At what age or weight is it O.K. to stop using a child car seat and start putting your kid in a standard seat?

Question

My daughter is almost 3 yrs old and about 32 lbs and can't stand being in her child seat. I was wondering when am I OK to put her in the cars original seat with the standard seat belts?

I can't wait to have the cumbersome child seat out of my car but I don't want my daughter to get hurt either.

Answer 1

my granddaughter is about same age and weight we got her a good booster seat for the car shes happy because she is out of the seat and she really don't realize shes in the booster seat but they are very safe and they sit up high so she can seeout the windows which she likes there not that expensive at walmart

Answer 2

Please keep her in the seat. Boosters cannot be used safely until at least 40 pounds, and most kids aren't mature enough to sit in them consistently and safely until they are five or six. Four would be the MINIMUM. She really is far safer being in a harnessed seat for as long as possible. We would all be safer in a five-point harness (we'd all be safer rear-facing, too, but that is beside the point).

Answer 3

the law for car seats vary from state to state but I can definitely tell you she's too little to not be in a car seat. I would suggest trying a booster seat. They are less restrictive. My 6 year old still rides in a booster. The general rule of thumb is, they need to be in a car or booster seat until they can sit in the seat with their knees bent over the edge of the seat while sitting properly.

Answer 4

It's different for each state.  Where I live (PA) at 40 pounds they car use a booster seat.  Not until the age of 8 can they use the regular seat.