Car Seats by Age

Car seats are available in a variety shapes and sizes and shapes, but they’re all designed to safeguard children according to their age. Children should ride in their car seat until they reach the limit of the manufacturer’s weight or height. 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.

If you are looking for a new chair, look for features like fabric that is resistant to stains and pieces that are removable that are machine washable. Hardware that is easy to clean is also taken into consideration.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, securing their delicate spines and necks in the event of a collision. They’re also safer because they distribute the force of impact over a larger surface area which minimizes the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed by the thought of moving their children to a forward-facing seat before they’re ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises to keep them rear-facing as long as you can. That means moving them to a forward-facing seat only when they’ve reached the maximum weight or height limit of their current seat as stated by the manufacturer.

Heads of children are large in relation to their bodies, and are developing, making them more vulnerable to crash. A child’s head can generate up to 25 times the weight of their body in the event of a collision which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is why children of the ages of 5 and under are at risk for fatal head trauma when they are in a front-facing car seat.

Many parents believe that their children have larger necks and can make the transition to a car seat facing forward faster. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile isn’t as strong as a 5th percentile kid, and no amount of push-ups for teens can alter the fact that. In the case of a car accident, a larger child’s head will likely be struck with greater force. This can result in injuries to the spinal cord or brain.

When your child outgrows their infant car seats that swivel car seat, you can convert them into a convertible car seat that lets them stay rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight limit. Generally, children will attain their maximum height first and therefore it is important to be attentive to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when you should switch to forward-facing.

If your child has reached the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you’ll need to move them into the booster. The majority of booster seats come with an inbuilt angle indicator that will inform you whether the seat is installed and ready to flip into forward-facing mode. Use a booster only in the rear of your vehicle and always wear a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the best car seat infant security for your child.

Forward-facing

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

If you crash with a baby car seat facing toward the rear the neck could be at risk. The head could be thrown against the front seat with force, causing permanent spinal damage. Whiplash can still occur even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly true for younger children like infants.

A child facing the forward is more likely to hit their head on the dashboard or window in the event of an accident. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the vehicle is traveling the head may be pushed into the seat and may break the skull or the spinal cord.

The current safety guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 lbs and one year old. This is because younger kids don’t have the neck strength to withstand the force in a head-on collision, which tends to be the most serious kind of accident in which cars are involved.

The harness and tether aid in keeping the child’s head steady and reduce neck strain. Furthermore that a child who is rear-facing is less likely to suffer head injuries since the impact is cushioned by body of the seat.

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

Once your child has reached the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they can travel infant car seat in a forward-facing car seat with tether. Once they have outgrown this, it is time to move into the booster seat.

Booster seat

There is no magic age or height at which children can safely stop using the booster seat. The booster seat is to be used until the child’s belt fits properly. This can occur anywhere between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster can increase the height of a child to ensure that they are able to sit upright in the car. It also places the shoulder portion of the belt so it is close to but not directly over the chest. The lap portion of the belt should rest on the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats come with a built-in belt guides to help ensure the belt is properly positioned.

Booster seats can be purchased with or without backrests. The most common type is a high-back booster, that provides neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles with low backs and no headrests. Backless boosters are less expensive but they don’t provide head or neck support. Some all-in one boosters allow you to switch between boost and harness modes. They are suitable for children up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds when used as a booster.

Some boosters are equipped with a lower anchors (LATCH) system that connects onto the lower anchors of the vehicle, and a tether in the event that one is available. Some boosters require the vehicle’s seat belt to keep them in place. You can check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to find out if you are able to use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to understand how to use it.

Parents may be enticed to let their 3-year old 30 pounds child go straight to a booster seat, as they’re becoming too tall for a car seat. It’s risky to “graduate” a child from to a harness. If the belt is not secure enough, children can be seriously injured or even killed in a crash.

Back seat

All children should sit in the back seat of a vehicle for as long as is possible, using a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too tall for a rear-facing car seat or have surpassed its height and weight limits should be moved to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they are too tall for this type of seat.

When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat rear facing car seat they can be transferred to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that has an open rear-facing position. Most of the time, these seats can be used for a period of up to 2 years or until your child outgrows the seat’s maximum weight and height limit. Install the car safety seat on the middle seat of your vehicle. It can be secured with the lower anchor system and seat belt.

If your child has grown out of their rear-facing seat you can place them in a forward-facing restraint using a harness. The majority of these seats can be used up to 57 inches or until your child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits of the seat. The instructions from the manufacturer or the tag on the car seat will inform you how tall and heavy it is able to support.

If possible the older children should sit in a booster or lap belt. If they can’t utilize the middle back seat restraint. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat if there is an air bag that is in use. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to be injured in a collision because their bodies are smaller.

You can take your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to receive assistance choosing and installing the right child safety seat. They can also find out if your child’s seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or flaws. Then, you can buy one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child’s size. If you are unable to test a seat, check to whether it has a refund policy.