Car Seats by Age
Each car seat is designed to be suitable for a particular age group. Children should ride in their car seat until they are at the manufacturer's weight or height limits. After that, they can utilize a booster until the vehicle belts fit correctly typically when they are between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When you are searching for a new seat, consider features such as fabrics that are resistant to staining and removable pieces that can be washed in the machine. Hardware that is easy to clean should also be taken into consideration.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers protecting their necks and spines from injuries in a crash. They also offer greater safety, as they spread the force of impact over a greater area. This helps reduce the chance of injury to the spinal cord.
Parents are often tempted to move their kids into forward-facing car seats before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they remain rear-facing for as long as it is possible. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to move forward-facing.
Children's head are large in relation to their body, and is still developing. This makes them vulnerable in the event of a crash. A child's head can produce up to 25 times their body weight in an accident which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat with their backs to the side are at a higher risk of fatal head injuries.
Many parents think that their kids have bigger necks than their older children, meaning they'll be able to transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. It is important to keep in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile of their age isn't any more powerful than a child who is 5th percentile and that no amount of push-ups performed by teens can change that. In the event of a car crash, the head of a bigger child is likely to hit with much more force, which could cause spinal cord and brain injuries.
If your child is outgrowing their infant car seat you can convert them to convertible cars that let them to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Generally, children will be the first to reach their height limit, so it's important to be attentive to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when to change to forward-facing mode.
If your child has reached their convertible car seat's weight or height limit, you'll require them to be moved to an adult booster. Most booster seats have an inbuilt angle indicator that tells you whether the seat is installed and is ready to switch to face forward. It is best to use a booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the best protection for your child in the event of a crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often tempted to change their baby's car seat around as they get older, simply because it's more convenient. They must remember, however that rear-facing is a safer option for children.
If you crash with a baby facing towards the front, the neck is at risk. The head can be placed against the seat and cause permanent spinal damage. www.pushchairsandprams.uk can happen even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly the case for children with smaller necks such as infants who are less than one 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. Based on the kind of crash takes place and the speed at which the car is moving, the head may be pushed against the seat. This can cause fractured skulls or a spinal cord.
The current safety standards require that children remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year old age. This is because children younger than one year do not 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 when facing rear helps keep the kid's head stable and reduces stress on their necks. Additionally that a child who is rear-facing is less likely to sustain head injuries since the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.
If you have a child less than one year old in a convertible seat or an all-in-one which can be turned from facing forward to rear at any time, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine when it's safe to face forward. The guidelines will inform you whether or not to use a tether and the weight and height limitations for that particular seat.
When your child reaches the maximum height or weight permitted by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel in a forward-facing car seat that has a tether. Once they've outgrown it, the time is now to move on to a booster.
Seat booster
There is no age or height limit at which children are safe from using booster seats. Children should use a booster seat until the belt fits them properly, and that can happen anytime between age 8 and 13.
A booster increases the height of a child so that they are able to sit upright in a car. The shoulder part of a belt is set so that it sits close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap part of the belt should be placed across the thighs and not over the stomach. Booster seats come with a belt guide to ensure the belt is placed correctly.
Booster seats come with or without backrests. The most common booster seat is the high-back, which provides neck and head support for children. This is a great option for vehicles with low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters are cheaper but they don't offer head or neck support. Some all-in one boosters allow you to switch between boost and harness modes. They are suitable for children weighing up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds as a booster.
Certain boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) which connects to the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether, if available. Some boosters require the vehicle's seat belt to keep them in place. You can refer to the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.
Some parents might be tempted to move their 30-pound 3-year-old child to a booster car seat because the child is growing too tall to fit into the harness seat. However, rushing to "graduate" your child out of the harness can be dangerous. If the belt is loose children could be seriously injured or even die in an accident.
Back seat
All children should use a child safety or booster seat correctly installed for as long as they're able. Children who are too large for a rear facing car seat, or have exceeded the weight and height limits and should be switched to a forward-facing child restraint using a harness until they reach the maximum height for this type of seat.
Once your child has outgrown the infant car seat, you can transfer them to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat with an option to rear-facing. These seats are generally good for two years, or until the child reaches the maximum height and weight of the seat. If you have a vehicle with a middle seat install the car safety seat so that it can be secured tightly in this position using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
If your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat, they can be placed in a front-facing child restraint fitted with a harness and tether. These seats are typically used until your child reaches the height of 57 inches or reaches the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy a car seat is by studying the instructions of the manufacturer, or by looking at a tag attached to it.
All older children should be seated in a booster seat or vehicle's lap belt as much as possible. If not then they should use the middle back seat restraint. Additionally it is not recommended to sit in the front seat if there is an air bag that is in use. Placing children in the front seat could increase their chances of being injured during a crash, because the impact forces are stronger on their smaller bodies.
It's a good idea take your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station to assistance in choosing and installing the best child safety seat for them. They can also find out if your car seat has been recalled due to flaws or safety concerns. You can then buy one that fits both your car and the child's height. If you're unable to try a seat, whether it has a refund policy.