For the best possible protection infants and toddlers should be buckled in a rear facing car seat in the back seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limits of their car seat. Keep your ch ild in a forward facing car seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seats manufacturer.
When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat By Height And Age
Height and weight for child to sit in front seat. Typical regulations states that use height as a requirement for sitting in the front seat most often specify 4 feet 9 inches as the minimum suggested front seat height. Child passengers must be restrained in child safety seats until they weigh forty pounds or reach the upper weight limit for the car seat in use. Booster seat law children over forty pounds or who have reached the upper weight. Use a rear facing infant or rear facing convertible safety seat as long as possible up to the rear facing height or weight limit of the seat. Once your child outgrows the forward facing car. Infants must ride rear facing until they reach two years of age unless the child turned age one prior to may 26 2017.
All 50 states the district of columbia guam the northern mariana islands and the virgin islands have laws in place for infants and children requiring proper child safety seats. Even if a 13 year old weighs more than 150 pounds they may still need to use a booster seat if theyre under 4 feet 9 inches tall. If there is not a back seat in the vehicle eg a truck or if other restrained children are in the back seat georgia law permits a child under the age of 8 to sit in front if restrained in the proper car seat or booster and the child weighs at least 40 pounds. Children under the age of 8 are required to be in either a car seat or a booster seat suitable for their age and height. The fine for violating the law is 2500 plus court costs. Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear facing car seat.
Properly install according to instructions in owners manual rear facing in the back seat. Children under 12 years old or 65 inches in height are still required to sit in the back seat if there are active airbags in the front passenger seating position. Generally children must be at least 4 feet 9 inches tall before they stop using a car seat. Once your child outgrows the rear facing car seat your child is ready to travel in a forward facing car seat with a harness and tether. Use a rear facing car seat from birth until ages 24. No child under the age of 13 should sit in the front seat according to the centers for disease control and prevention.
Since laws regarding the childs height weight and age vary by state be sure to use the map above to find laws applying to your state. Additionally children 8 through 15 years old are required to be properly secured in a seatbelt. Weight limits for most seats range from 2065 pounds lb. Height limits also vary. A seat belt may not fit properly at this height. Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat booster seat or seat belt whichever is appropriate for their weight height and age.