15 Unexpected Facts About Car Seats By Age That You'd Never Been Educated About

Car Seats by Age Each car seat is made to be suitable for a particular age group. 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 are properly fitted, usually when they are between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. When you are searching for a new chair, consider features such as fabric that is resistant to stains and removable pieces that can easily be machine-washed. Hardware that is easy to clean is also considered. Rear-facing Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers, securing their spines and necks from a crash. They are also safer, since they spread the force of impact across a wider area. This limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord. Parents are often tempted to move their kids into forward-facing car seats before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as is possible. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to go forward-facing. Children's heads are large relative to their bodies. They are also developing, making them more vulnerable to crash. In reality children's heads can generate up to 25 times the force of their bodyweight in a collision — more than enough to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who are in a car seat with their backs towards the front are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries. Many parents believe that their children have stronger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat facing forward faster. It is important to keep in mind that a baby who is in the 95th percentile of their age isn't any more powerful than a child who's 5th percentile, and that no amount of push-ups done by teens can change this. In the event of a car crash the head of a bigger child will likely be hit with more force. This could result in brain and spinal cord injury. If your child is no longer in their infant car seat, you can convert them into a convertible car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight limit. Children usually reach their maximum height first. This is why it is important to follow the instructions of the car seat manufacturer on when to switch them to forward-facing mode. If your child is at the weight or height limit of their convertible car seat, you'll need to put them in an adult booster seat. Most booster seats have an inbuilt angle indicator that informs you when the seat is properly installed and ready to flip into forward-facing mode. It is best to 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 protection for your child in case of crash. Forward-facing Parents are often enticed to change their baby's car seat around as they get older, because it is more comfortable. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children. In the event of a crash that involves the baby facing forward the neck could be at risk. The head could be thrown against the front seat by force and cause permanent spine damage. Whiplash is still a possibility even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially the case for children with smaller necks, like infants under a year old. A forward-facing child is also more likely to hit their head on the dashboard or in front of the window in the event of a crash. Based on the kind of crash is occurring and the speed at which the car is moving the head may be pushed against the seat. This could result in fractures to the skull or spinal chord. The current safety standards require children to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 pounds and one year old. The reason for this is that younger children do not have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash which is the most serious type of car accident. The use of a harness or tether when rear-facing helps keep the kid's head stable, which reduces this stress on their necks. Furthermore, a rear-facing child is less prone to head injuries because the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat. If you have a child less than one year old, and they are in a convertible seat or an all in one that can be turned from forward-facing to rear-facing at any time, you should read the instructions given by the manufacturer to determine if it's safe for them to face forward. The guidelines will inform you whether or not you should use a tether as well as the weight and height limits for that seat. Once your child has reached the maximum height or weight permitted by the car seat manufacturer, they can use a forward-facing seat with a tether. Once they've surpassed this, it is time to travel in a booster seat. Seat booster There is no age limit or height when children can safely stop using booster seats. Kids should use it until the belt is properly fitted and that could take anywhere from age 8 to 13. A booster helps a child increase their height so they can comfortably sit upright in the car. It also positions the shoulder portion of the belt so it is near but not over the chest. The lap part of the belt should rest on the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats are equipped with a belt guide to help ensure the belt is positioned correctly. Booster seats come with or without a backrest. The most popular booster seat is the high-back that provides neck and head support for children. It's a good choice for cars with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters can be cheaper, however they don't offer neck or head support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for kids in harness mode until about 65 pounds, and later as a booster seat for about 100 pounds. Some boosters come with a lower anchors system (LATCH) that hooks to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, in the event that it is available. Certain boosters require a seat belt to keep them in place. Go through the manual of your car to see if you can use the lower anchors inside your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to utilize them. infant car seats best 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 a harness seat. But rushing to “graduate” your child from the harness is dangerous. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is not secure enough in a crash. Back seat All children should ride in the back seat of a car for as long as is possible, using a child safety seat or booster seat that's been properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits, should switch to a forward-facing child restraint that has a harness until they reach the maximum height for this type of seat. Once your child has outgrown an infant car seat you can transfer them to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat with the option of rear-facing. These seats are generally good for two years or until the child reaches 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 grown out of their rear-facing seats, you can place them in a forward-facing restraint with a harness. The majority of these seats can be used up to 57 inches in height or until your child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits of the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy a car seat is by studying the manufacturer's instructions, or by looking at a tag attached to it. All children older than 5 years old must be seated in a booster seat or a vehicle's lap belt, if possible. If they aren't able to utilize the middle back seat restraint. Also, they should not sit in front if the airbag is active. Children who sit 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 selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. You can also determine if your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then purchase one that fits both your car and the child's height. If you're not able try a seat before buying, make sure it has an exchange policy.