Car Seats by Age

Car seats come in a variety of sizes and shapes however, they are all designed to protect children based on their age. Children should use their car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer. After that, they can use a booster until the vehicle belts fit correctly typically when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

When looking for a new seat consider features such as fabrics that are resistant to staining and pieces that can easily be machine-washed. Hardware that is easy to clean should also be considered.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers protecting their necks and spines from a crash. They're also safer as they distribute the force of impact over a larger surface area, which limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often tempted by the thought of moving their children to a forward-facing seat before they're ready. However the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them in rear-facing as long as you can. The manufacturer will inform you when your child is ready to transition forward-facing.

The heads of children are huge in relation to their body, and still developing. This makes them more vulnerable to injury in a crash. In reality the head of a child could generate up to 25 times the force of their bodyweight in the event of a collision. This is more than enough to cause a deadly injury. That's why young children are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries when they are in a car seat that is facing the front.

Many parents believe that their children have larger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat facing forward faster. It's important to keep it in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile of their age isn't any more powerful than a child who is 5th percentile, and no amount of push-ups by teens can change this. In the event of a crash, a larger child's head will likely be struck with greater force. This can lead to brain and spinal cord injury.

When your child outgrows their infant car seats cheap car seat, you can convert to a convertible car seat that lets them remain facing the rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Children usually attain their maximum height first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions from the manufacturer of your car seat regarding when to switch to forward-facing mode.

When your child is at the weight capacity of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will need to move them into an adult booster. Most booster seats have 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 car and always wear the seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the most secure security for your child.

Forward-facing

Parents are often enticed by the idea of change their lightweight baby car seat's car seat as they get older, simply 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 forward, the neck is at risk. The head could be placed against the seat with force, causing permanent spinal damage. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible to experience whiplash. This is especially true for younger children like infants.

A child who is facing forward is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard, or even a window, in an accident. Depending on the type of crash occurs and how fast the car is moving, the head may be placed against the seat. This could result in fractures to the skull or spinal cord.

Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 lbs and 1 year of age. This is because children younger than one year don't have the strength of their necks to withstand the forces in a head-on collision which is often the most severe kind of accident where automobiles are involved.

The use of a harness or tether while rear-facing helps to keep the child's head in a stable position, which reduces this stress on their necks. Additionally that a child who is rear-facing is less likely to sustain head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.

If you have a child who is less than one year old and in a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat that can switch from front-facing to rear, make sure to read the manufacturer's guidelines about when it is safe for your child to look towards the front. The guidelines will inform you whether or not you should use a tether as well as the height and weight limits for that seat.

Once your child has reached the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they can use a forward-facing seat with tether. Once they've outgrown it, you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no magic age or size at which kids can safely stop using the booster seat. Kids should use one until the vehicle belt fits them properly and that could happen anywhere from age 8 to 13.

A booster raises the height of a child, so that they can sit comfortably upright in a car. The shoulder portion of a belt is positioned so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should be placed on the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guide to ensure that the belt is properly positioned.

Booster seats come with or without a backrest. The most common booster seat is the high-back type that provides neck and head support for children. It is a great option for vehicles with low seat backs, and no head rests. Backless boosters are less expensive however they don't offer neck or head support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children weighing up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds as boosters.

Certain boosters have a lower anchors system (LATCH) that connects to the lower anchors on the vehicle and a tether, when available. Others require the seat belt to keep them in position. Check your vehicle's owner's manual to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, read the instructions for the booster seat to understand how to use it.

Some parents might be tempted to move their 30-pound, 3-year-old child into an adult car seat since the child is growing too tall to fit in the harness seat. But rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is risky. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is loose during the event of a crash.

Back seat

All children should be in the back seat of a car as long as they can using a child safety seat or booster seat that's been properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat, or have surpassed the weight and height limits should be moved to a forward-facing child restraint with an appropriate harness until they're tall for this type of seat.

Once your child has outgrown an infant car seat best car seat you can move them to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat with an option to rear-facing. These seats are usually good for two years, or until the child is at the maximum height and weight of the seat. Install the car safety seat in the middle 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 front-facing restraint that has a harness. Typically, these seats can be used up to 57 inches tall or until your child reaches the height and weight recommendations of the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy a car seat is by reading the instructions of the manufacturer, or looking at a tag attached to it.

If you can the older children should be seated in a booster seat or lap belt. If they aren't able to then they should use the middle back seat restraint. Additionally, they should not sit in the front seat if there is an airbag that is active. Putting children in the front seat can increase their chances of getting injured in an accident, as the impact forces are stronger on their smaller bodies.

You can take your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the best infant carrier car seat child safety seat. You can also determine whether your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then purchase one that is compatible with your car and the child's height. If you're unable to try the seat, whether it has a return policy.