Car Seats by Age

Each car seat is made to fit a certain age group. Children should be in their car seat until they reach the limit of the manufacturer's weight or height. Then, they are able to utilize a booster until the vehicle belts fit correctly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

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Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats hold babies and toddlers, protecting their delicate necks and spines in the event of a collision. They are also safer as they spread the force of impact across a wider area. This limits the risk of injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed to shift their children into forward-facing car seats before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. The manufacturer will let you know when your child is ready to move forward.

Children's heads are large relative to their bodies, and are developing, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. In reality the head of a child could generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in an accident -- more than enough to cause fatal injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat that is facing towards the front are at the highest risk of fatal head injuries.

Many parents think that their kids have bigger necks than their older children, meaning they can handle the transition to a forward-facing car seat earlier. However, it's important to keep in mind that a 95th percentile baby isn't any more powerful than 5th percentile kids and no amount of push-ups for teens can change the fact that. In the case of a car accident, the head of a larger child is likely to be struck with much more force, which could cause spinal cord and brain injuries.

When your child outgrows their infant car seat in front seat car seat, you can change to a convertible seat that allows them to remain facing the rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. In general, children will be the first to reach their height limit and it's crucial to pay close attention to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when to change to forward-facing mode.

When your child reaches the weight or height limit of their convertible car seat, you'll need to put them in an adult booster seat. Most booster seats have an integrated angle indicator that informs you that the seat is installed and ready to flip into forward-facing mode. It is recommended to use a booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the best car seats protection for your child in a crash.

Forward-facing

Parents are often enticed by the idea of change their baby'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.

In the event of a crash that involves an infant car seat rear facing facing forward, the neck is at risk. The head can be thrown against the front seat with force, causing permanent spine damage. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible for them to suffer whiplash. This is especially true for younger children, such as infants.

A child who is facing towards the front is more likely to hit his head on the dashboard or even a glass in the event of a crash. Depending on the kind of crash takes place and how fast the car is moving, the head could be pushed against the seat. This can result in fractured skulls or a spinal chord.

The current safety standards require children to remain rear-facing until they reach 20 lbs and 1 year of age. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old do not have enough neck strength to withstand a head-on collision, which is the most dangerous kind of car crash.

The use of a harness or tether while rear-facing helps to keep the child's head in a stable position and reduces the stress on their necks. Additionally, a rear-facing child is less prone to head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned with the body of the seat.

If you have a child less than one year old in a convertible seat or an all-in-one which can be turned from facing forward to rear at any time, you should read the instructions given by the manufacturer to determine when it's safe to face forward. The manufacturer's guidelines will tell whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height are for the particular seat.

Once your child is at the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they are able to use a forward-facing seat that has a tether. Once they've surpassed this, it's time to move into the booster seat.

Seat booster

There is no magic age or height when kids are able to safely stop using a booster seat. Kids should use it until the belt fits them correctly and that could happen anytime between age 8 and 13.

A booster raises the height of a child to ensure that they are able to sit upright in a 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 across the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guide to ensure that the belt is positioned correctly.

Booster seats come with or without backrests. The most popular model is a high-back booster which provides head and neck support for children. It's a good infant car seats choice for vehicles with low seat backs, and no head rests. Backless boosters are cheaper, but they do not provide neck or head support. Certain all-in-one boosters allow you to switch between harness and booster modes, making them suitable for kids in harness mode up to about 65 pounds. They can also be used as an adult booster seat until about 100 pounds.

Some boosters come with lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, when one is available. Others require the seat belt to keep them in place. Check the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to understand how to use it.

Some parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child into a booster best car seats newborn seat due to the fact that the child is becoming too tall to fit into the harness seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" children from the harness. If the belt is too loose children could be severely injured or even die in a crash.

Back seat

All children should be in the back of a car as long as possible, using 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 exceeded the limits of its weight and height and should be switched to a forward-facing restraint using a harness until they reach the maximum height allowed for this type of seat.

After your baby outgrows an infant car seat they can be moved to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat with a rear-facing seat. Usually, these seats can be used for a period of up to 2 years or until your child outgrows the seat's maximum weight and height limit. If you have a car with a middle seat, install the car safety seat so it is securely secured in this location with the lower anchor system or seat belt.

If your child is no longer in a rear-facing car seat, they can be placed in a child restraint that is front-facing equipped with a harness and tether. These seats are generally used until the child reaches the height of 57 inches or attains the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy the car seat is by reading the manufacturer's instructions, or by examining the tag on the seat.

All children older than 5 years old must be seated in the booster seat or on a lap belt in the vehicle as much as possible. If not then they should use a back restraint that is located in the middle of the back seat. Additionally you should not place them in the front seat when there's an active air bag. Placing children in the front seat could increase the chance of getting injured in a crash, because the force of impact is greater on their smaller bodies.

It's a good idea bring your child to a local car seat clinic or inspection station to assistance in choosing and installing the right child safety seat. You can also determine if your car seat has been recalled for defects or safety issues. You can then purchase one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child's size. If you are unable to test a seat, find out if the seat has a return policy.