What are the age requirement for kids in child car seats?

Question

I am getting mixed answers and just would like it simplified as to the exact way it should be. I am not a mom but I do drive a school bus and have little kids and I think 3-5 year olds should be in a booster?
And 1-3 in a car seat. But, some people say up to 7 if this is the case then I have kids on the bus should be in them and there not?
Does this go by state or federal guidelines? What are the federal gudelines?

This is in MA. USA not UK :)

Answer 1

The regulations that people are supposed to follow are at the state level, however, safety should rule first. Theoretically, kids are safer in a bus than a car, except that compartmentization doesn't work when the kids are little.
MA is Masachussettes, right? LOL
"No child under age five and no child weighing forty pounds or less shall ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child is properly fastened and secured, according to the manufacturer's instructions, by a child passenger restraint as defined in section one."
So kids 5 and under must be in a car seat/booster by law, however, this doesn't apply to school buses/public buses, taxis. Kids 5 and up must be in a seatbelt.

Safety is a whole other issue! Here's the breakdown:
!)newborns should be in a rear facing car seat and stay that way until they reach the maximum rear facing limit of a convertible car seat, 30-35lbs. The AAP says keep them rear facing as long as possible, preferably for their first 2 years of life. So up to 2 years old should be rear facing.
2)Once they reach the weight limits of a rear facing convertible car seat, it should be turned forward facing. And they should remain in a forward facing 5 point harness as long as possible, to at least 4 years of age AND 40lbs. If they are 40lbs but not yet 4, they need a higher weight harness seat to accommodate them (like Britax Marathon, Safety1st Apex, some special harnesses made for buses).
3)Once they outgrow the harness, they need to be in a booster seat until age 8-10 years old, or when they are both 80lbs AND at least 4'9" tall.

Answer 2

I agree fully with Anne! I have a 7 year old in a harness, but only because he has Autism and would not stop unbuckling his seat belt and then his brothers seat belts when in the car in his booster. Imagine trying to reinstall 2 car seats on the side of the freeway while trying to not let your kid out of the car! Grrrr But I also have a 4 year old and as soon as he out grows his harness, 65lbs or over 17in torso, he will be in a booster, that is IF he can avoid doing what his brother does! He rode in a booster as an emergency seat a few months ago and did fine. But it was a very short ride and he tends to fall asleep on longer ones.

Answer 3

It depends on where you live, each city or state [USA] have different guidelines, you can contact your local police station and ask them and they will tell you what they are for your area. Oklahoma where I live says the child must be 6 years old AND weigh 60 pounds before they can ride with out a carseat or booster seat and BOTH guidlines have to be met its not one or the other. Hope this helps

Answer 4

i don't know that there are regulations like that for school busses since there are no seat belts to hold the child restraints in place. i have never heard of age limits but rather height and weight requirements because not all children are the same size at a given age. and they are now suggesting that children under 4feet 9 inches be restrained in some way, and not just jusing a booster seat but using a harness system similar to a toddler seat, just bigger.

Answer 5

UK is 11 years old, but I think only if under a certain height now as they had loads of complaints, a lot of 11 year olds didn't need car seat and can use seat belts.
everyone should have a car seat or seat belt,no matter what age.

Answer 6

Summary of the Seat Belt Laws for Cars, Taxis and Private Hire Cars For the UK:
Seat belt MUST be worn if available.
Children under 3 years old Correct child restraint MUST be used. Correct child restraint MUST be used
If one is not available in a taxi, then the child may travel unrestrained in the rear

Children aged 3 and above, until they reach EITHER their 12th birthday OR 135cm in height Correct child restraint MUST be used Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used

MUST use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available in three scenarios:

- in a in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle ;
- for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity;
- two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third.

In addition, a child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available
Child over 1.35 metres, or 12 to 13 years Seat belt MUST be worn if available
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over) Seat belt MUST be worn if available

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More Passengers than Seat Belts


If there are not enough seat belts or child restraints in the car for all the passengers, then some may legally travel in the rear of the vehicle without wearing a seat belt. This may be legal, but it is not safe. Between 8 and 15 front seat occupants are killed every year by unbelted rear seat passengers flying forward in an accident.

The safest option is to only carry the same number of passengers as there are seat belts. If necessary, use two cars or make two journeys for the trip.

If you must carry a passenger for whom there is no seat belt, it is better for the heaviest passengers to wear a seat belt, because they would cause more severe injuries to other people in the car if they are thrown about in a crash.

The law will be changing in May 2009 to prevent the carrage of more passengers than there are seat belts, and the exact details of this law will be announced by the Department for Transport closer to the time.
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm#passengers14

FOR THE USA:
The use of car safety seats for children is largely governed on a state level in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes federal recommendations for child car seats, but state legislation does not uniformly follow these suggestions. So, while the state laws are useful in setting a minimum standard many experts refer to the standards the NHTSA has established or the guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics for more complete child safety.
Go here for state by state guidelines: http://www.essortment.com/family/babytravelsafe_slup.htm

Answer 7

If your child is 8 years or younger they have to ride in a booster seat.But if they are 80 pounds and higher they do not have to ride in an booster seat.

Answer 8

in the Uk it is up to 11 years old now.

Answer 9

well i don't know what country your from but i the UK the law says that you have to be in a booster up to the age of 11. but no one i know obides by that rule