When you’re shopping for a car seat, it can be tough to know just how big your child should be to fit properly. But with a little bit of research and a little bit of common sense, you can figure out the right size for your family. In this blog post, we will explore how big a child should be to front face their car seat and help you make an informed decision about which one is right for you and your family. We also have a simple guide on how to measure your child so that you know for sure which car seat is the right fit.
The Different Types of Child Car Seats
There are three types of child car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster. Rear-facing seats are for babies under 12 months old who weigh less than 20 pounds. They should never be moved to a front seat until they reach the height or weight limit for their seat, which is generally around 25 pounds. Forward-facing seats should be used from 12 to 18 months old and should only be moved to the front seat if the child reaches the height or weight limit for their seat. Booster seats should only be used when a child is 4 years old or taller and weighs at least 40 pounds.
Facing a Child in a Front Face Car Seat
There are a lot of misconceptions about rear-facing car seats and the size of children to which they should fit. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has guidelines that say children should be rear-facing until at least age 2 and then only front-facing until they can safely ride in a booster seat. A child’s height and weight are important factors to consider when choosing a car seat, but so are their head and neck sizes.
The ASSE 2009 Guidelines for Child Passenger Safety state that “one inch below the armpit is the guideline that provides the best protection in frontal crashes.” This means that most babies who are 13 inches or taller will need to be in a rear-facing car seat. If a baby falls below this height, they should be fitted with a booster seat until they reach the appropriate height for their car seat.
There are smaller car seats available for younger babies, but these seats may not provide as much protection in a crash. A convertible car seat, which can grow with your child from infant to toddler stage, is a good option if you’re concerned about your child’s safety.
Rear-Facing Car Seats for Children
Children grow at different rates, so it’s important to choose the right car seat for them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear-facing car seats for infants up to 1 year old and forward-facing car seats for children from 1 year old and up. A child should remain in their rear-facing car seat until they reach the height or weight limit specified by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child reaches those limits, you may move them to a safer forward-facing position.
How Big Is A Child To Front Face Car Seat
If you’re considering purchasing a car seat for your child, it’s important to know the size of their head and body. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has guidelines that define the size of a child who is large for their age and needs a car seat with an adult-sized safety belt.
The chart below shows how big a child must be in order to fit into one of the following car seats:
Car Seat Size Child’s Head Circumference Child’s Height 4-8 years 17 inches 50th percentile 8-12 years 18 inches 50th percentile 12+ years 19 inches 50th percentile
Based on this chart, a child 4 to 8 years old should be in a car seat that is sized for an 18-inch head circumference and 49 to 52 inch height. A child between 8 and 12 years old should use a car seat that corresponds with their height measurement, which means a seat that is either size 24 or 25 inches long, but not both. In fact, children taller than 47 inches should use the size 26 car seat because it fits them better than the size 24 model. Children 12 years or older should use either the size 27 or 28 car seat, but not both sizes because they will ride higher in the larger model.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that most of us grew up being told to keep our infants facing forward in their car seats. Nowadays, with more and more research pointing to the dangers of rear-facing car seats, it’s becoming increasingly common for parents to choose a front-facing seat for their children. Before making this decision, however, it is important to understand how big your child is and how they will fit into a particular car seat.