10 Unexpected Car Seats By Age Tips
Car Seats by Age
Car seats are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each one is designed to protect children according to their age. Children should use their car seat until they are at the limit of the manufacturer's weight or height. After that, they can use a booster until their belts of their vehicle fit properly, usually when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When shopping for a new car seat, consider features like fabric that is resistant to staining, removable pieces that can be machine washed and hardware that wipes clean.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, securing their delicate necks and spines in the event of a collision. They're also safer as they distribute the force of impact across more of a larger area which minimizes the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.
Parents are often tempted by the thought of moving their children forward-facing before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them in rear-facing as long as you can. This means that they should move to a forward-facing seat after they've reached the maximum weight or height limit of their current seat, as specified by the manufacturer.
Children's head are large in relation to their body, and growing. This makes them vulnerable to injury in a crash. In fact the head of a child could generate up to 25 times the force of their weight in the event of a collision. This is enough to cause fatal injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat facing towards the front are at the highest risk of fatal head injuries.
Many parents believe that their children have larger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat that faces forward faster. However, it's important to realize that a 95th percentile baby isn't any stronger than 5th percentile kids, and no amount of teen push-ups will change this. In the case of a car accident the head of a bigger child is likely to be hit with greater force. This can result in brain and spinal cord injury.
If your child is outgrowing their car seat for infants, you can convert them to convertible cars that let them to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. In general, children will attain their maximum height first and therefore it is important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when you should switch to forward-facing.
When your child is at their convertible car seat's weight or height limit, you will have to transition them to a booster. The majority of booster seats have an indicator for angles to notify you when the seat has been correctly installed and is ready to be turned to forward-facing mode. Use a booster only at the rear of your vehicle and always with a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the most secure protection for your child.
Forward-facing
Parents are often tempted to change their baby's car seat as they get older, because it is more comfortable. But they must remember that rear-facing is safer for children.
Having a baby face forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash because the head can be thrown by force against the front seat and can cause permanent damage to the spine. Whiplash is still a possibility even in the event that 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 the event of a crash. Based on the type of crash occurs and how fast the car is moving the head may be hit against the seat. This can cause a fractured skull or spinal cord.
Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and one year old. This is because children younger than one year do not have the neck strength to withstand the forces in a head-on collision which is often the most serious kind of accident in which automobiles are involved.
The use of a harness or tether when rear-facing helps keep the kid's head stable, which reduces this strain on their necks. A child who is rear-facing will also be less prone to head injuries because the impact is cushioned by their seat.
If you have a child who is less than one year old and in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that can change from forward-facing to rear-facing ensure that you read the instructions of the manufacturer about when it is safe for your child to face the front. The guidelines will explain whether or not you should use a tether as well as the height and weight limits for the seat.
Once your child has reached the rear-facing car seat limit, they can travel in a forward-facing seat that has a harness and tether until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of their car seat. When they've reached that point, the time is now to move on to a booster.
Seat booster
There isn't a set age or size at which kids can safely stop using a booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until their vehicle belt fits them correctly and that could take anywhere from age 8 to 13.
A booster can increase the height of a child, so that they can sit upright in the car. It also positions the shoulder portion of the belt so it lies close to but not over the chest. The lap portion of the belt must rest on the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats include a belt guide that helps to ensure that the belt is correctly placed.
Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most common booster seat is the high-back type that provides neck and head support for children. This is a great option for vehicles that have low backs and have no headrests. Backless boosters are less expensive but they don't provide neck or head support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children up to 65 pounds in harness mode and up to 100 pounds as boosters.
Some boosters come with a lower anchors system (LATCH) which connects to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether in the event that it is available. Others require the seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle's manual to determine if you are able to use the lower anchors inside your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to utilize them.
Some parents might be tempted to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child to an adult car seat since the child is becoming too tall for a harness seat. But rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is risky. Children can be injured or even killed if their belt is not secure enough in a crash.
Back seat
All children should use the child safety or booster seat installed correctly as long as they can. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits they should change to a forward-facing restraint using a harness until they reach the maximum height for this type of seat.
When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat they can be transferred to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat that has an open rear-facing position. These seats are generally good 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 that it is securely secured in this location with the lower anchor system or seat belt.
If your child has grown out of their rear-facing seat you can place them in a forward-facing restraint using a harness. Typically, these seats can be used until 57 inches or until your child reaches the maximum weight and height limits of the seat. The instructions from the manufacturer or the tag on the car seat will tell you how tall and heavy it can support.
All older children should be in the booster seat or on a lap belt in the vehicle as much as possible. If not then they should use a back seat restraint in the middle of the back seat. In addition, they should not sit in the front seat if there is an active air bag. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to be injured during collisions because their bodies are smaller.
You can take 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 find out if your child's seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or other flaws. best car seat for newborn can then buy one that is suitable for your car and the child's height. If you're not able to test a seat prior to purchasing ensure that it comes with an exchange policy.