What is a critical sign that a child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat?

A critical sign that a child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat is when they can sit with their knees bent over the vehicle seat edge. This position indicates that the child's legs are too long for the car seat, suggesting that they may not have adequate support and protection for their height in the current seat. It is essential to ensure that a child is properly positioned in their car seat, as this directly affects their safety in the event of a crash. Properly fitting seats are vital because they provide the necessary restraint and positioning to protect a child, particularly during sudden stops or collisions.

While other factors like reaching a school age, exceeding the height limit, or complaining about discomfort could hint at a need for a car seat transition, they are not as direct indicators of safety as the physical position of the knees. The knee-bent position specifically highlights that the child has reached a size where the restraint system may no longer fit effectively, underscoring the importance of physical measurements for car seat appropriateness.