The Guide To Car Seats By Age In 2024
Car Seats by Age
Car seats are available in a variety sizes and shapes however, they are all designed to protect children based on their age. It's recommended that children ride in their car seat until they've reached the manufacturer's height or weight limits and then use a booster seat until their vehicle belts fit properly, typically when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall or age 10 to 12.
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Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats hold infants and toddlers to protect their spines and necks from injuries in a crash. They are also safer because they spread the force of impact across a wider area. This reduces the risk of the chance of injury to the spinal cord.
Parents are often tempted by the thought of moving their children to a forward-facing seat before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them in rear-facing as long as you can. pushchairsandprams.uk should be moved to a forward-facing car seat only after they've reached the maximum weight or height limit of their current seat, as specified by the manufacturer.
Children's head are large in relation to their body, and growing. This makes them more vulnerable in a crash. The head of a child can generate up to 25 times their body weight in the event of a collision that is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. This is the reason why children who ride in a car seat facing forward are at the greatest risk of fatal head injuries.
Many parents think that their kids have stronger necks than older kids, so they can handle the transition to a forward-facing car seat sooner. It is important to keep in mind that a child who is 95th percentile isn't stronger than a kid who is 5th percentile, and no amount of push-ups performed by teens will change that. In the case of a car accident, a larger child's head is likely to be hit with more force. This can lead to injuries to the spinal cord or brain.
If your child is outgrowing their infant car seat you can change to convertible cars that let them to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Children typically reach their maximum height first. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the directions of the car seat manufacturer on when you can switch them to forward-facing mode.
When your child is at the weight capacity of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will have to transition them into an adult booster. The majority of booster seats come with an inbuilt angle indicator that informs you that the seat is installed and ready to flip to forward-facing mode. Use a booster only in the rear of your vehicle and always wear a seat belt (never shoulder belts) to provide the best security for your child.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed by the idea of turn their child's car seat as they get older, as it's more practical. But they must keep in mind that rear-facing is safer for children.
The fact that a child is facing forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash, because the head could be thrown by force against the front seat and cause permanent damage to the spine. Whiplash can still occur even if the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is particularly true for younger children like infants.
A child who is facing in the direction of the driver is more likely hit his head on the dashboard, or even a window in an accident. Depending on the type of crash occurs and the speed at which the car is moving, the head may be pushed against the seat. This can cause a fractured skull or spinal chord.
Current safety standards require kids to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 pounds and one year old. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on crash which is the most dangerous type of car accident.
The harness and tether will help keep the child's head steady which reduces neck strain. Furthermore that a child who is rear-facing is less likely to sustain head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned with the body of the seat.
If you have a baby under a year in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that can be changed from rear to forward-facing, make sure to read the instructions of the manufacturer about when it is safe for your child to look towards the front. The guidelines of the manufacturer will inform you whether or whether a tether is required and what the maximum weight and height are for the specific seat.
Once your child is at the maximum height or weight permitted by the car seat manufacturer, they can travel in a forward-facing car seat with a tether. Once they have outgrown this, it's time to move into a booster seat.
Booster seat
There is no magic age or height when kids can safely stop using a booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until the belt fits them correctly, and that can happen anywhere from age 8 to 13.
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 lies close to, but not over, the chest. The lap portion of the belt should rest on the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats include belt guides that help to ensure the belt is placed correctly.
Booster seats come with or without backrests. The most common type is a high-back booster which offers neck and head support for children. This is a good option for vehicles with low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters can be less expensive however they don't offer neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between booster and harness modes, which makes them suitable for kids in harness mode until about 65 pounds and then as a booster seat up to about 100 pounds.
Some boosters are equipped with a lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the lower anchors of the vehicle, and a tether when one is available. Some boosters require the seat belt to keep them in place. Review the instruction manual for your vehicle to determine if you're able to use the lower anchors on your car, and also read the booster seat instructions to learn how to use them.
Some parents might be tempted to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child into a booster car seat because the child is growing too tall to fit in a harness seat. It's risky to "graduate" a child from a harness. Children could be injured or even killed if the belt is loose during a crash.
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 surpassed its height and weight limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they're too tall for this type of seat.
When your child is no longer able to fit in the infant car seat, they can be transferred to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing seat. These seats are usually good for two years or until the child is at the maximum weight and height of the seat. Install the car safety seat on 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 into a front-facing child restraint fitted with a harness and tether. These seats are usually used until the child reaches the height of 57 inches or attains the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. You can determine how tall and heavy a car seat is by studying the instructions of the manufacturer, or by looking at the tag that is attached to the seat.
If you can, all older children should be seated in a booster seat or lap belt. If they can't then they should use the middle back seat restraint. In addition it is not recommended to sit in the front seat if there is an active air bag. Children who are in the front seat are more likely to suffer injuries in collisions since their bodies are smaller.
It is a good idea to bring your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station for assistance in deciding on and installing the most suitable child safety seat. You can also determine if your child's seat has been removed due to safety concerns or flaws. You can then purchase one that is suitable for your vehicle and the child's height. If you are unable to test a seat, check to see if it has a policy for refunds.