Not So Fast! Transitioning Your Child to the Next Car Seat

Summer vacation is right around the corner! As you and your family get ready for the next big road trip, you might be wondering if it’s time to transition your child from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat or whether you can get rid of that booster seat.

The truth is, many parents transition car seats too early. But, when it comes to keeping your kids safe, making sure they are in the right type of car seat is one of the most important ways you can protect them. Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in children. Securing your child in the appropriate car seat reduces their risk of injury in a car crash by 71-82% compared to a seat belt alone! It’s worth taking the time to double check that your child is ready for the next type of car seat before you decide to switch.

Here are some tips to make sure your child is in a safe seat for their size:

1. Check your car seat manual. One thing that makes choosing the right car seat confusing is that each car seat has different maximum weight and height limits. This information should be either in the user manual or on the car seat itself. You’ll need to find this information to know when it’s the right time to switch.
2. Don’t rush. Wait to transition your child to the next seat up until they are about to outgrow their current seat, not as soon as possible. For example, let’s say you have a convertible type of car seat that can be used either rear facing or forward facing, and the manual says, “rear facing 5-40 pounds and forward-facing 22-65 pounds.” Don’t change the seat from rear-facing to forward-facing until your child is 40 pounds! It might be tempting to make the switch at 22 pounds, but each time you transition to the next type of seat you lose a layer of protection. So, take your time!
3. Get help. Choosing and correctly installing the right car seat for your child can be challenging. Luckily, there are resources to help. Child Passenger Safety Technicians are professionals who can check your seat and help you install it safely. You can make a free appointment near you via the National Child Passenger Safety Certification website.