Baby Car Seat Standards

Car seat laws in california ensure that children who need extra protection in vehicles are secured in suitable child restraints.

Baby car seat standards.

Keep your child rear facing as long as possible. Infant seats and convertible seats are required to be rear facing until passenger is at least 1 year old or 20 lbs. 1 3 years. Avoid using baby seats baby swings bouncy chairs backpack slings and infant carriers until your baby has successfully passed a car seat tolerance test or your pediatrician says that it is safe for the baby to be in a semi reclined position.

Booster seats or child safety seats are required until age 6. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat. All child restraint laws are standard enforcement. There are different types of rear facing car seats.

Because those standards and mandates are so important the rising number of noncompliant car seats available for purchase online or seen at car seat check events is especially concerning safety. Because thousands of children are injured or killed each year due to violations of booster seat laws or improper installation of the child restraints ca has established strict laws detailed the ages heights and weights children must be before they are exempt from. Convertible and all in one car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear facing position allowing you to keep your child rear facing for a longer period of time. Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.

Children must be in the best front facing seats or convertible seats until age 5 or 40 lbs.