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Car seats are available in a variety sizes and shapes and shapes, but they're all designed to safeguard children according to their age. Children should use their car seat until they reach the limit of the manufacturer's weight or height. After that, they can use a booster until their belts of their vehicle fit properly typically when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When looking for a brand new car seat, take into consideration features such as fabric that is resistant to stains, removable pieces that can be machine washed and equipment that is easy to clean.
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 as they distribute the force of impact over more of a larger area, which limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.
Parents are often enticed by the thought of bringing their children forward facing before they're ready. However the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them rear-facing as long as you can. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to transition forward-facing.
The heads of children are huge in relation to their body, and still developing. This makes them vulnerable in a crash. A child's head is capable of generating up to 25 times the weight of their body in a collision, which is more than enough force to cause fatal injury. This is 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 think that their kiddos have bigger necks than older children, which means they'll be able to make the transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. However, it's important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile isn't any more powerful than a 5th percentile kid, and no amount of push-ups for teens can alter the fact that. In the case of a car crash, the head of a bigger child is likely to hit with greater force, which could result in spinal cord and brain injuries.
If your child is no longer in their
infant car seat newborn car seat, you can convert to a convertible seat that allows them to stay rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Children usually attain their maximum height first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions of the car seat manufacturer on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.
When your child is at their convertible car seat's weight or height limit, you will have to transition them to a booster. Most booster seats come with an indicator for angles to notify you that the seat is correctly installed and is ready to be flipped to forward-facing mode. Use a booster only at the rear of your vehicle and always with a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the most secure protection for your child.
Forward-facing
Parents are often tempted to flip their baby's car seat around as they grow older, as it's more practical. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children.
Having a baby face forward in car seats puts their necks at risk in the event of a crash, as the head can be thrown back by force against the front seat and cause permanent injury to the spine. Even if a child's neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible for them to experience whiplash. This is particularly relevant for children younger than them, such as infants.
A child facing the forward is more likely to strike their head against the dashboard or window during the course of a crash. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the head may be pulled back against the seat and break the skull or the spinal cord.
The current safety guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until they reach 20 lbs and 1 year old. The reason for this is that younger children don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash which is the most dangerous type of car accident.
The use of a harness or tether when rear-facing helps keep the child's head in a stable position, which reduces this strain on their necks. In addition the rear-facing child is less likely to suffer head injuries since the impact is cushioned with the body of the seat.
If you have a baby under a year in a convertible car seat or an all-in-1 seat that can be changed from front-facing to rear be sure to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to face the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or not a tether is needed and what the maximum weight and height is for the particular seat.
Once your child has reached the rear-facing car seat limitation, they can travel in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum weight limit or height allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat. Once they've surpassed this, it's time to move into the booster seat.
Seat booster
There is no set age or size at which kids are able to safely stop using the booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until their vehicle belt fits them correctly and that could happen between the ages of 8 and 13.
A booster helps a child increase their height so that they are able to sit upright in the
infant car seat newborn. The shoulder part of a belt is also set so that it sits close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should be placed across the thighs and 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 a backrest. The most popular booster seat is the high-back type, which provides neck and head support for children. This is a great option for vehicles that have low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters are cheaper however they do not provide head or neck support. Some all-in-one boosters permit users to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for children in harness mode until about 65 pounds, and later as an adult booster seat until about 100 pounds.
Certain boosters have a lower anchors system (LATCH) that hooks to the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether, if available. Others require the seat belt to secure them in position. You can check the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, read the instructions for the booster seat to know how to use it.
Some parents might be enticed to let their 3 year old 30 lbs child go straight to a booster seat because they're growing too tall for a car seat. But rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is risky. If the belt is loose, children can be seriously injured or even die in a crash.
Back seat
All children should sit in the back seat of a car for as long as they can, using a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing
best car seats seat, or have outgrown the weight and height 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 the
infant car seat uk car seat, they can be moved to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat that has an open rear-facing position. These seats typically last 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 to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
When your child grows out of their rear-facing seat, you can put them in a forward-facing restraint with a harness. These seats are typically used until your child is the height of 57 inches or exceeds the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. The instructions of the manufacturer or a sticker on the car seat will let you know the height and weight it is able to support.
All children over the age of 18 should be seated in the booster seat or on a lap belt for a vehicle at the very least. If not you can use a back restraint in the middle of the back seat. It is also recommended to not sit in front if the airbag is activated. Children who sit in the front seat are more likely to suffer injuries in a collision because their bodies are smaller.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic for assistance in selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. They can also check whether your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then buy one that is compatible with your vehicle and the child's height. If you can't try out a seat, check to whether it has a return policy.
