Why Car Seats By Age Is The Right Choice For You?
Car Seats by Age
Each car seat is specifically designed to be suitable for a particular age group. 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 their vehicle belts fit correctly, 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 resists staining, removable pieces that can be machine washed and accessories that can be cleaned.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats are designed to hold infants and toddlers, protecting their delicate necks and spines in the event of a crash. They are also safer, as they distribute the impact force over a greater area. This reduces the risk of the chance of injury 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 that you keep them in rear-facing for as long as possible. That means moving them to a forward-facing car seat only when they've reached the height or weight limit of their current seat, as stated by the manufacturer.
Children's head are large in relation to their bodies and is still developing. This makes them vulnerable in a crash. In fact the head of a child can generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in an accident -- more than enough to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who are in a car seat with their backs forward are at the greatest danger of suffering fatal head injuries.
Many parents believe that their children have larger necks and can make the transition to a car seat facing forward faster. However, it's important to realize that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't any more powerful than the 5th percentile child and no amount of push-ups for teens will change that. In the event of a car crash, a larger child's head is likely to be hit with greater force. This can result in brain and spinal cord injury.
If your child is outgrowing their infant car seat, you can change to a convertible car that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height limit. Children typically attain their maximum height first. This is why it is crucial to follow the directions of the manufacturer of the car seat on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.
When your child is at the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will need to move them into the booster. The majority of booster seats come with an inbuilt angle indicator that tells you whether the seat is installed and ready to change into forward-facing mode. Make baby car seat www.pushchairsandprams.uk 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 to change their baby's car seat as they get older, simply because it's more practical. But they should remember that rear-facing seats are an option that is safer for children.
Having a baby face forward in the car seat puts their necks in danger in the event of a crash, as the head could be thrown back by force against the seat in front and can cause permanent injury to the spine. Even if a child's neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible for them to experience whiplash. This is especially applicable to children who are smaller, like infants under one year old.
A child facing towards the front is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard, or even a window, in an accident. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the car is moving, the head can be pushed back against the seat and break the skull or the spinal cord.
The current safety standards demand that children remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year old age. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on collision which is the most serious kind of car crash.
The use of a harness or tether while rear-facing helps to keep the kid's head stable, which reduces this stress on their necks. Furthermore that a child who is rear-facing is less likely to sustain head injuries because the impact is cushioned by body of the seat.
If you have a child under a year in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that can switch from rear to forward-facing ensure that you read the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to look towards the front. The manufacturer's guidelines will tell whether or whether a tether is required and what the maximum weight and height are for that particular seat.
Once your child is at the maximum height or weight permitted by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel in a forward-facing car seat that has a tether. When they've reached that point, it's time to travel with a booster.
Booster seat
There is no age limit or height at which children are safe from using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until a child's vehicle belt fits properly. This could happen anywhere between 8 and 13 years old.
A booster raises a child's height so they can comfortably sit upright in the car. It also places the shoulder portion of the belt so it is close to but not over the chest. The lap part of the belt should lie across the thighs and not the stomach. Booster seats come with a belt guide that helps to ensure the belt is correctly placed.
Booster seats are available with or without backrests. The most popular type is a high-back booster that provides neck and head support for children. It is a great option for cars with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters can be cheaper, but they do not provide head or neck 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 a booster.
Some boosters come with a lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether if one is available. Certain boosters require a seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle's owner's manual to determine if you are able to use the lower anchors. Also, you should read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.
Some parents might be enticed to let their three-year-old, 30 pound child take a straight booster seat, as they're becoming too tall for a car seat. However, rushing to "graduate" your child from the harness is dangerous. If the belt is loose children could be seriously injured or even die in an accident.
Back seat
All children should ride in the back of a vehicle for as long as is possible, using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat or have outgrown its height and weight limits should move to a forward-facing child restraint with a harness until they're too tall for this type of seat.
After your baby has outgrown an infant car seat you can move them to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat with the option of rear-facing. Usually, these seats can be used for a period of up to two years, or until your child reaches the seat's highest weight and height limit. If you own a car with a middle seat, install the car safety seat in a way that it can be secured tightly to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
If your child has grown out of their rear-facing seat you can put them in a forward-facing restraint with a harness. In general, these seats can be used up to 57 inches in height or until your child outgrows the top height and weight recommendations of the seat. You can determine the height and weight of the car seat is by studying the directions of the manufacturer or by examining a tag attached to the seat.
All children over the age of 18 should be seated in the booster seat or on a vehicle's lap belt as much as possible. If they can't, they should use the middle back seat restraint. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat if there's an airbag that is active. Children who sit in the front seats are more likely to be injured during a collision because their bodies are smaller.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or a car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the best child safety seat. They can also determine if your child's seat has been recalled due to safety issues or defects. You can then choose a seat that is suitable for your car and the child's height. If you're unable to try a seat, see if it has a policy for refunds.