Each car seat is specifically designed to be suitable for a particular age group. It is recommended that children sit in their car seat 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 reach 4 feet 9 inches tall or the age of 10-12.
When you are looking for a new car seat, consider features like fabric that can withstand staining, removable pieces that can be machine washed, and equipment that is easy to clean.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats are designed to hold infants and toddlers, securing their delicate spines and necks in the event of a crash. They’re also safer as they spread the force of impact over an area larger than the surface, which limits injuries to the spinal cord.
Parents are often enticed to move their kids 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. The manufacturer will inform you when your child is ready to transition forward.
The heads of children are huge in relation to their body and still developing. This makes them more vulnerable in a crash. The head of a child can produce up to 25 times their body weight in the event of a collision that is more than enough force to cause fatal injury. This is why children of the ages of 5 and under are at the greatest chance of suffering 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 sooner. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile isn’t any stronger than 5th percentile kids and no amount of push-ups for teens can alter this. In the event 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.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat you can switch to convertible cars that let them stay rear-facing up until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Children typically attain their maximum height first. This is why it is essential to follow the guidelines of the car seat manufacturer on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.
If your child is at the weight or height limit of their convertible car seat, it’s time to put them in an adult booster seat. Most booster seats come with an angle indicator to inform you when the seat is correctly installed and is ready to be turned to forward-facing mode. You should only use a booster seat in the back of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the strongest protection for your child in case of crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed to change their baby’s car seat as they get older, because it is more comfortable. However, they must remember that rear-facing seats are a safer option for children.
In the event of a crash that involves a baby facing forward, the neck is at risk. The head could be placed against the seat by force and cause permanent damage to the spine. Whiplash can still occur even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly applicable to children who are younger, such as infants.
A child facing in the direction of the driver is more likely hit his head on the dashboard or even a window in a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the head may be pushed backwards against the seat and may break the skull or the spinal cord.
The current safety standards require children to remain rear-facing until both they weigh 20 pounds and one year old. This is due to the fact that younger children don’t have the neck strength to withstand the force in a head-on collision, which is the most severe type of accident in which automobiles are involved.
Using a harness and tether when facing rear helps keep the child’s head in a stable position and reduces the stress on their necks. In addition that a child who is rear-facing is less prone to head injuries because the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.
If you have a child younger than one year old, and they are in a convertible seat or an all in one that can be turned from facing forward to rear at any time, read the instructions given 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.
Once your child has reached the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they can travel with a forward-facing seat with a tether. Once they’ve outgrown it you can now take them on a trip with a booster.
Booster seat
There is no age limit or height when children can safely stop using booster seats. Kids should use one until the vehicle belt is properly fitted, and that can happen between the ages of 8 and 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 over, the chest. The lap portion of the belt must rest across the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guides to help ensure the belt is positioned correctly.
Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most commonly used booster seat is the high-back type, which provides neck and head support for children. This is a good option for vehicles that have low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters can be less expensive but they do not provide head or neck support. Certain all-in-one boosters let you switch between boost and harness modes. They are suitable for children from to 65 pounds in harness mode and up to 100 pounds when used as a booster.
Some boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) which connects to the vehicle’s lower anchors and a tether if available. Certain boosters require a seat belt to hold them in place. Review the instruction manual for your vehicle to see if you can use the lower anchors in your vehicle, and then read the booster seat instructions to learn how to use them.
Some parents may be enticed to move their 30-pound, 3-year-old child into a booster car seat because the child is getting too tall for the harness seat. It’s risky to “graduate” a child from the harness. If the belt is too loose children could be severely injured or even die in a crash.
Back seat
All children should ride in the back seat of a car as long as they can, 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 the limits of its weight and height, should switch to a forward-facing restraint using a harness until they attain the maximum height for this type of seat.
When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat for travel car seat they can be moved to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat with an open rear-facing position. These seats are usually good for two years, or until the child is at the maximum weight and height of the seat. If you own a car with a middle seat install the car safety seat so that it is secured to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
If your child is no longer in a rear-facing best car seat for newborn seat, they can be placed into a front-facing child restraint equipped with a harness and tether. The majority of these seats can be used until 57 inches tall or until your child reaches the top rated infant car seats height and weight recommendations of the seat. The instructions of the manufacturer or a sticker on the car seat will tell you how tall and heavy it can support.
If it is possible, all older children should sit in a booster or lap belt. If not, they should use a back restraint in the middle of the back seat. They should also not sit in front of the car seats by age if the airbag is activated. Sitting children in the front seat could increase the risk of getting injured in an accident, as the impact forces are stronger on their smaller bodies.
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. You can also see if your child’s car seat has been removed due to safety issues or defects. You can then purchase one that is compatible with your car and the child’s height. If you’re not able test a seat before purchasing be sure that it comes with a return policy.
