The RideSafer has been crash tested and certified for children as young as 3 yrs old and 30 pounds. (Now as young as 2 with the new Extra Small size released in 2022.)
As CPS techs ourselves and as safety advocates we do recommend that, if a child has a 5-point harness, they continue to use it as their primary restraint and use the RideSafer for all those times when moving the car seat is not convenient or practical like when they go on a play date, are riding in someone else’s car or you are traveling, In those situations, the vest gives you flexibility and peace of mind that they are riding safely in an easy to install child restraint.
For those parents — including us — who choose to use the RideSafer as their primary restraint starting at 3 years old (when our youngest outgrew his 5-point harness by height) or for the above situations, we recommend that they use it with a tether strap, which offers the added support and protection of the tether when used in addition to the lap-shoulder belt.