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Car Seats by Age

Each car seat is specifically designed to fit a certain age group. It's recommended that children ride in their seat until they've reached the manufacturer's weight or height limits and then get a booster seat until vehicle belts are properly fitted, usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall or age 10-12.

When you are looking for a new car seat, take into consideration features such as fabric that can withstand staining, pieces that are removable and 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 collision. They're also safer as they distribute the impact force over more of a larger area, which limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often tempted to change their children to forward-facing car seats before they're ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. The manufacturer will inform you when your child is ready to go forward.

The heads of children are huge in relation to their body and growing. This makes them vulnerable in the event of a crash. A child's head can produce up to 25 times their body weight in a collision, which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is why children of the ages of 5 and under are at the greatest risk of sustaining fatal head injuries when they sit in a car seat that is facing the front.

Many parents believe that their children have larger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat facing forward sooner. However, it's important to keep in mind that a baby seat who is 95th percentile isn't any stronger than 5th percentile kids and no amount of push-ups for teens can change that. In the event of a car crash, a larger child's head will likely be hit with greater force. This can lead to injuries to the spinal cord or brain.

When your child has outgrown their infant car seat rear facing car seat you can change to convertible cars that let them stay rear-facing up until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Generally, children will attain their maximum height first, so it's important to be attentive to the car seat manufacturer's instructions on when to switch to forward-facing mode.

If your child has reached the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you'll need to move them into an adult booster. Most booster seats have an inbuilt angle indicator that tells you whether the seat is installed and is ready to switch into forward-facing mode. You should only 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 a crash.

Forward-facing

Parents are often tempted to flip their baby's car seat around as they get older, as it's more practical. They must remember, however, that rear-facing is the best option for children.

In the event of a crash that involves a baby facing forward the neck could be at risk. The head can be hit against the seat and cause permanent damage to the spine. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible for them to suffer whiplash. This is especially applicable to children who are younger like infants.

A forward-facing child is also more likely to land their head on the dashboard or window in the event of a crash. Depending on what type of crash occurs and the speed at which the car is moving the head may be placed against the seat. This can result in fractures to the skull or spinal chord.

The current safety standards require that children remain rear-facing until they reach both 20 pounds and one year old age. The reason is that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on collision, which is the most dangerous type of car accident.

The harness and tether will help keep the child's head stable which reduces neck strain. Furthermore, a rear-facing child is less likely to sustain head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned by the body of the seat.

If you have a child younger than one year old in a convertible seat or an all-in-one that can be changed from rear-facing to forward-facing at any time, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine if it's safe for them to face forward. The guidelines will inform you whether or not to use a tether, as well as the weight and height limitations for the seat.

Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat limit They can now travel in a forward-facing seat with tether and harness until they reach the top rated infant car seats weight or height limit set by their car seat's manufacturer. When they've reached that point, you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no age limit or height when children can safely stop using booster seats. The booster seat is to be used until the child's vehicle belt is properly fitted. This can occur anywhere between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster raises a child's height so that they are able to sit upright in the car. The shoulder part of a belt is placed so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should rest across the thighs and not the stomach. Booster seats are equipped with a belt guides to help ensure the belt is properly positioned.

Booster seats can be purchased with or without a rearrest. The most popular type is a high-back booster, which offers neck and head support for children. This is a good option for vehicles that have low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters can be cheaper, but they don't provide neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and booster modes, which makes them suitable for children in harness mode up to about 65 pounds, and later as a booster seat up to about 100 pounds.

Some boosters are equipped with a lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, in the event that one is available. Others require the vehicle seat belt to hold them in position. You can check the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.

Parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child into an adult car seat since the child is becoming too tall for the harness seat. It's risky to "graduate" children from the harness. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is too loose in a crash.

Back seat

All children should sit in the back of a car for as long as is possible with 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 surpassed its height and weight limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they are too tall for this type of seat.

After your baby outgrows the infant car seat, they can be moved to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing position. These seats are usually good for two years or until the child is at the maximum height and weight of the seat. If you own a car with a middle-seat, install the car safety seat in a way that it is secured to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.

When your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat it is possible to place them into a front-facing child restraint equipped with a harness and tether. In general, these seats can be used until 57 inches tall or until your child is at the maximum height and weight recommendations of the seat. You can find out the height and weight of the car seat is by reading the instructions of the manufacturer, or looking at a tag attached to the seat.

All children older than 5 years old should be in a booster seat or a vehicle's lap belt as much as possible. If they aren't able to, they should use the middle back seat restraint. They should also not sit in front if the airbag is in use. Placing children in the front seats can increase their chances of getting injured in an accident because the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies.

It's a good idea to take your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station for assistance in choosing and installing the best infant carrier car seat child safety seat. They can also find out whether your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then purchase one that is compatible with your car and the child's height. If you're not able to try a seat before buying be sure that it comes with a return policy.