Car Seats by Age

Car seats are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each one is designed to safeguard children based on their age. It is recommended that children ride in their seat until they meet the manufacturer’s weight or height limits and then use an extra seat until the vehicle belts are properly fitted, usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches in height or the age of 10-12.

When you are looking for a new car seat, think about features such as fabric that resists stains, removable pieces that can be machine washed, and hardware that wipes clean.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle infants and toddlers to protect their spines and necks from injury in a crash. They’re also safer as they spread the impact force over more of a larger area which minimizes the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often tempted to 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. This means that they should move to a forward-facing car seat only when they’ve reached their height or weight limit of their current car seat, as specified by the manufacturer.

Children’s heads are big in relation to their body and is still developing. This makes them vulnerable in the event of a crash. The head of a child can generate up to 25 times their body weight in the event of a collision that is more than enough force to cause fatal injury. That’s why young children are at the greatest risk of sustaining fatal head injuries when they ride in a car seat with a front view.

Many parents believe that their children have stronger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat facing forward faster. But it’s important to remember that a 95th percentile lightweight baby car seat isn’t any stronger than 5th percentile kids, and no amount of teen push-ups will change this. In the event of a car crash the head of a child with a bigger size will likely be hit with more force. This can lead to injuries to the spinal cord or brain.

When your child has outgrown their infant car seats best car seat, you can change to convertible cars that let them stay rear-facing up until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Children usually attain their maximum height first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions of the manufacturer of the car seat on when you can switch them to forward-facing mode.

If your child is at the limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, you’ll have to get them into a booster seat. Most booster seats come with an angle indicator to let you know when the seat has been properly installed and is able to be flipped to forward-facing mode. It is recommended 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 most secure protection for your child in the event of a crash.

Forward-facing

Parents are often enticed to turn their child’s car seat around as they get older, simply because it’s more comfortable. But they must remember that rear-facing is safer for children.

If you crash with an infant car seats facing toward the rear, the neck is at risk. The head could be placed against the seat and cause permanent spine damage. Whiplash is still a possibility even in the event that the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially applicable to children who are smaller that aren’t yet a year old.

A child facing towards the front is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard or even a glass in the event of a crash. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the head could be forced into the seat and could fracture the skull or spinal cord.

The current safety standards mandate that kids remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year of age. The reason is that children who are younger do not have the neck strength to withstand a head-on crash which is the most serious kind of car crash.

The use of a harness or tether when facing rear helps keep the child’s head in a stable position and reduces strain on their necks. A rear-facing child will also be less likely to suffer head injuries as the impact will be cushioned by their seat.

If you have a child less than one year old and is in a convertible seat or an all in one that can be turned from forward-facing to rear-facing at any time, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine when it’s safe to face forward. The manufacturer’s guidelines will tell whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height is for the particular seat.

When your child reaches the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel in a forward-facing best car seats for newborns seat that has a tether. When they’ve reached that point, it’s time to travel with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no age or height limit when children can safely stop using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until a child’s vehicle belt is properly fitted. This could occur anytime between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster helps a child increase their height so that they can sit upright in the car. It also aligns the shoulder part of the belt so that it is near but not over the chest. The lap portion of the belt should lie on the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats come with a belt guide that helps to ensure the belt is placed correctly.

Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most popular booster seat is the high-back that offers neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles that have low backs and no headrests. Backless boosters are less expensive however they do not provide head or neck support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, which makes them suitable for children who are in harness mode up to 65 pounds. They can also be used as a booster seat for 100 pounds.

Some boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) which connects to the vehicle’s lower anchors and a tether, in the event that it is available. Some boosters require the seat belt to hold them in place. Go through the manual of your car to determine if you’re able to use the lower anchors inside 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 to a booster car seat due to the fact that the child is getting too tall to fit into the harness seat. But rushing to “graduate” your child from the harness is dangerous. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is too loose in the event of a crash.

Back seat

All children should ride in the back seat of a car seat inserts for newborns for as long as is possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits should move 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, they can be transferred to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing position. These seats typically last for two years, or until the child reaches the maximum weight and height of the seat. If you have a car with a middle seat install the car safety seat so it can be secured tightly in this location with the lower anchor system or seat belt.

If your child is out of their rear-facing seat, you can put them in a front-facing restraint with a harness. These seats are usually used until your child reaches the height of 57 inches or reaches the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy the car seat is by studying the instructions of the manufacturer, or looking at the tag on the seat.

All children older than 5 years old should be seated in a booster seat or lap belt for a vehicle, if possible. If not, they should use a back seat restraint located in the middle of the back seat. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat if there’s an air bag that is in use. Sitting children in the front seat can increase the chance of injury in a crash, because the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies.

You can bring your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the best car seats for newborns uk child safety seat. They can also see if your child’s car seat has been removed due to safety concerns or flaws. You can then buy one that is suitable for your car and the child’s height. If you are unable to test the seat, whether it has a return policy.