What are the car seat laws in the US?

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) recommends keeping your child in a car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer's height and weight requirements.

Use the NHTSA car seat recommendations for children by age as a guide. Children should stay in a car seat and transition to a booster seat when the vehicle seat belts fit properly. This is usually when a child reaches about 4 feet 9 inches in height and is between 8 and 12 years old. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until they are 10 to 11 years old. For more information, check out this blog for state-by-state laws and guidelines.