Most forward facing car seats are suitable for children who weigh 9-18kg, which is equal to approximately 9 months to 4 years old. Most forward facing car seats are group 1 car seats. There are some manufactures that have created car seats suitable for children who weigh 9-36kg, which is approximately 9 months to 12 years old – a very long lasting seat. Those car seats, however, are not as common as the 9-18kg seats.

This type of car seat is suitable for your child to use once they have outgrown their rear facing car seat. Your child should stay in a rear facing car seat until they have outgrown the weight limits of the seat. Forward facing car seats then need to be used until your child has outgrown the weight limits of that type of car seat. After that they can then start using a toddler booster seat.

Many parents are excited to put move their child up to a forward facing car seat, and some do this too soon. It is very important that your child gets the maximum use out of their rear facing car seat as rear facing is the safest option for your child. Do not keep your child in a rear facing car seat though, if they have exceeded the weight limits of the seat.