Toddler and Older Child Car Seats are often considered Convertible: These are the most versatile car seats that offer the most options. These car seats are forward facing and more of a booster seat than a safety seat. The weight limit recommended for these seats is 40 pounds to 65 (around 4 years old) pounds if the seat has harness. If the seat does not feature a harness than children from 80 to 120 pounds will fit comfortably.

The importance of tethers and your child’s safety seat. The tether is the strap that attaches the safety seat to the seat of the car. Seat belt tethers offer added security, which was primarily introduced to prevent a child’s head from moving too far forward in the event of an accident. Tethers can be found in almost all vehicles that were made after the year 2000.

Common Concerns: If my child is 10 years old are they old enough to ride outside of the car seat? Children should ride in the back seat up until the age of 13. It is really in the parents best judgement to assess whether their child is ok to ride outside of the car seat when they are 13. If you child has to ride in the front seat, than you should make sure they are as far away from the dashboard as possible and the airbag. What about taking my child on an airplane? We are all too familiar with the dangers flying can risk. However unlike a car, the FAA suggests that children ride in safety seats until the age of 4. There are only certain car seats that are airline approved and they meet the FAA regulations. If you are planning on flying with your child, then it is recommended you look into one of these seats.