What do these tables mean?

Required: This is an explicit State requirement.

Permissible: State law won't stop you, but use your judgment; this may not be the best choice.

Permissible/Required: You're allowed to use this, but there are other factors you should consider. See the hints below for more.

Optional: Not a requirement, but you might want to use it anyway.

Not Permissible: Sorry, no can do. State law says it's not allowed.

Not Necessary: State law doesn't say you need it.

Not Recommended: State law doesn't say no, but we do - and so does NHTSA.

Strongly Suggested: State law doesn't say you have to, but we think you should - and so does NHTSA.

RF: Requires a rear-facing infant seat or convertible child seat.

FF: Requires a front-facing child seat or convertible child seat.

BP: Requires a belt positioning seat that allows an adult seat belt to properly secure your child.

Booster: Requires a booster seat.

Some sections have age, weight, or height guidelines as well; for example, "Required (>57in Only)" means that you need this restraint only for children more than 57 inches in height, and "Not Necessary (Except <57in)" means that you don't need this restraint except if your child is less than 57 inches in height.

These tables are intended as guidelines. They are a quick reference to help you get an idea of what you might need. Keep in mind, even when a state's laws don't have anything to say on a certain topic, there may be Federal regulations or guidelines that do. There also may be additional little laws that the states have that we didn't have room for on the chart. If you want more information, check out www.nhtsa.gov or www.highwaysafety.org, or contact your state legislature here.

There are some "common sense" guidelines that you should consider as well, such as never using an infant seat in the front passenger seat when there's a working front airbag.

You should also check the guidelines for your car seat by contacting the manufacturer or reading the manual. The seat manufacturers are usually more specific than the states about safety requirements and will have good suggestions about what kind of seat to use and when. If you prefer to get your advice in live one-on-one conversation, you can visit a car seat inspection station (to find one, [click here]).