Car Seats by AgeCar seats are available in a variety sizes and shapes, but each one is designed to protect children based on their age. It's recommended that children ride in their seats until they meet the manufacturer's height or weight limits and then use a booster seat until their vehicle belts are properly fitted, usually when they attain 4 feet 9 inches tall or the age of 10-12.
When looking for a brand new car seat, take into consideration features such as fabric that resists staining, removable pieces that can be machine washed and accessories that can be cleaned.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, protecting their delicate spines and necks in the event of a collision. They're also safer as they distribute the force of impact across an area larger than the surface which reduces spinal cord injuries.
Parents are often enticed to shift their children into forward-facing car seats before they're ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as it is possible. This means they should be moved to a forward-facing seat only after they've reached the height or weight limit of their current seat, as stated by the manufacturer.
Children's head are large in relation to their body and is still developing. This makes them more vulnerable in a crash. A child's head can produce up to 25 times the weight of their body in a collision which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat facing forward are at the greatest danger of suffering fatal head injuries.
Many parents believe that their children have bigger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat that faces forward sooner. However, it's important to realize that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't any stronger than a 5th percentile kid, and no amount of push-ups for teens will change the fact that. In the case of a car accident, 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 no longer in their
infant car seats uk car seat, you can change to a convertible car seat that allows them to remain facing the rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Children usually reach their maximum height first. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the directions from the manufacturer of your car seat on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.
If your child has reached the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will have to transition them to an adult booster. The majority of booster seats come with an integrated angle indicator that tells you when the seat is properly installed and is ready to switch to face forward. Make sure to use a booster in the back of your vehicle and always wear the seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the most secure security for your child.
Forward-facing
Many parents are tempted to turn their babies' car seats around as they grow older because it's more practical. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children.
The fact that a child is facing forward in a car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash, because the head could be thrown by force against the front seat and could cause permanent injury to the spine. Whiplash is still a possibility even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially true for smaller kids such as infants who are less than one year old.
A forward-facing child is also more likely to land their head against the dashboard or on the window during an accident. Based on the kind of crash takes place and how fast the
newborn car seat insert is moving, the head could be pushed against the seat. This could result in a fractured skull or spinal cord.
The current safety standards require that children remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year of age. The reason is that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most dangerous kind of
best car seats for infants crash.
The harness and tether aid in keeping the child's head steady which reduces neck strain. A rear-facing child will also be less likely to sustain head injuries, as the impact will be cushioned by their 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 rear to forward-facing ensure that you read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to be facing the front. The guidelines will tell you whether or not you should use a tether as well as the height and weight limits for that particular seat.
Once your child has reached the rear-facing car seat limitation They can now travel in a forward-facing car seat that has a harness and tether until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the car seat's manufacturer. When they've reached that point, it's time to travel with a booster.
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 the vehicle belt fits them correctly and that could take anytime between age 8 and 13.
A booster helps a child increase their height so that they are able to sit upright in the car. The shoulder portion of a belt must be positioned so that it is close to the chest, but not above. The lap part of the belt should rest across the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats have a belt guide to ensure that the belt is placed correctly.
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 great option for vehicles that have low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters can be less expensive but they don't provide neck or head 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 boosters.
Some boosters have a lower anchors system (LATCH) that hooks to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether in the event that it is available. Others require the vehicle seat belt to keep them in place. Check the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if can use the lower anchors. Also, you should read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.
Parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child into a booster car seat because the child is growing too tall to fit into a harness seat. But rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is risky. If the belt is not secure enough, children can be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.
Back seat
All children should use a child safety or booster seat installed correctly as long as they can. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat or have outgrown the weight and height limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with an appropriate harness until they're tall for this type of seat.
Once your child has outgrown the infant car seat, you can move them to convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing option. These seats can typically be used for a period of up to two years, or until your child is over the seat's maximum weight and height 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 has outgrown their rear-facing car seat it is possible to place them in a front-facing child restraint fitted with a harness and tether. These seats are typically used until your child reaches 57 inches in height or exceeds the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. You can determine the height and weight of the car seat is by reading the directions of the manufacturer or looking at the tag on the seat.
If you can the older children should sit in a booster or lap belt. If not, they should use a back seat restraint in the middle of the back seat. Also, they should not sit in front if the airbag is activated. Sitting children in the front seat can increase their chances of getting injured in an accident because the impact forces are stronger on their smaller bodies.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic to get help selecting and installing the
best infant seat child safety seat. They can also check to determine if your child's seat has been removed due to safety concerns or flaws. You can then choose a seat that is suitable for your car and the child's height. If you're not able to try a seat before buying ensure that it comes with an exchange policy.
