Unraveling the Boulder State’s Child Safety Seat Laws

Car seats can be a pain. They’re bulky and a pain to attach to your vehicle’s built-in safety belt system. Once you get the car seat buckled in, you swear it’s never leaving the back seat. However, your older toddler may have something to say about being stuck in a car seat.

Eventually, it’s going to be time to take the thing out. While you want to keep your little ones happy, the Boulder State has something to say about when kids can stop using a child safety seat. Navigating Colorado safety seat laws can be a little confusing. You don’t want to risk your child’s safety, and you also want to avoid any potential penalties.

Colorado Child Safety Seat Requirements

Regardless of whether you’re only driving around the block or heading out for a day of errands, vehicle accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. While you always fasten your seatbelt every time you get behind the wheel, what about your little ones? Your vehicle’s seatbelt system isn’t enough to keep them safe if an accident occurs.

Did you know a child buckled into a car seat is around 71% to 81% safer than if you only use a seat belt? Children in booster seats are around 45% safer than if they only use a seat belt, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If Colorado state law isn’t enough to convince you to use either a car or booster seat, then hopefully, these statistics will.

So, what are the Boulder State’s child car seat laws? There are a few requirements that can vary depending on your child’s age, weight, and height.

Colorado Car Seat Laws by Age, Weight, and Height

All children under the age of four must be strapped into a car seat every time they ride in a motor vehicle. This law applies regardless of your child’s weight. Your child must weigh over 40 lbs and be older than four before they can graduate to a booster seat.

All children under the age of 8 must be buckled into a booster seat unless they meet the state’s height and weight requirements to use a seat belt. What is the height requirement? Your child must be at least 4’9” to leave the booster seat behind and use the vehicle’s seat belt. This height requirement applies until your child is 16 years of age. To sum it up:

• Children 4 and under must use a car seat until they weigh 40 lbs. This means children over the age of four may still be using a car seat if they don’t meet the weight requirement
• Your child must use a booster seat until they weigh at least 80 lbs and measure 4’9” or taller
• Children under the age of 9 must use a booster seat if they don’t meet the height and weight requirements

Once your child turns 9, they can use a seat belt legally in Colorado. The state leaves it to the parent’s discretion on whether they continue using the booster seat.

Front and Rear-Facing Car Seats

Surprisingly, Colorado law doesn’t cover when to use a front or rear-facing car seat. However, most infant car seats are designed for rear-facing installation. This means you’re not going to be able to secure the car seat in your vehicle properly if you try to turn it the other way. In other words, you can’t install a rear-facing car seat to face forward.

Rear-facing car seats are generally considered safer than forward-facing ones. Your little one has more protection from vehicle impacts. Chances are, your pediatrician is going to recommend using a rear-facing car seat until your child’s first birthday. Since most infants outgrow their first car seats in the first few months, you may want to consider purchasing a convertible model.

A convertible car seat can start facing the rear, and when your child is ready, it transitions into a forward-facing one. Yes, a convertible car seat may seem pricey, but it’s less expensive than you may think. You can usually use a convertible car seat until your child is ready to transition to a booster seat. This way, you only need to buy one car seat.

Even though rear-facing car seats provide a little more protection in a vehicle crash, eventually, your child is going to get tired of looking at the back seat. When your child is ready and is at least a year old, you can consider switching to a forward-facing car seat.

Did you know you can even find all-in-one car seats? This type of car seat starts facing the rear before converting into a front-facing model. Finally, the car seat converts into a booster seat. While initially a little more expensive than a standard rear-facing car seat, in the long run, it can save you time and money. You only need to purchase one car seat until your child’s ready to use the vehicle’s seat belt system.

What are the Potential Penalties for Violating Colorado’s Child Car Seat Safety Laws?

Even though your child’s safety should be a priority, sometimes parents forget to buckle their little one in a car seat. If you’re pulled over and your child isn’t restrained in an age, height, and weight-appropriate car seat, you can face a $50 fine.

You may be able to have the fine dismissed if you can show the court you have and are using a car seat. However, chances are, you’re going to end up paying the fine and any associated court costs.

If you receive multiple tickets for failing to properly secure your child in a motor vehicle, your fines may increase. You may also be at risk of receiving a child endangerment charge. Along with paying a hefty fine, you’re also risking potential prison time and losing custody of your children.

Keep Your Child Safe Every Time You’re In a Vehicle

You can’t protect your child from every potential hazard, but you can minimize their risk of injuries in a motor vehicle. Following Colorado’s child car seat safety requirements isn’t difficult, and it can help save your little one’s life in an accident.

Remember to properly install the car seat in your vehicle, and always use the one that’s right for your child’s age, weight, and height.