Car seat & booster law
Colorado
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Colorado
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 9 years old.
Under a law effective January 1, 2025, children under 2 must ride rear-facing (unless over 40 pounds). Children must be in a car seat or booster and ride in the back seat through age 8. From age 9, a properly fitting seat belt is allowed.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired vs recommended
What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.
The law requires
Minimum, or it's enforceable
- Rear-facing until
- Age 2
- Booster until
- Age 9
- Back seat
- Required under 9
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 13
AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Colorado's legal minimum. Colorado's 2025 update moved the law closer to these recommendations, including back seat use through age 8.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Colorado.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | or 40 lb / 18 kg | C.R.S. § 42-4-236 |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 9 yr | — | — | C.R.S. § 42-4-236 |
| Booster | until 9 yr | — | — | C.R.S. § 42-4-236 |
| Seat belt | 9 yr + | — | — | C.R.S. § 42-4-236 |
| Back seat | under 9 yr | — | — | C.R.S. § 42-4-236 |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Weight
- or 40 lb / 18 kg
- Age
- 2 yr – 9 yr
- Age
- until 9 yr
- Age
- 9 yr +
- Age
- under 9 yr