See What Car Seats By Age Tricks The Celebs Are Utilizing
Car Seats by Age
Car seats are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, but each one is designed to safeguard children based on their age. It is recommended that children ride in their seats until they meet the manufacturer's weight or height limits, and then use an extra seat until the vehicle belts are fitted properly, usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches in height or age 10 to 12.
When looking for a brand new car seat, consider features like fabric that resists staining, removable pieces that can be machine washed and hardware that wipes clean.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers protecting their spines and necks from a crash. They also offer greater safety, as they spread the force of impact over a larger area. This helps reduce 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, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they remain rear-facing for as long as it is possible. The manufacturer will inform you when your child is ready to transition forward-facing.
Children's heads are large relative to their bodies, and are growing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In fact children's heads can generate up to 25 times the force of their weight in an accident -- enough to cause fatal injury. This is why children are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries when they sit in a car seat that is facing the front.
Many parents believe that their children have necks that are stronger than older children, which means they'll be able to transition to a forward-facing car seat earlier. It's important to keep it in mind that a child who is 95th percentile is not stronger than a kid who is 5th percentile and that no amount of push-ups by teens will alter the fact that. In the case of a car accident the head of a bigger child is likely to be hit with more force. This can result in injuries to the spinal cord and brain.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, you can switch to a convertible car seat newborn insert seat that lets them stay facing the rear until they reach the maximum height or weight 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.
When your child reaches their convertible car seat's weight or maximum height, you will require them to be moved into an adult booster. Most booster seats come with an angle indicator to let you know that the seat is correctly installed and is ready to be flipped to forward-facing mode. You should only use a booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle, and only with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the best car seats for newborns protection for your child in a crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed to flip their baby's car seat around as they grow older, because it is more practical. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children.
The fact that a child is facing forward in the car seat puts their necks in danger in a crash because the head can be thrown by force against the seat's front and cause permanent injury to the spine. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible for them to suffer whiplash. This is especially true for younger children like infants.
A forward-facing child is also more likely to land their head on the dashboard or in front of the window during a crash. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, the head can be forced back against the seat and could fracture the skull or the spinal cord.
The current safety standards demand that kids remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year old age. This is because younger kids don't have the neck strength to withstand the force in a head-on collision which is often the most serious kind of accident where cars are involved.
The harness and tether will help keep the child's head in place, reducing neck strain. Additionally, a rear-facing child is less likely to sustain head injuries since the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.
If you have a baby who is less than one year old and in a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat that can change from forward-facing to rear-facing, make sure to read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to face the front. The manufacturer's guidelines will tell whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height is for that particular seat.
Once your child has reached the rear-facing limit of a car seat They can now be in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the top rated baby car seats weight limit or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. 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 that children are able to safely stop using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until a child's vehicle belt fits properly. This could occur anytime between 8 and 13 years old.
A booster can increase the height of a child to ensure that they can sit upright in the car. It also places the shoulder portion of the belt so that it lies close to, but not over, the chest. The lap portion of the belt must rest across the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats have belt guides that help to ensure that the belt is correctly placed.
Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most common type is a high-back booster, that provides neck and head support for children. It's a great choice for cars with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters are less expensive, but they don't provide neck or head support. Certain all-in-one boosters let you 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 come with a lower anchors system (LATCH) which connects to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, if available. Some boosters require the seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle's manual 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.
Parents may be enticed to move their 30-pound 3-year-old child to a booster car seat due to the fact that the child is growing too tall for a harness seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" a child from a harness. If the belt is too loose, children can be seriously injured or even die in an accident.
Back seat
All children should sit in the back seat of a car for as long as possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too tall for a rear-facing car seat, or have surpassed its height and weight limits should transition to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they're too tall for this type of seat.
When your baby is outgrowing an infant car seat in front seat car seat, you can move them to a convertible car seat or 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 weight and height of the seat. Install the car safety seat in the middle of your vehicle. It can be securely fastened with the lower anchor system and seat belt.
If your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat, they can be placed into a front-facing child restraint equipped with a harness and tether. These seats are typically used until your child is 57 inches in height or reaches the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy the car seat is by studying the instructions of the manufacturer, or by examining a tag attached to it.
If possible the older children should sit in a booster or lap belt. If they aren't able to utilize the middle back seat restraint. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat if there's an active air bag. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to be injured in collisions because their bodies are smaller.
You can take your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to get help selecting and installing the best child safety seat. You can also determine whether your car seat has been recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then buy one that is suitable for your vehicle and the child's height. If you are unable to test the seat, whether it has a refund policy.