Car seats by age (clearcreek.a2Hosted.Com)

Car seats are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and shapes, but they're all designed to safeguard children based on their age. It is recommended that children sit in their seat until they've reached the manufacturer's weight or height limits and then get a booster seat until their vehicle belts are fitted properly, usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall or age 10-12.

When you are looking for a new car seat, think about features like fabric that can withstand stains, removable pieces that can be machine washed and accessories that can be cleaned.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers protecting their spines and necks from a crash. They also offer greater safety, as they disperse the force of an impact across a wider area. This helps reduce the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

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

Children's heads are big in relation to their body, and still developing. This makes them vulnerable to injury in a crash. A child's head can generate up to 25 times their body weight in an accident which is more than enough force to cause fatal injury. This is why children are at risk for fatal head trauma when they sit in a front-facing car seat newborn insert seat.

Many parents believe that their children have bigger necks and can make the transition to a car seat that faces forward sooner. However, it's important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile isn't any stronger than a 5th percentile kid, and no amount of teen push-ups can alter the fact that. In the case of a car accident, a bigger kid's head is likely to be struck with greater force, which could result in brain and spinal cord injuries.

When your child outgrows their infant car seat travel car seat, you can convert to a convertible seat that allows them to stay facing the rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. Typically, children be the first to reach their height limit and therefore it is important to be attentive to the car seat manufacturer's instructions on when to switch to forward-facing mode.

When your child reaches the limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, it's time to get them into an adult booster seat. The majority of booster seats have an angle indicator to notify you when the seat is properly installed and is able for flipping into forward-facing mode. You should only use a booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle, and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the strongest protection for your child in a crash.

Forward-facing

Parents are often enticed to turn their child's car seat around as they get older, because it is more comfortable. However, they must remember, that rear-facing is the best car seat newborn uk option for children.

Having a baby face forward in a car seat puts their necks in danger in a crash, because the head could be thrown back by force against the seat's front and cause permanent damage to the spine. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible to experience whiplash. This is especially true for smaller kids, like infants under one year old.

A child facing in the direction of the driver is more likely hit his head on the dashboard, or even a window, in the event of a crash. Depending on the type of crash and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, the head can be pulled back against the seat and could fracture the skull or the spinal cord.

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

The harness and tether will help keep the child's head steady, reducing neck strain. In addition, 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 baby less than a year old in a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat that can be changed from front-facing to rear ensure that you read the manufacturer's guidelines about when it is safe for your child to be facing the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or whether a tether is required and what the maximum weight and height requirements are for that particular seat.

Once your child has reached the rear-facing car seat limitation you can allow them to travel in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the car seat's manufacturer. Once they've outgrown it, you can now take them on a trip with a booster.

Booster seat

There is no set age or height at which children can safely stop using a booster seat. The booster seat should be used until the child's vehicle belt is properly fitted. This could occur anytime between 8 and 13 years old.

A booster increases the height of a child, so that they can sit comfortably upright in cars. The shoulder portion of a belt is set so that it sits close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap part of the belt should rest across the thighs and not over the stomach. Booster seats have belt guides that help to ensure the belt is correctly placed.

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. This is a great option for vehicles with low backs and no headrests. Backless boosters can be less expensive however they don't offer head or neck support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between boost and harness modes. They are suitable for children up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds as a booster.

Some boosters have an anchor system for lower anchors (LATCH) that hooks to the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether in the event that it is available. Others require the vehicle seat belt to hold them in place. You can refer to the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, read the instructions for the booster seat to learn how to use it.

Parents may be enticed to let their 3 year old 30 pounds child take a straight booster seat because they're growing too tall for the harness car seat. It's risky to "graduate" children from to a harness. If the belt is loose, children can be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Back seat

All children should ride in the back of a vehicle for as long as possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that has been properly installed. Children who are too tall for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits should transition to a forward facing infant car seat-facing child restraint with a harness until they're too tall for this type of seat.

When your baby is outgrowing an infant car seat that swivels 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 can typically be used for up to two years or until your child outgrows the seat's maximum weight and height limit. Install the car safety seat on the middle of your vehicle. It can be securely fastened with the lower anchor system and seat belt.

If your child is out of their rear-facing seat, you can place them in a front-facing restraint that has a harness. These seats are generally used until your child is 57 inches in height or reaches the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. The instructions of the manufacturer or the tag on the car seat will tell you how tall and heavy it can be.

All children over the age of 18 should be in a booster seat or a lap belt in the vehicle as much as possible. If not you can use a back seat restraint that is located in the middle of the back seat. They should also not sit in front of the car if the airbag is in use. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to be injured in a collision because their bodies are smaller.

It's a good idea to take your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station to help with choosing and installing the best child safety seat for them. You can also see if your child's car seat has been recalled due to safety concerns or flaws. You can then buy one that is suitable for your vehicle 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.