What is the child seat belt law in California?

California Law

(California Vehicle Code Section 27360.) ​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4'9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

What are the height and weight requirements for a booster seat in California?

According to California State Law, children must be seated in the rear seat of a vehicle in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9″ tall. Children must remain in a rear facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more or are at least 40 inches tall.

What are the requirements for a child to sit in the front seat in California?

When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in California? Under the law, children who are older than 8 years and taller than 4”9' can sit in the front seat but it is recommended by experts that you use booster seats until the age of 13.

What age can a child use a normal seatbelt?

Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt. You can choose a child car seat based on your child's height or weight.

What age do kids stop using car seats?

By law, all children under 150cm in height or under 36kg in weight must use the correct child seat or booster when travelling in a car or goods vehicle. This usually means your child will need to be in a car seat until they are around 12 years old. But it depends on their height and weight.

California Child Seat Laws

At what age can a child stop using a 5-point harness?

Generally, kids are between the ages of 5-9 when they begin to outgrow the weight limitations of a 5-point harness car seat. Before you make the move to a belt-positioning booster seat, make sure your child meets these requirements: Generally, kids weighing over 65 pounds are ready to switch to a booster seat.

Can an 8 year old ride in the front seat in California?

Are children allowed to ride in the front seat in California? Yes. Children in California can ride in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle when they are eight years of age or older. However, safety standards recommend keeping children in the rear seat because of risks associated with front airbags.

Can a 7 year old sit in the front seat?

Children 3 years and over, up to 135cm tall must sit in the rear and use an adult seat belt. Children aged 12 years or more, or over 135cm tall, may travel the front, but must wear the seat belt.

When can a child use a backless booster seat in California?

Backless booster seat requirements

Here are the general requirements for backless booster seats: Backless booster seat age requirements: From the time kids surpass the weight or height limits allowed by their car seat to about 8 to 12 years of age (depending on the child's size).

How much does a child have to weigh to sit in the front seat?

at least 9 years of age. 4 feet 9 inches in height. 80 lb in weight.

What are the height and weight requirements for a backless booster seat in California?

According to California State Law, Children must be seated in the rear seat of a vehicle in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9″ tall. Children must remain in a rear facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more or are at least 40 inches tall.

What is the weight requirement for a backless booster seat?

An average 40-pound child is typically closer to age five, a much safer age to consider making a transition to booster use. And many booster seats that can be used in both a highback and backless configuration have a higher minimum weight limit of 40 pounds when used in the backless mode.

When can a child move to a backless booster?

When should I use backless booster vs high back booster?

Backless booster seats are often preferred by older children, since high back boosters and car seats with harnesses may seem “babyish.” They're also lightweight, compact and inexpensive, making them a good choice for families with smaller vehicles, multiple children in car seats, or that need to move car seats between ...

Is a high back booster safer than a backless booster?

Booster seats are designed to raise children to a height where they can safely wear the vehicle's built-in seat belt. Consumer Reports says high-backed boosters are safer than backless ones because they do a better job of properly positioning the seat belt across the child's chest, hips and thighs.

Can my 8 year old use a booster seat?

When your child reaches 15 months, their neck will be stronger and it'll now be safe to mount their car seat facing forward. Children weighing more than 22kg and taller than 125cm can use a backless booster seat. Children of 12 years old or taller than 135cm do not need to use a child seat.

Are booster seats illegal?

So are booster seats illegal? The simple answer is no, but there are different rules depending on the type of seat and the height or weight of the child.

Can you uber with a baby?

Can you Uber with a baby? Yes, you can Uber with a baby but you'll need to bring your own car seat to keep your child safe. There's no Uber baby car seat option and it would be illegal and unsafe for your child to ride unrestrained.

Does my 6 year old need a 5-point harness?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids use a car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight for that five-point harness. 2 This is usually not until at least age four, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

What car seat comes after 30 lbs?

Combination harness to booster seats can convert into a belt-positioning booster, so that is a money saving option as they grow. Combination Boosters are typically suitable for children from 25 lbs up to 90 – 120 pounds and 63″ (but again, check your specific seat).

What car seat should a 6 year old be in?

What car seat should a 6 year old be in? Most 6 year olds are big enough and mature enough to ride in a high back booster seat or even a backless booster seat. If your 6 year old can't sit still in the car or still likes to sleep in the car, it's better to choose a 5-point harness.

Can a 5 year old sit in a booster seat in California?

Current California Law:

(California Vehicle Code Section 27360.) ​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4'9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

Should my 7 year old be in a car seat?

As a pediatrician I recommend that kids stay in a five-point restraint car seat until age 8, in accordance with the research-supported guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. When you finally graduate from a car seat you're still supposed to stay in a booster seat until you're 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches.

What is the best booster seat for a 7 year old?

For this update, we tested 12 models of high-back and backless booster seats, and we've made new picks. Our new top pick is the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus high-back booster, and our new runner-up is the Graco TurboBooster LX high-back booster.

What kind of car seat should a 35 lb child be in?

Once the child passes 35 lbs, which is usually around two years of age, you should start thinking about a front-facing safety seat, or a harness, that will keep your child safe and comfortable.