In tests conducted by the FAA in the summer of 1994, it was determined that children over the age of 3 or 3-1/2 are safer if they are belted in an adult seat belt. Children who are small enough to be seated in a rear-facing infant seat (usually under 20 pounds) should be in such a seat. The alternative for these children is usually on an adult's lap. While this saves the expense of ticketing a small child, it is clearly the least safe alternative. Forward-facing seats for children who are too big for a rear-facing seat, but too small for an adult seat belt were not found to provide significant protection. [Source: "The Performance of Child Restraint Devices in Transport Airplane Passenger Seats", by Van Gowdy and Richard DeWeese.]
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