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 manufacturer’s weight or height limits. Then, they can use a booster until the belts are properly fitted typically when they are between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

When you are searching for a new chair, consider features such as fabrics that are resistant to staining and pieces that are removable that can easily be machine-washed. Hardware that is easy to clean should be considered.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, securing their delicate necks and spines in the event of a crash. They are also safer, as they spread the force of impact over a larger area. This helps reduce the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often tempted by the thought of moving their children forward facing before they’re ready. However the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them rear-facing for as long as you can. This means they should be moved to a forward-facing seat only when they’ve reached their maximum weight or height of their current seat, according to the specifications of the manufacturer.

The heads of children are huge in relation to their body, and growing. This makes them vulnerable in the event of a crash. The head of a child is capable of generating up to 25 times their body weight in the event of a collision, which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who are in a car seat with their backs towards the front are at the highest 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 that faces forward sooner. It is 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 done by teens will change this. In the event of a crash, a larger child’s head is likely to be hit with greater force. This can result in injuries to the spinal cord and brain.

When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, you can change to a convertible seat that lets them remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight limit. Generally, children will attain their maximum height first and it’s crucial to follow the instructions of the manufacturer of your car seat on when to switch to forward-facing mode.

If your child has reached the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you’ll have to transition them into an adult booster. Most booster seats come with an indicator that indicates the angle to notify you when the seat is properly installed and is able to be turned to forward-facing mode. You should only use a booster seat on the back seat of your vehicle, and only with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in a crash.

Forward-facing

Many parents are enticed to change their children’s car seats when they grow older because it’s more convenient. However, they must remember that rear-facing seats are a safer option for children.

The fact that a child is facing forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash because the head can be thrown against the seat in front and could cause permanent injury to the spine. Whiplash can still occur even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially relevant for children younger than them, such as infants.

A forward-facing child is also more likely to land their head on the dashboard or in front of the window in the event of the course of a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the vehicle is moving, the head can be pushed backwards against the seat and break the skull or spinal cord.

Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until both they weigh 20 pounds and one year old. This is because children younger than one year don’t have the strength of their necks to withstand the force in a head-on collision which is often the most severe type of accident in which cars are involved.

Using a harness and tether while rear-facing helps to keep the kid’s head stable, which reduces this stress on their necks. In addition, a rear-facing child is less likely to sustain head injuries because the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.

If you have a child younger than one year old and is in a convertible seat or an all-in-one which can be changed from forward-facing to rear-facing at any point, make sure you read the instructions given by the manufacturer to determine if it’s safe to face forward. The guidelines will inform you whether or not you should use a tether as well as the weight and height limitations for that particular seat.

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

Seat booster

There isn’t a set age or size at which kids can safely stop using a booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until their vehicle belt fits them properly and that could happen between the ages of 8 and 13.

A booster elevates a child’s height so that they are able to sit upright in the car. The shoulder portion of a belt must be set so that it sits close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap part of the belt should rest across the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats have a belt guide that helps to ensure that the belt is placed correctly.

Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most commonly used booster seat is the high-back that offers neck and head support for children. This is a good option for vehicles with low backs and have no headrests. Backless boosters are less expensive but they don’t offer neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters permit you to switch between booster and harness modes, which makes them suitable for children in harness mode up to 65 pounds. They can also be used as a booster seat for about 100 pounds.

Some boosters have a lower anchors system (LATCH) that hooks to the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether when available. Others require the seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine if you are able to use the lower anchors. Also, read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.

Some parents may be enticed to move their 30-pound, 3-year-old child to a booster car seat due to the fact that the child is becoming too tall to fit in the harness seat. It’s dangerous to “graduate” children from a harness. Children could be injured or even killed if their belt is too loose in an accident.

Back seat

All children should use the child safety or booster seat that is properly installed as long as they can. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded the limits of its weight and height, should switch to a forward-facing child restraint with harness until they reach the maximum height for this type of seat.

When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seats car seat they can be transferred to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that also has a rear-facing seat. These seats typically last for two years or until the child is at the maximum weight and height of the seat. Install the car safety seat in the middle of your vehicle. It is secured using the lower anchor system and seat belt.

If your child has grown out of their rear-facing seat you can put them in a front-facing restraint with a harness. These seats are typically used until the child reaches the height of 57 inches or reaches the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy the car seat is by reading the instructions of the manufacturer, or by examining the tag on it.

If you can the older children should be seated in a booster seat or lap belt. If not you can use a back restraint located in the middle of the back seat. In addition you should not place them in the front seat if there’s an active air bag. Sitting children in the front seats can increase their chances of getting injured in an accident because the impact forces are stronger on their smaller bodies.

It is a good infant car seats idea to take your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station to assistance in deciding on and installing the best car seats for newborns child safety seat. They can also check to determine if your child’s seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or other flaws. You can then buy one that is suitable for your vehicle and child’s height. If you are unable to test a seat, find out if the seat has a return policy.