Car Seats by Age

Car seats come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but each one is designed to protect children according to their age. It's recommended that children ride in their seat until they meet the manufacturer's weight or height limits and then use a booster seat until their vehicle belts fit properly, typically when they attain 4 feet 9 inches tall or age 10-12.

When you are searching for a new seat, look for features like fabric that is resistant to stains and pieces that can easily be machine-washed. 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 spines and necks in the event of a collision. They're also safer as they distribute the force of impact across more of a larger area, which limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed to change their children to forward-facing car seats before they're ready, however the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping them rear-facing for as long as possible. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to transition forward-facing.

The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies and still developing, making them more vulnerable to crash. In reality children's heads can generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in a collision -- more than enough to cause fatal injury. This is the reason why children who ride in a car seat with their backs forward are at the greatest risk of fatal head injuries.

Many parents believe that their children have stronger necks and are able to make the transition to a car seat that faces forward earlier. However, it's important to keep in mind 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 can alter this. In the event of a car crash, a larger child's head will likely be struck with greater force. This can result in injuries to the spinal cord or brain.

If your child is no longer in their infant car seat, you can switch to a convertible seat that lets them stay rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Children usually reach their height limit first. This is why it is crucial to follow the directions from the manufacturer of your car seat on when to switch them to forward-facing mode.

When your child reaches the weight limit of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will require them to be moved into a booster. The majority of booster seats come with an integrated angle indicator that tells you when the seat is properly installed and is ready to switch into forward facing infant car seat-facing mode. It is recommended to use a booster seat on the back of your vehicle, and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the best car seats protection for your child in the event of a crash.

Forward-facing

Many parents are enticed by the idea of turn their babies' car seats around when they grow older because it seems more practical. But they should remember that rear-facing is an option that is safer for children.

Having a baby face forward in the car seat puts their necks in danger in a crash because the head can be thrown back by force against the front seat and cause permanent injury to the spine. Whiplash can happen even when the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially the case for children with smaller necks, like infants under one year old.

A child who is facing forward is more likely to hit their head on the dashboard or in front of the window during a crash. Depending on what kind of crash is occurring and how fast 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 guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and 1 year old. This is because children younger than one year do not have the strength of their necks to withstand the forces in a head-on collision which is often the most severe type of accident in which automobiles are involved.

The harness and tether help keep the child's head in place and reduce neck strain. Furthermore the rear-facing child is less prone to head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned with the body of the seat.

When you have a child less than a year old in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that can switch from rear to forward-facing be sure to follow the instructions of the manufacturer about when it is safe for your child to look towards the front. The guidelines from the manufacturer will indicate whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height is for the particular seat.

Once your child has reached the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to travel with a forward-facing seat with a tether. Once they've outgrown it you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no age or height limit at which children are safe from using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until the child's belt fits properly. This can occur anywhere between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster raises the height of a child, so that they can sit upright in cars. The shoulder part of a belt must be set so that it sits close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt should be placed across the thighs and not on the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guide to ensure that the belt is properly positioned.

Booster seats can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most popular model 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 are more affordable but they don't offer neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters permit users to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for children who are in harness mode up to 65 pounds. They can also be used as an adult booster seat until 100 pounds.

Some boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) which connects to the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether, when available. Others require the seat belt to hold them in place. Go through the manual of your car to see if you can use the lower anchors on your car, and also read the booster seat instructions to learn how to utilize them.

Some parents may be tempted to let their three-year-old 30 pounds child immediately go to a booster seat because they're growing too tall for a car seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" children from to a harness. Children can be injured or even killed if the belt is too loose in an accident.

Back seat

All children should sit in the back of a car as long as they can using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too big for a rear-facing car seat or have outgrown the weight and height limits should move to a forward-facing child restraint with an appropriate harness until they're tall for this type of seat.

Once your child has outgrown an good infant car seats car seat you can move them to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat with an option to rear-facing. These seats typically last for two years or until the child reaches the maximum weight and height of the seat. If you own a car with a middle seat, install the car safety seat so it is securely secured to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.

When your child grows out of their rear-facing seat, you can put them in a forward-facing restraint that has a harness. These seats are typically used until your child is 57 inches in height or attains the maximum weight and height requirements for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy the car seat is by reading the directions of the manufacturer or by looking at the tag on the seat.

If possible it is recommended that all children over the age of 5 use a booster seat or lap belt. If not then they should use a back restraint in the middle of the back seat. Also, they should not sit in front if the airbag is activated. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to be injured in collisions since their bodies are smaller.

You can take your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. They can also find out if your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. You can then buy one that fits both your vehicle and the child's height. If you're unable to try a seat before buying, make sure it has an exchange policy.