Updated November 24, 2014.

Car seats. Browse the baby aisle, and you'll find all kinds. Infant car seats, rear-facing seats, convertible car seats, higher weight forward facing seats, combinations seats, booster seats, and more. When is it the right time to move your baby to the next seat? While you always want to consider your specific seat's specifications and the car seat laws of the state(s) you are driving in (see links below for state laws), here are some basic guidelines.

Alphabetical listings: Alabama - Hawaii | Idaho - Montana | Nebraska - Oregon | Pennsylvania - Wyoming

Description of Types of Car Seats

Rear-facing seats: If you have a young child, there is no question that an appropriately-sized rear facing seat is no doubt the best for him. In the event of a crash, the rear-facing design and harness helps to reduce injury to your child's neck and spinal cord- something you definitely want to protect. Rear-facing seats can be purchased as a infant carrier car seat or as a convertible car seat which can also be installed forward facing (see photo). It is advised that children should remain rear-facing until at least age 2, but the National Highway Traffic and Safety Association urges parents to remain rear-facing as long as the child is within limits of the car seat guidelines. So, if you wish, your child could possibly remain rear-facing for even longer.

Forward facing seats: Forward facing seats are intended for children older than age 2. Like rear-facing seats, they have a harness but are installed to keep the child forward-facing.

Tethers are also a part of the design and can help limit movement in the event of a crash. Forward facing seats can be purchased as convertible, only intended for forward-facing, higher weight harnessing seats, and combination seats which double as a booster.

Booster seats: Booster seats do not function with a harness and are secured by the car's lap belt. Boosters seats help to position the seat belt properly over the upper thighs of the child. Booster seats are intended for "big kids" who have completely outgrown their forward-facing seat and are mature enough to sit properly with a lap belt.

Other Things to Consider Besides Height, Weight, and Age Limits

The chart below gives a brief summary of when you should move to a new seat based on height weight and age recommendations, but there are a few other points you should consider. You'll need to get a new seat when your car seat expires or in the event of a moderate to severe car accident. Additionally, if you are currently using a used car seat, you may want to scrutinize it for safety concerns.

Car Seat Recommendations by Age

Age Range	Car Seat Descriptions
Birth to Age 2	These little ones need the protection of a rear-facing car seat. Check your car seat for upper limitations, though many seats today can be used rear facing to somewhere in the 30-35 pound range. Height limits may vary depending on the build of your baby. A good rule of thumb is when the top of your child's head reaches the top of the shell of the car seat it is time to up-grade. However, always defer to the car seat manufacturer's specifications.
About Age 2 to 4	At some point in this age range your baby will outgrow the rear-facing capacity of the seat and can be turned forward-facing. Here again, you want to keep your child in a forward-facing harnessing seat for as long as the seat will allow (many seats currently are billed to 65 pounds). Harnessing car seats provide superior protection to booster seats.
About Age 4 to 12	Once your child outgrows his harnessing car seat, you will need to keep your child in a booster seat for as long as the state you are driving in mandates. This varies from state to state. As of August 2012, the NHTSA affirms that children should remain in a booster seat until: The are tall enough to sit without slouching, back against the seat, knees bent over the seat, and feet touching the floor. The lap belt must lie snuggly across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should rest on the shoulder and chest, not the neck.