Car Seats by Age
Car seats are available in a variety of sizes and shapes however, they are all designed to protect children according to their age. Children should ride in their car seat until they are at the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer. Then, they can utilize a booster until the belts of their vehicle fit properly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When looking for a brand new car seat, think about features such as fabric that can withstand staining, pieces that are removable and can be machine washed and accessories that can be cleaned.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats cradle infants and toddlers protecting their spines and necks from a crash. They also offer greater safety, since they distribute the impact force over a greater area. This reduces the risk of spinal cord injuries.
Parents are often tempted to move their kids into forward-facing car seats before they're ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. That means moving them to a forward-facing car seat only after they've reached the maximum weight or height limit of their current seat as specified by the manufacturer.
Children's head are large in relation to their bodies and still developing. This makes them vulnerable in the event of a crash. In reality, a child's head could generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in the event of a collision. This is enough to cause fatal injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat that is facing towards the front are at the highest risk of fatal head injuries.
Many parents think that their kids have bigger necks than their older children, meaning they'll be able to make the transition to a forward-facing car seat earlier. However, it's important to realize that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't any more powerful than a 5th percentile kid and no amount of push-ups for teens will change that. In the case of a car accident, a larger child's head is likely to be hit with more force. This could result in injuries to the spinal cord or brain.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat you can convert them to convertible cars that let them stay rear-facing up until they reach their maximum weight or the height limit. Children typically reach their maximum height first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions of the manufacturer of the car seat on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.
When your child is at their convertible car seat's weight or height limit, you'll have to transition them to the booster. The majority of booster seats have an indicator for angles to let you know when the seat has been properly installed and is ready for flipping into forward-facing mode. It is best to use a booster seat in the back of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in a crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed by the idea of change their baby's car seat around as they grow older, simply because it's more comfortable. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing seats are safer for children.
A baby who is facing forward in car seats puts their necks in danger in a crash, because the head can be thrown against the seat in front and can cause permanent injury to the spine. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible to experience whiplash. This is especially the case for children with smaller necks, like infants under one year old.
A forward-facing child is also more likely to hit their head against the dashboard or in front of the window in the event of an accident. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is moving the head may be forced into the seat and break the skull or the spinal cord.
The current safety guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 lbs and 1 year old. This is because younger kids don't have the strength of their necks to withstand the forces involved in a head-on collision, which is the most serious type of accident in which automobiles are involved.
The harness and tether help keep the child's head steady which reduces neck strain. A rear-facing child will also be less prone to head injuries as the impact is cushioned by their seat.
If you have a child who is less than one year old and in a convertible car seat or an all-in-1 seat that can change from front-facing to rear ensure that you read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to be facing the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or not a tether is needed and what the maximum weight and height are for that particular seat.
When your child reaches the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they can travel with a forward-facing seat with a tether. Once they've surpassed this, it's time to move into a booster seat.
Seat booster
There is no age limit or height that children are able to safely stop using booster seats. Children should use a booster seat until their vehicle belt fits them properly and that could take anytime between age 8 and 13.
A booster increases the height of a child to ensure that they can sit comfortably upright in the car. It also places the shoulder portion of the belt in a way that it is near but not over the chest. The lap portion of the belt should lie across the thighs and not on the stomach. Booster seats come with a built-in belt guide to ensure that the belt is correctly positioned.
Booster seats are available with or without a backrest. The most popular type is a high-back booster which provides head and neck support for children. It's a good choice for cars with low seat backs, and no head rests. Backless boosters are cheaper, but they don't provide head or neck support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for children in harness mode up to about 65 pounds and then as a booster seat for about 100 pounds.
Some boosters come with an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) which connects to the lower anchors on the vehicle and a tether if available. best car seats for infants www.pushchairsandprams.uk require the vehicle's seat belt to keep them in place. Go through the manual of your car to determine if you are able to use the lower anchors inside your car, and also read the booster seat instructions to learn how to use them.
Parents may be enticed to let their 3 year old 30 pounds child immediately go to a booster seat because they're growing too tall for a car seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" a child from a harness. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is not secure enough in a crash.
Back seat
All children should sit in the back seat of a car for as long as possible with a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear facing car seat, or who have exceeded its weight and height limits and should be switched to a forward facing child restraint using a harness until they attain the maximum height for this type of seat.
When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat they can be transferred to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that has a rear-facing seat. These seats can typically be used up to 2 years or until your child reaches the seat's maximum height and weight limit. Install the car safety seat in the middle seat of your vehicle. It is secured using the lower anchor system and seat belt.
If your child is no longer in a rear-facing car seat, they can be placed in a child restraint that is front-facing fitted with a harness and tether. Typically, these seats can be used until 57 inches in height or until your child reaches the maximum height and weight recommendations of the seat. You can find out the height and weight of the car seat is by studying the directions of the manufacturer or looking at the tag on it.
All older children must be seated in a booster seat or a vehicle's lap belt, if possible. If not you can use a back seat restraint that is located in the middle of the back seat. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat when there's an active air bag. Children who sit in the front seats are more likely to be injured during collisions since their bodies are smaller.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the best child safety seat. You can also determine whether your car seat has been recalled due to problems or safety concerns. Then, you can purchase one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child's size. If you're unable to test a seat before purchasing ensure that it comes with a return policy.