Car Seats by Age

Each car seat is made for a specific age group. Children should be in their car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer. Then, they can use a booster until the vehicle belts fit correctly, usually when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

When looking for a brand new car seat, consider features such as fabric that resists staining, pieces that are removable and can be machine washed, and hardware that wipes clean.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle infants and toddlers to protect their spines and necks from a crash. They are also safer since they disperse the force of an impact over a larger area. This helps reduce the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed to change their children to forward-facing car seats before they’re ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as it is possible. The manufacturer will let you know when your child is ready to move forward.

Children’s heads are large relative to their bodies and still developing, which makes them more vulnerable to crash. In fact children’s heads could generate up to 25 times the force of their weight in an accident — more than enough to cause a fatal injury. This is why children who are in a car seat that is facing forward are at the greatest danger of suffering fatal head injuries.

Many parents believe that their children have bigger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat facing forward earlier. It’s important to keep in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile isn’t any more powerful than a child who is 5th percentile and that no amount of push-ups by teens will alter that. In the case of a car accident, a larger child’s head is likely to be hit with greater force. This can result in brain and spinal cord injury.

When your child has outgrown their best infant seat car seat, you can change them into a convertible car seat that allows them to stay rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. In general, children will attain their maximum height first, so it’s important to pay close attention to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when you should switch to forward-facing.

If your child is at the limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, you’ll need to get them into an adult booster seat. The majority of booster seats have an indicator that indicates the angle to let you know when the seat has been correctly installed and is ready for flipping into forward-facing mode. You should only use a booster seat on the back of your vehicle, and only with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in case of crash.

Forward-facing

Many parents are enticed to switch their kids’ best car seats seats around when they grow older, because it seems more practical. However, they should remember that rear-facing seats are safer for children.

Having a lightweight baby car seat face forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash, because the head could be thrown against the seat’s front and cause permanent damage to the spine. Even if the child’s neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible to suffer whiplash. This is particularly the case for children with smaller necks that aren’t yet one year old.

A forward-facing child is also more likely to land their head on the dashboard or window during the course of a crash. Depending on what type of crash occurs and how fast the car is moving the head could be hit against the seat. This can cause fractured skulls or a spinal chord.

Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 lbs and 1 year of age. This is because children younger than one year do not have the neck strength to withstand the force in a head-on collision, which is the most severe type of accident in which automobiles are involved.

Using a harness and tether when facing rear helps keep the child’s head in a stable position, which reduces this stress on their necks. A rear-facing child will also be less likely to suffer head injuries because the impact will be cushioned by their seat.

When you have a child under a year in a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat that can be changed from rear to forward-facing, make sure to read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to face the front. The guidelines from the manufacturer will indicate whether or not a tether is needed and what the maximum weight and height is for the specific seat.

Once your child has reached the rear-facing car seat limitation, they can travel in a forward-facing seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat. Once they’ve surpassed this, it’s time to get the booster seat.

Booster seat

There is no age limit or height at which children are safe from using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until a child’s vehicle belt fits properly. This could happen anywhere between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster raises the height of a child, so that they are able to sit upright in cars. The shoulder part of a belt must be placed so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should lie on the thighs, not the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guides to help ensure the belt is positioned correctly.

Booster seats are available with or without a rearrest. The most popular type is a high-back booster which offers neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles with low backs and no headrests. Backless boosters are more affordable however they do not provide head or neck support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children from to 65 pounds in harness mode and up to 100 pounds as a booster.

Some boosters come with lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether, if one is available. Others require the vehicle seat belt to keep them in position. Go through the manual of your car to determine if you’re able to use the lower anchors in your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to utilize them.

Some parents may be enticed to move their 30-pound 3-year-old child to a booster car seat because the child is growing too tall to fit into a harness seat. However, rushing to “graduate” your child out of the harness is risky. If the belt is not secure enough, children can be seriously injured or even die in a crash.

Back seat

All children should be in the back of a car as long as possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that’s been properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear facing car seat, or have exceeded the weight and height limits they should change to a forward-facing restraint that has a harness until they reach the maximum height allowed for this type of seat.

After your baby has outgrown an infant car seat, you can transfer them to convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat with the option of rear-facing. These seats typically last for two years, or until the child is at the maximum height and weight of the seat. If you own a car with a middle seat install the car safety seat so it is secured in this location with the lower anchor system or seat belt.

When your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat it is possible to place them into a front-facing child restraint fitted with a harness and tether. These seats are typically used until your child reaches 57 inches in height or reaches the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy a car seat is by reading the directions of the manufacturer or looking at the tag on it.

If it is possible the older children should be seated in a booster seat or lap belt. If they can’t then they should use the middle back seat restraint. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is active. Placing children in the front seat can increase the risk of being injured during an accident, as the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies.

It’s a good idea to bring your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station for assistance in choosing and installing the most suitable child safety seat for them. They can also determine if your child’s seat has been removed due to safety concerns or other flaws. You can then buy one that is suitable for your vehicle and the child’s height. If you can’t try out a seat, whether it has a refund policy.