Car Seat Laws

It took a while, but Colorado just joined the 20th Century in finally upgrading their car seat laws and requiring children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seat to be restrained in a booster seat until they are at least 8 years old.

Previously, kids in Colorado only had to sit in a booster seat until they were 6 years old, which was a lot earlier than the long standing recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Although car seat laws still vary from state to state, since most are still inadequate, you are much better off simply following the guidelines of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and keeping your child who has outgrown their forward-facing car seat and who is over 40 pounds in a belt positioning booster seat until they are about 8 years old, unless they are already 4'9" tall. This is because younger children are 'generally too small for an adult seat belt. The lap belt rides up over the stomach and the shoulder belt cuts across the neck. In a crash, this can cause critical or even fatal injuries.'

The American Academy of Pediatrics goes a little further and says that most kids aren't ready for regular seat belts until 'the child reaches about 4'9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age.' Remember that seat belts don't fit properly until the lap belt lays across your child's upper thighs (not his stomach) and the shoulder belt fits across his chest (not his neck).

Although many states are improving their car seat laws, others are still way behind for some reason. Florida currently has the worst car seat safety laws, only requiring car seats for kids ages three and younger. South Dakota and Arizona and close seconds, only requiring seat belts up to a child's fifth birthday.

Related:
State Car Seat Laws
Child Restraint Laws
Car Seats
Booster Seat or Car Seat?
Registering Your Car Seat