See What Car Seats By Age Tricks The Celebs Are Using

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 cheap infant car seats seat until they reach the manufacturer's weight or height limits. After that, they can use a booster until their vehicle belts fit correctly, usually when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

When shopping for a new car seat, think about features such as fabric that can withstand staining, removable pieces that can be washed by machines, and hardware that wipes clean.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, shielding their delicate spines and necks in the event of a crash. They also offer greater safety, as they spread the force of impact over a greater area. This helps reduce the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed to change their children to forward-facing car seats before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. The manufacturer will let you know when your child is ready to go forward-facing.

The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies. They are also growing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In fact children's heads can exert up to 25 times the force of their bodyweight in an accident -- enough to cause a fatal injury. This is why children of the ages of 5 and under are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries when they are in a front-facing car seat.

Many parents think that their kiddos have necks that are stronger than their older children, meaning they'll be able to transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. But it's important to remember that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't as strong as the 5th percentile child, and no amount of push-ups for teens can alter the fact that. In the case of a car accident the head of a bigger child is more likely to be hit with more force, which could cause spinal cord and brain injuries.

When your child outgrows their infant car seat newborn car seat, you can change them into a convertible car seat that allows them to remain facing the rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Generally, children will be the first to reach their height limit and it's crucial to pay close attention to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when you should switch to forward-facing.

When your child reaches the limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, you'll need to place them in a booster seat. Most booster seats come with an indicator for angles to inform you that the seat is properly installed and is ready to be flipped to forward-facing mode. Make sure to use a booster in the back of your car and always with a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the best car seats protection for your child.

Forward-facing

Many parents are enticed by the idea of turn their babies' car seats around when they grow older, because it seems more convenient. But they should remember that rear-facing is an option that is safer for children.

The fact that a child is facing forward in a car seat puts their necks in danger in the event of a crash, as the head can be thrown back by force against the front seat and can cause permanent injury to the spine. Whiplash can still occur even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly the case for children with smaller necks, like infants under a year old.

A child who is facing forward is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard, or even a glass in a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and the speed at which the car is traveling the head could be pulled backwards against the seat and could fracture the skull or the spinal cord.

The current safety standards demand that kids remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year old age. This is due to the fact that younger children don't have the strength of their necks to withstand the force in a head-on collision, which is the most severe kind of accident where cars are involved.

The harness and tether will aid in keeping the child's head stable which reduces neck strain. Additionally the rear-facing child 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 that can be turned from facing forward to rear at any time, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine if it's safe for them to face forward. The guidelines will explain whether or not to use a tether as well as the weight and height limits for that seat.

When your child is past the rear-facing car seat limitation you can allow them to be in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat. When they've reached that point, you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no magic age or size at which kids are able to safely stop using the booster seat. The booster seat is to be used until the child's vehicle 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 can sit upright in the car. The shoulder portion of a belt is also positioned so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap part of the belt should rest on the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats come with belt guides that help to ensure the belt is placed correctly.

Booster seats are available with or without a rearrest. The most popular model is a high-back booster which offers neck and head support for children. It's a great choice for vehicles with low seat backs, and no head rests. Backless boosters are less expensive however they do not provide head or neck support. Some all-in one boosters let you switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds as a booster.

Some boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) that hooks to the lower anchors on the vehicle and a tether, in the event that it is available. Some require the car seat belt to secure them in place. Review the instruction manual for your vehicle to see if you can use the lower anchors in your car, and read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to use them.

Parents may be enticed to move their 30-pound, 3-year-old child into an adult car seat since the child is getting too tall for the harness seat. But hurrying to "graduate" your child out of the harness can be dangerous. If the belt is too loose children could be seriously injured or even die in a crash.

Back seat

All children should ride in the back of a car for as long as is possible with a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits, should switch to a forward-facing restraint using a harness until they attain the maximum height for this type of seat.

When your baby is no longer in the infant car seat travel car seat, they can be moved to a convertible or all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing seat. Usually, these seats can be used for a period of up to two years or until your child outgrows the seat's maximum weight and height limit. Install the car safety seat in the middle seat of your vehicle. It can be securely fastened with 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 equipped with a harness and tether. The majority of these seats can be used up to 57 inches or until your child outgrows the top weight and height limits of the seat. You can find out the height and weight of the car seat is by reading the directions of the manufacturer or looking at the tag that is attached to the seat.

All children older than 5 years old should be seated in the booster seat or on a lap belt in the vehicle at the very least. If not then they should use the middle back seat restraint. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is in use. Children who sit in the front seat are more likely to be injured in collisions since their bodies are smaller.

You can take your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic for assistance in selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. You can also determine if your car seat has been recalled for defects or safety issues. You can then purchase one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child's size. If you're unable to try a seat, check to whether it has a policy for refunds.