Wisconsin child passenger safety
Type of seat
Wisconsin law Safest practice
Children must ride in a
rear-facing car seat until
they are 1 year old and
weigh 20 pounds.
Children should ride in a rear-
facing car seat until at least the
age of 2. Keep children rear
facing as long as they are
within the height and weight
requirements for the car seat.
Children must ride in a
forward-facing car seat
with a harness until
they are 4 years old
and weigh 40 pounds.
Children should ride in a
forward-facing car seat with
a harness as long as they are
within the height and weight
requirements for the car seat.
Children must ride
in a booster seat
until they are 8 years
old or weigh 80
pounds or are 4 feet
9 inches tall (4'9").
Children should ride in a booster
seat until they are tall enough
to sit on the vehicle seat without
slouching, and the seat belt ts
snugly across the top of the
thighs and across the shoulder.
Children must be
restrained in a seat belt
when they outgrow the
requirements of a
booster seat.
Children should ride using a lap
and shoulder belt once they
have outgrown their car or
booster seat.
Rear-facing
Car Seat
Booster Seat
Seat Belt
Children required to
ride in a rear-facing or
forward-facing car seat
must be restrained in
the back seat.
Children under 13 years of age
should ride in the back seat
using a lap and shoulder belt.
Back Seat
Forward-facing
Car Seat
safekidswi.org
Safety Tips:
(855) 224-3692
For information on where to get your car seat
inspected, visit safekidswi.org/events.
• Choose a car seat based on your child’s height, weight and age.
• Read all instructions to correctly install and use the car seat.
• Check the expiration date and know the history of your car
seat before you use it.
• Use a car seat correctly on every ride.
• Children are more likely to buckle up if they see a parent or
caregiver buckled up.
• Let others who drive your kids know that a car seat is a must.
