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Age: Birth to 1 year
Weight: up to 35 pounds
Type of seat:
Infant-only or rear-facing
convertible
Direction to face:
Infants should ride rear-facing to at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds, longer if possible. The seat should be at a 30- to 45-degree angle to keep the child's head from falling forward. Do not tip it too far back or the child could come out of the seat in a crash.
Note: Infants who outgrow a smaller infant-only seat before 1 year of age should ride rear-facing in a child safety seat with a higher rear-facing weight limit (over 22 pounds).
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Age: 1 year to 4 years old
Weight: Over 20 pounds,
up to 40 pounds
Type of seat:
Convertible or forward-facing-only seat
Direction to face:
A child over 1 year of age and over 20 pounds may ride facing forward. Use the upright position or the position recommended by the manufacturer.
Note: Keep the child in a child safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, preferably until 4 years old. For children 40 pounds or more who are too young or too active to sit still in a booster seat, or if a vehicle has only lap belts, look for child restraints with harnesses labeled for use over 40 pounds.
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Age: 4 to 9 years old
Weight: Over 40 pounds
Type of seat:
Belt-positioning booster seat, backless or high-back
Direction to face:
Forward-facing
Note: All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 9 years old, or are 4'9" or taller.
Booster seats boost children up to ensure correct seat belt fit. The lap belt should lie across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should lie across the chest. Booster seats MUST be used with a lap AND shoulder seat belt system. A child riding in a seat with a lap-only belt can be seriously hurt in a crash.
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