Tennessee Car Seat Law
Tennessee's Child Restraint Law was improved effective July 1, 2004. Here are the facts you need to know for children of all ages:
| Infants | Toddlers | Young Children | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Birth to 1 year under 20 lbs. | Over 1 year 20–40 lbs. | Ages 4–8 over 40 lbs., under 4'9" |
| Type of Seat | Infant-only or rear-facing convertible | Convertible/forward-facing | Belt positioning booster seat |
| Seat Position | Rear-facing only in back seat | Forward-facing in back seat | Forward-facing in back seat |
| Strap/Belt Position | Harness straps should be at or below shoulder level | RHarness straps should be at or above shoulders | Belt positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belt
Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the hips/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt fits snut crossing the shoulder and mid-chest to avoid abdominal injuries |
| Other Considerations | Read Owner's Manual | Read Owner's Manual | Read Owner's Manual |
New Car Seat Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics
| Age Group | Type of Seat | General Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Infants/toddlers | Rear-facing only seats and rear-facing convertible seats | All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. |
| Toddler/preschoolers | Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harness | Any child 2 years or older who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car seat, should use a Forward-Facing Car Seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed their car seat’s manufacturer. This also applies to any child younger than 2 years who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their seat. |
| School-aged children | Booster seats | All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age. |
| Older children | Seat Belts | When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use Lap and Shoulder Seat Belts for optimal protection.
All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection. |