Final answer:
An approved rear-facing child restraint system is required for children ages 0 to 2.5 years to protect their head, neck, and spine during car accidents. As children grow, different types of restraints are recommended, such as forward-facing car seats and booster seats, up until they are at least 13 years old.
Step-by-step explanation:
An approved rear-facing child restraint system is typically required for children ages 0 to 2.5 years, based on various states' law and recommendations from child safety organizations.
It is essential because children in this age group are more vulnerable in the event of a car accident if they are not properly secured in a seat that supports their head, neck, and spine.
These restraint systems help distribute the forces of a crash more evenly across the child's body, which is especially important for the undeveloped musculature of very young children.
For children ages 2.5 to 6, a forward-facing car seat with a harness is generally recommended once they have outgrown the weight or height limits of their rear-facing seat. As children grow, booster seats are commonly used for children ages 6-13 to ensure that the car's seat belt fits them properly.
Although guidelines may vary slightly, the general rule is that children should ride in the back seat, in the appropriate child restraint for their age and size, until they are at least 13 years old, which is at the beginning of the children ages 13-20 range.