Car Seats by Age
Each car seat is made for a specific age group. It is recommended that children ride in their seats until they've reached the manufacturer's height or weight limits and then use a booster seat until their vehicle belts fit properly, typically when they attain 4 feet 9 inches tall or age 10-12.
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Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seat cradles babies and toddlers protecting their spines and necks from injury in a crash. They are also safer, as they spread the force of impact across a wider area. This helps reduce spinal cord injuries.
Parents are often enticed by the idea 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. The manufacturer will let you know when your child is ready to go forward-facing.
Children's heads are large relative to their bodies and still growing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In fact, a child's head can exert up to 25 times the force of their body weight in the event of a collision. This is enough to cause a deadly 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 larger necks and can make the transition to a car seat that faces forward earlier. It is important to keep in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile of their age is not stronger than a child who's 5th percentile and that no amount of push-ups done by teens can change the fact that. In the case of a car crash, the head of a bigger child is likely to be struck with much more force, which can cause brain and spinal cord injuries.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, you can switch to a convertible car that allows children to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. In general, children will reach the height limit first and therefore it is important to pay close attention to the instructions of the manufacturer of your car seat on when you should switch to forward-facing.
If your child is at the weight limit or height of their convertible car seat, you'll have to place them in a booster seat. Most booster seats come with an indicator for angles to notify you that the seat is properly installed and is able to be turned to forward-facing mode. It is best to use a booster seat on the back seat of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in case of crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed by the idea of turn their child's car seat as they get older, because it is more practical. However, they should remember that rear-facing seats are safer for children.
A baby who is facing forward in car seats puts their necks at risk in a crash, because the head can be thrown against the seat's front and cause permanent damage to the spine. Even if a 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 a year old.
A child who is facing towards the front is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard or even a window in an accident. Depending on what kind of crash takes place and how fast the car is moving, the head may be pushed against the seat. This could result in a fractured skull or spinal cord.
The current safety standards mandate that kids remain rear-facing until they are 20 pounds and one year old age. The reason for this is that children who are younger do not have the neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most serious kind of car accident.
The harness and tether will help keep the child's head in place which reduces neck strain. Furthermore, a rear-facing child is less likely to suffer head injuries since the impact is cushioned by 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 that can be changed from rear-facing to forward-facing at any point, make sure you read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine if it's safe to face forward. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or whether a tether is required 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 that has a harness and tether until they reach the maximum weight limit or height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. Once they have outgrown this, it is time to travel in a booster seat.
Booster seat
There isn't a set age or size at which kids are able to safely stop using a booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until their vehicle belt fits them correctly and that could happen anywhere from age 8 to 13.
A booster elevates a child's height so that they can sit upright in the car. It also places the shoulder part of the belt in a way that it is close to, but not over, the chest. The lap part of the belt should be placed across the thighs and not on the stomach. Booster seats include belt guides that help to ensure that the belt is properly placed.
Booster seats are available with or without a rearrest. The most commonly used booster seat is the high-back type that offers neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles with low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters are cheaper, but they do not provide neck or head support. best car seat for newborn uk -in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and booster modes, which makes them suitable for children who are in harness mode up to 65 pounds, and later as a booster seat for 100 pounds.
Some boosters have a lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether in the event that one is available. Certain boosters require a seat belt to hold them in place. You can check the owner's manual for your vehicle to find out if you can use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to know how to use it.
Some parents may be tempted to let their three-year-old, 30 pound child go straight to a booster seat because they're growing too tall for a car seat. It's risky to "graduate" a child from a harness. Children could be injured or even killed if the belt is loose during a crash.
Back seat
All children should sit in the back of a car as long as possible, using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat or have surpassed its height and weight limits should be moved to a forward-facing child restraint 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 they can be transferred to a convertible or all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing position. Most of the time, these seats can be used up to 2 years or until your child is over the seat's weight and height limit. Install the car safety seat on the middle of your vehicle. It is secured using the lower anchor system and seat belt.
If your child is out of their rear-facing seat you can put them in a forward-facing restraint using a harness. Typically, these seats can be used until 57 inches in height or until your child is at the height and weight recommendations of the seat. The instructions from the manufacturer or the tag on the car seat will tell you how tall and heavy it can be.
If you can it is recommended that all children over the age of 5 use a booster seat or lap belt. If not then they should use a back restraint located in the middle of the back seat. In addition, they should not sit in the front seat if there is an active air bag. Placing children in the front seat can increase their chances of being injured during a crash, because the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies.
You can take your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic to get help selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. They can also check to see if your child's car seat has been removed due to safety issues or defects. Then, you can purchase one that fits your vehicle and your child's size. If you can't try out a seat, see if it has a policy for refunds.