What Is The Reason Car Seats By Age Is Right For You
Car Seats by Age
Each car seat is made to be suitable for a particular age group. Children should use their car seat until they reach the limit of the manufacturer's weight or height. Then, they can utilize a booster until the vehicle belts fit correctly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
If you are looking for a new seat look for features like fabric that is resistant to stains and removable pieces that can easily be machine-washed. Hardware that is easy to clean should also be taken into consideration.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seat cradles babies and toddlers protecting their spines and necks from injury in a crash. They are also safer since they spread the force of impact over a larger area. This reduces the risk of the chance of injury to the spinal cord.
Parents are often enticed by the idea of change their children to forward-facing car seats before they're ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as possible. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to go forward.
The heads of children are huge in relation to their bodies and growing. This makes them vulnerable to injury in a crash. The head of a child is capable of generating up to 25 times their body weight in a collision which is more than enough force to cause fatal injury. This is why children who sit in a car seat facing towards the front are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries.
Many parents believe that their children have stronger necks and can make the transition to a car seat that faces forward sooner. It's important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile of their age is not stronger than a kid who is 5th percentile, and that no amount of push-ups performed by teens will change that. In the event of a car crash, a bigger kid's head is likely to be struck with much more force, which can cause spinal cord and brain injuries.
If your child is no longer in their infant car seat rear facing car seat, you can change to a convertible seat that lets them remain facing the rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Typically, children be the first to reach their height limit and therefore it is important to follow the car seat manufacturer's instructions on when to change to forward-facing mode.
If your child is at the limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, it's time to get them into a booster seat. The majority of booster seats have an indicator that indicates the angle to let you know that the seat is properly installed and is able for flipping into forward-facing mode. It is recommended 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 strongest protection for your child in a crash.
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 must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children.
In a crash with a baby facing forward, the neck is at risk. The head could be placed against the seat and cause permanent damage to the spine. Even if a child's neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible to suffer whiplash. This is particularly true for smaller kids, like infants under a year old.
A forward-facing child is also more likely to strike their head against the dashboard or on the window during an accident. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the head may be pulled backwards against the seat and could fracture the skull or spinal cord.
Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and one year old. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old do not have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most serious kind of car accident.
The use of a harness or tether when rear-facing helps keep the child's head in a stable position and reduces the stress on their necks. 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 child younger than one year old, and they are in a convertible seat or an all-in-one which can be turned from rear-facing to forward-facing at any time, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine when it's safe for them to face forward. The guidelines will explain whether or not to use a tether as well as the height and weight limits for the seat.
Once your child is at the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel in a forward-facing car seat newborn seat that has a tether. Once they've outgrown it it's time to travel with a booster.
Booster seat
There isn't a set age or size at which kids are able to safely stop using the booster seat. Kids should use it until the vehicle belt fits them correctly, and that can happen anywhere from age 8 to 13.
A booster helps a child increase their height so they can comfortably sit upright in the car. It also positions the shoulder part of the belt so that it is close to but not directly over the chest. The lap part of the belt should rest across the thighs, not the stomach. Booster seats are equipped with a belt guide to help ensure the belt is properly positioned.
Booster seats can be purchased with or without a rearrest. The most popular model is a high-back booster which offers neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles with low backs and have no headrests. Backless boosters may be less expensive however they don't offer head or neck support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for kids in harness mode up to 65 pounds and then as an adult booster seat until about 100 pounds.
Some boosters come with a lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the vehicle's lower anchors, and a tether if one is available. Others require the vehicle seat belt to keep them in position. Go through the manual of your car to determine if you are able to use the lower anchors on your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to utilize them.
Some parents may be tempted to let their 3 year old 30 pounds child immediately go to a booster seat because they're growing too tall for a infant car seat uk seat. It's risky to "graduate" a child from a harness. If the belt is too loose, children can be seriously injured or even die in a crash.
Back seat
All children should be in the back seat of a car for as long as possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits they should change to a forward facing child restraint with harness until they attain the maximum height for this type of seat.
After your baby outgrows an infant car seat, they can be moved to a convertible, or an all-in-one infant car seat rear facing seat that has a rear-facing position. Usually, these seats can be used for up to two years or until your child outgrows the seat's highest height and weight limit. Install the car safety seat on the middle of your vehicle. It can be secured with the lower anchor system and 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. Typically, these seats can be used up to 57 inches in height or until your child reaches the weight and height limits of the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy a car seat is by reading the manufacturer's instructions, or looking at the tag that is attached to it.
All older children should be seated in a booster seat or vehicle's lap belt as much as possible. If they aren't able to then they should use the middle back seat restraint. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is activated. Children who sit in the front seats are more likely to be injured during collisions because their bodies are smaller.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic for assistance in choosing and installing the right child safety seat. They can also check to find out if your child's seat has been removed due to safety concerns or other flaws. Then, you can purchase one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child's size. If you can't try out a seat, see if it has a policy for refunds.