendations for safe riding beyond that age:

• Your child should ride in a safety seat with a five-point harness until he weighs at least 40 pounds, or until his shoulders no longer fit under the harness straps.  You can use a convertible rear- and forward-facing car seat until your child hits 40 pounds (good to know.... because both Andrew and Austin are under 40 pounds and they are still in the five-point car-seat), or the harness system of a car-and-booster-seat combo from as little as 20 pounds up to 40 pounds.
• Your child should ride in a booster seat from the time he weighs 40 pounds and is at least 3 years old until he's 4 feet 9 inches tall and at least 8 years old.  <-- haha.... Angie is still in her booster because our deal is that she needs to be at least 60 pounds before she can get off...... 

When I can start letting my child ride in the front seat?

Although your child may whine and pelad to ride in the front seat with you, the backseat is by far the safest place for him.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under age 13 ride in the backseat every time they get in the car.  

If possible, bucke your child into the middle of the backseat, where he's best protected from side-impact collisions.  If your child rides in a booster seat and your car has only a lap belt in the ceter back, position your child's booster on either the right or left side of the backseat and buckle him in with the car's lap and shoulder belts.