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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 ride in their car seat until they are at the limit of the manufacturer's weight or height. Then, they are able to use a booster until their belts are properly fitted, usually when they are between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When you are looking for a new car seat, take into consideration 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 hold infants and toddlers to protect their necks and spines from injuries in a crash. They're also safer as they spread the impact force over an area larger than the surface which minimizes injuries to the spinal cord.
Parents are often enticed by the thought of bringing their children forward facing before they're ready. However the American Academy of Pediatrics advises to keep them rear-facing as long as you can. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to move forward-facing.
Heads of children are large in relation to their bodies. They are also developing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In reality, a child's head could generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in the event of a collision. This is more than enough to cause a fatal injury. That's why young children are at the highest risk of sustaining fatal head injuries when they sit in a front-facing car seat.
Many parents believe that their kids have stronger necks than older children, which means they can handle the transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. It is important to keep in mind that a baby who is 95th percentile is not stronger than a child who's 5th percentile, and that no amount of push-ups performed by teens will change the fact that. In the case of a car accident, a bigger kid's head is likely to be struck with much more force, which could result in brain and spinal cord injuries.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seats on sale car seat you can convert them to convertible cars that let children to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height limit. Typically, children be the first to reach their height limit, so it's important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your best car seats seat on when to change to forward-facing mode.
If your child has reached the weight capacity of their convertible car seat or maximum height, you will need to move them into the booster. The majority of booster seats have an angle indicator to notify you that the seat is properly installed and is ready to be turned to forward-facing mode. It is recommended to use a booster seat in the back of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in case of crash.
Forward-facing
Many parents are tempted to switch their kids' car seats around as they get older because it's more convenient. They must remember, however that rear-facing seats are a safer option for children.
In a crash with a baby facing forward the neck is at risk. The head can be thrown against the front seat by force and cause permanent damage to the spine. Whiplash can happen even in the event that the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly true for smaller kids, like infants under one year old.
A forward-facing child is also more likely to strike their head on the dashboard or on the window during a crash. Based on the kind of crash is occurring and how fast the car is moving the head may be placed against the seat. This can result in fractured skulls or a spinal cord.
The current safety standards demand that kids remain rear-facing until they are 20 pounds and one year old age. The reason is that children younger than one year old do not have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most dangerous kind of car accident.
The harness and tether help keep the child's head in place and reduce neck strain. In addition, a rear-facing child is less likely to suffer head injuries because the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.
If you have a child under a year in a convertible car seat or an all-in-1 seat that can change from front-facing to rear, make sure to read the instructions of the manufacturer about when it is safe for your child to face the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or whether a tether is required and what the maximum weight and height are for the particular seat.
Once your child has reached the rear-facing rotating infant car seat seat limitation, they can travel in a forward-facing seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum weight limit or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. Once they have outgrown this, it's time to travel in a booster seat.
Seat booster
There is no set age or height when kids can safely stop using a booster seat. Kids should use one until their vehicle belt is properly fitted and that could happen anytime between age 8 and 13.
A booster helps a child increase their height so they can comfortably sit upright in the car. The shoulder portion of a belt must be placed so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should rest on the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats come with a belt guide to ensure that the belt is placed correctly.
Booster seats are available with or without a rearrest. The most popular type is a high-back booster, 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 can be less expensive but they don't provide neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, which makes them suitable for kids in harness mode up to 65 pounds, and later as an adult booster seat until 100 pounds.
Some boosters come with an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) that hooks to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, if available. Some boosters require the seat belt to hold them in place. Check the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine if can use the lower anchors. Also, you should read the instructions for the booster seat to know how to use it.
Some parents might be enticed to let their 3-year old 30 lbs child take a straight booster seat because they're growing too tall for a car seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" children from a harness. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is loose during a crash.
Back seat
All children should be in the back of a car as long as is possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits should transition to a forward-facing child restraint with an appropriate harness until they're tall for this type of seat.
When your baby is no longer in an top rated infant car seats car seat, they can be moved to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat that also has a rear-facing seat. These seats can typically be used for a period of up to two years, or until your child is over the seat's highest height and weight limit. If you have a vehicle with a middle seat, install the car safety seat so it is secured to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
When your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat and is tall enough, they can be put into a front-facing child restraint equipped with a harness and tether. Typically, these seats can be used up to 57 inches tall or until your child is at the weight and height limits of the seat. You can find out the height and weight of the car seat is by reading the manufacturer's instructions, or looking at a tag attached to it.
If you can it is recommended that all children over the age of 5 sit in a booster or lap belt. If not you can use a back restraint in the middle of the back seat. In addition, they should not sit in the front seat when there's an air bag that is in use. Putting children in the front seat can increase their chances of being injured during an accident because the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies.
It's a good idea to bring your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station to assistance in deciding on and installing the right child safety seat for them. They can also check if your car seat is being recalled due to flaws or safety concerns. Then, you can buy one that fits your vehicle and your child's size. If you're not able to test a seat prior to purchasing, make sure it has an exchange policy.