How Old Should a Baby Be to Use a Car Seat?
2 Answers
Babies should be at least 6 months old before using a car seat. Below is relevant information about car seats: 1. Infants using car seats: Babies should be at least 6 months old before using a car seat. Using a car seat before six months may affect the baby's bone development. If the baby cannot sit yet, a reclining car seat can be chosen. Further selection should be based on the baby's age and physical development. 2. Precautions: (1) Choosing a car seat for infants is safer, effectively preventing other accidents and improving child passenger safety. (2) Babies generally can choose a sitting car seat only when they can sit. For babies under one year old, a fully enclosed seat should be selected to avoid the baby being too small for the car seat to cover. (3) If the baby cannot sit yet, a cradle-style car seat can be chosen to protect the baby.
When I first became a dad, I was particularly concerned about this issue too. In fact, babies can ride in car seats from the day they leave the hospital—the key is choosing the right model. The hospital nurse reminded me to use an infant-specific carrier installed rear-facing. Babies have soft bones, and rear-facing installation protects their fragile neck vertebrae during a crash by dispersing impact forces across their entire back. My child used an adjustable model for 0-4 years with a five-point harness, and newborns need a 45-degree recline angle to prevent suffocation. Doctors recommend keeping the seat rear-facing until at least one year old or until the baby weighs over 9 kg. Thinking back, it still scares me—once during a sudden brake, that car seat securely held my child in place. Never rush to switch to forward-facing; a child’s neck can’t fully support their head until well past one year old. Remember to check the harness tightness monthly—kids grow fast, and the seatbelt position needs regular adjustment.
