Car Seats by Age

Car seats are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each one is designed to safeguard children according to their age. Children should be in their car seat until they are at the manufacturer's weight or height limits. Then, they can utilize a booster until the belts of their vehicle fit properly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

When looking for a brand new car seat newborn insert seat, think about features such as fabric that is resistant to staining, removable pieces that can be washed by machines, and equipment that is easy to clean.

Rear-facing

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

Parents are often enticed by the idea of shift their children into forward-facing car seats before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. That means moving them to a forward-facing seat only when they've reached the maximum weight or height limit of their current seat as stated by the manufacturer.

The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies, and are developing, making them especially vulnerable in a crash. In fact the head of a child can exert up to 25 times the force of their body weight in a collision -- enough to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who ride in a car seat that is facing forward are at the greatest chance of suffering fatal head injuries.

Many parents think that their children have necks that are stronger than their older children, meaning they can handle the transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. It is important to keep in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile of their age isn't stronger than a child who's 5th percentile, and that no amount of push-ups done by teens will alter the fact that. In the event of a car crash the head of a bigger child will likely be struck with greater force. This can lead to injuries to the spinal cord and brain.

If your child is outgrowing their car seat for infants, you can change to a convertible car that allows children to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height limit. Generally, children will be the first to reach their height limit, so it's important to be attentive to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat 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 put them in a booster seat. The majority of booster seats have an angle indicator to inform you when the seat is correctly 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 wear the seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the best car seats for infants protection for your child.

Forward-facing

Many parents are enticed to change their children's car seats around when they grow older, because it's more practical. They must remember, however, that rear-facing is an option that is safer for children.

If you crash with the baby facing toward the rear the neck is at risk. The head can be thrown against the front seat with force, causing permanent spine damage. Whiplash can still occur even in the event that the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially applicable to children who are younger, such as infants.

A child who is facing in the direction of the driver is more likely hit his head on the dashboard or even a glass in a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the vehicle is moving the head may be pushed into the seat and break the skull or the spinal cord.

The current safety standards mandate that children remain rear-facing until they reach both 20 pounds and one year of age. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most serious kind of portable infant car seat crash.

Utilizing a harness and tether when facing rear helps keep the kid's head stable, which reduces this stress on their necks. A child who is rear-facing will also be less prone to head injuries, as the impact will be cushioned by their seat.

When you have a child under a year in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that can be changed from front-facing to rear ensure that you read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to look towards the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height requirements are for the particular seat.

When your child is past the rear-facing car seat limit They can now be in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the top weight or height limit set by their best infant carrier car seat seat's manufacturer. When they've reached that point, you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There isn't a set age or height at which children can safely stop using a booster seat. Kids should use it until the vehicle belt fits them properly and that could happen between the ages of 8 and 13.

A booster elevates a child's height so that they can sit upright in the car. It also aligns the shoulder part of the belt so it is close to but not over the chest. The lap part of the belt should rest on the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats come with a built-in belt guide to ensure that the belt is correctly positioned.

Booster seats are available with or without backrests. The most common type is a high-back booster, which offers neck and head support for children. It's a great choice for cars with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters may be less expensive but they don't provide neck or head support. Some all-in one boosters allow you to switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children from 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 lower anchors on the vehicle and a tether in the event that it is available. Certain boosters require a seat belt to keep them in place. You can refer to the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, read the instructions for the booster seat to know how to use it.

Some parents might be tempted to move their 30-pound 3-year-old child into a booster car seat due to the fact that the child is becoming too tall to fit into a harness seat. However, rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is dangerous. If the belt is loose, children can be seriously injured or even die in an accident.

Back seat

All children should be in the back seat of a vehicle for 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 its weight and height limits and should be switched to a forward-facing restraint using a harness until they attain the maximum height for this type of seat.

When your baby is outgrowing an cheap infant car seats car seat, you can move them to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat with a rear-facing option. Usually, these seats can be used up to two years or until your child is over the seat's maximum height and weight limit. Install the car safety seat in the middle seat of your vehicle. It is secured using the lower anchor system and seat belt.

When your child grows out of their rear-facing seat you can put them in a forward-facing restraint that has a harness. These seats are usually used until the child reaches 57 inches in height or exceeds the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy a car seat is by reading the directions of the manufacturer or by looking at a tag attached to it.

All children over the age of 18 should be seated in a booster seat or a lap belt for a vehicle as much as possible. If not then they should use a back seat restraint located in the middle of the back seat. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is active. Placing children in the front seat could increase their chances of injury in a crash, 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 choosing and installing the right child safety seat. They can also check to determine if your child's seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or flaws. You can then purchase one that fits both your vehicle and child's height. If you're unable to try a seat before buying ensure that it comes with a return policy.