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 the belts of their vehicle fit properly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

If you are looking for a new seat look for features like fabrics that are resistant to staining and removable pieces that can be washed in the machine. Hardware that is easy to clean should also be taken into consideration.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats cradle babies and toddlers, securing their delicate necks and spines in the event of a crash. They are also safer since they spread the force of impact across more of a larger area which reduces 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, however the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as it is possible. The manufacturer will inform you when your child is ready to move forward-facing.

The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies and still developing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In reality, a child's head can exert up to 25 times the force of their bodyweight in the event of a collision. This is more than enough to cause a fatal injury. This is why children who ride in a car seat that is facing towards the front are at the highest chance of suffering fatal head injuries.

Many parents believe that their kids have stronger necks than older kids, so they'll be able to make the transition to an forward-facing car seat faster. It is important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile isn't stronger than a child who's 5th percentile and that no amount of push-ups performed by teens can change that. In the event of a car crash the head of a bigger child is likely to be hit with more force. This can lead to brain and spinal cord injury.

When your child has outgrown their car seat for infants, you can convert them to convertible cars that let children to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Children usually reach their height limit first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions from the manufacturer of your car seat on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.

If your child is at the weight limit or height of their convertible car seat, you'll have to get them into an adult booster seat. Most booster seats come with an indicator that indicates the angle to notify you when the seat is properly installed and is able to be turned to forward-facing mode. Use a booster only in the back of your vehicle and always wear a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the best car seat infant security for your child.

Forward-facing

Parents are often tempted to change their baby's car seat around as they get older, simply because it's more practical. But they should remember that rear-facing is the best car seats for newborns option for children.

Having a lightweight baby car seat face forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash because the head can be thrown by force against the seat's front and could cause permanent injury 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 relevant for children younger than them like infants.

A child who is facing forward is more likely to hit their head against the dashboard or on the window during the course of a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and the speed at which the vehicle is moving the head could be pulled backwards against the seat and may break the skull or spinal cord.

The current safety standards demand that children remain rear-facing until they attain 20 pounds and one year old age. This is due to the fact that younger children do not have the neck strength to withstand the force in a head-on collision, which is the most serious type of accident in which cars are involved.

The use of a harness or tether when facing rear helps keep the child's head in a stable position and reduces the strain on their necks. A child facing the rear will be less prone to head injuries as the impact will be cushioned by their seat.

If you have a child younger than one year old in a convertible seat or an all-in-one that can be turned from rear-facing to forward-facing at any point, make sure you read the instructions given by the manufacturer to determine if it's safe to face forward. The guidelines from the manufacturer will indicate whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height requirements are for that particular seat.

When your child reaches the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel in a forward-facing car seat with tether. Once they've surpassed this, it's time to get the booster seat.

Seat booster

There is no age limit or height that children are able to safely stop using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until the child's vehicle belt fits properly. This could occur anytime between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster helps a child increase their height so they can comfortably sit upright in the car. The shoulder portion of a belt is placed so that it is close to the chest, but not above. The lap portion of the belt should rest on the thighs, not the stomach. Booster seats are equipped with a belt guides to help ensure the belt is positioned correctly.

Booster seats come with or without backrests. The most popular type is a high-back booster, which offers neck and head support for children. It's a great choice for vehicles with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters can be cheaper, but they do not provide neck or head support. Some all-in one boosters let you switch between harness and boost modes. They are suitable for children weighing up to 65 pounds in harness mode and up to 100 pounds when used as boosters.

Some boosters have a lower anchors system (LATCH) which connects to the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether when available. Some boosters require the vehicle's seat belt to hold them in place. Check your vehicle's owner's manual to determine if are able to use the lower anchors. Also, you should read the instructions for the booster seat to understand how to use it.

Some parents may be enticed 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 hurrying to "graduate" your child from the harness is dangerous. If the belt is loose children could be severely injured or even killed in an accident.

Back seat

All children should use the child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed as long as they can. Children who are too tall for a rear-facing car seat, or have outgrown its height and weight limits should be moved to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they're too tall for this type of seat.

After your baby has outgrown an cheap infant car seats car seat, you can transfer them to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat with an option to rear-facing. Most of the time, these seats can be used for up to two years, or until your child outgrows the seat's highest weight and height limit. Install the infant car seat best safety seat in the middle seat of your vehicle. It is secured using the lower anchor system and seat belt.

If your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat, they can be placed in a front-facing child restraint equipped with a harness and tether. These seats are typically used until the child reaches the height of 57 inches or reaches the maximum weight and height requirements for the seat. The manufacturer's instructions or a tag on the car seat will tell you the height and weight it can support.

All children over the age of 18 must be seated in a booster seat or a vehicle's lap belt as much as possible. If they aren't able to then they should use the middle back seat restraint. In addition you should not place them in the front seat if there is an airbag that is active. Children who sit in the front seat are more likely to be injured during a collision because their bodies are smaller.

You can take your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic for assistance in selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. You can also see if your child's car seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or other flaws. You can then buy one that is compatible with your vehicle and child's height. If you're not able test a seat prior to purchasing, make sure it has an exchange policy.