For the best protection in case of a crash, children should ride in a child restraint that fits them correctly. Since children come in all shapes and sizes and grow at different rates, there are a few different ways that they can outgrow a child restraint first. Keep an eye on the measurements below – once your child exceeds the maximum capacity of their child restraint in just one of these categories, they have outgrown their child restraint.
WEIGHT
All child restraints have a minimum and maximum weight capacity, and some child restraints have a different weight capacity for each mode of use. For example, a convertible child restraint has a rear-facing weight capacity and forward-facing weight capacity.
How to Check: Checking to see if your child has outgrown their child restraints by weight is simple – just weigh your child and then refer to the labels on the side of the child restraint, or the user guide for the weight capacity.
STANDING HEIGHT
All child restraints also have a maximum height capacity that may be different for each mode of use. You should be able to find this information on the labels on the side of the child restraint, or in your user guide.
How to Check: If your child’s standing height exceeds the height limit, they have outgrown the child restraint.
SEATED SHOULDER HEIGHT
Since children’s torso lengths can vary significantly, even for children who are the same height, many children outgrow a child restraint by seated shoulder height before reaching the maximum height capacity of the child restraint.
How to Check: The instructions below apply to Britax child restraints; for non-Britax child restraints, refer to your user guide for instructions on how to determine if your child has outgrown the child restraint by seated shoulder height.
Rear-facing in a Britax Infant Child Restraint:
Your child has outgrown the child restraint in rear-facing mode if the top of their head is less than 1 inch below the top of the child restraint shell when seated OR if the harness straps can’t be positioned in the closest position at or below their shoulders.
Rear-facing in a Britax Convertible Child Restraint:
Your child has outgrown the child restraint in rear-facing mode if the top of their head is less than 1 inch below the top of the child restraint shell or head restraint, depending on the model, when seated OR if the harness straps can’t be positioned in the closest position at or below their shoulders.
Forward-facing in a Britax Convertible Child Restraint:
Your child has outgrown the child restraint if the tops of their ears are at or above the top of the child restraint shell or head restraint, depending on the model, OR if the harness straps can’t be positioned in the closest position at or above their shoulders.
Image source from Britax Australia
Forward-facing in a Britax Harness-2-Booster or Booster Seat:
Your child has outgrown the seat if the tops of their ears are at or above the top of the head restraint when seated OR if the harness straps can’t be positioned in the closest position at or above their shoulders.
AGE
Despite popular belief, children can’t outgrow a child restraint by age. Remember it’s now always height! In fact, it’s best for children to remain in a rear-facing child restraint for as long as possible, until at least 2 years of age or until reaching the maximum height, weight, or seated shoulder height capacity of the seat. It’s also safest for children to continue using a child restraint with a five-point harness for as long as possible, so please don’t be in a hurry to transition your child to a belt-positioning booster seat.
Click here to download your free 10 Quick Child Restraint Checks.
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