Car Seats by Age

Each car seat is designed to fit a certain age group. Children should ride in their car seat until they reach the manufacturer's weight or height limits. 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.

If you are looking for a new seat, consider features such as fabric that is resistant to stains and removable 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 are designed to hold infants and toddlers, securing their delicate spines and necks in the event of a collision. They're also safer as they spread the force of impact across a larger surface area which minimizes injuries to the spinal cord.

Parents are often enticed to shift their children into forward-facing car seats before they're ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. This means that they should move to a forward-facing seat only after they've reached the maximum weight or height of their current seat, as stated by the manufacturer.

The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies, and are developing, making them more vulnerable to crash. In reality, a child's head can generate up to 25 times the force of their bodyweight in an accident -- enough to cause a deadly injury. This is the reason why children who sit in a car seat with their backs to the side are at a higher danger of suffering fatal head injuries.

Many parents believe that their children have stronger necks and can make the transition to a car seat that faces forward faster. However, it's important to realize that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't as strong as 5th percentile kids, and no amount of teen push-ups can alter the fact that. In the case of a car accident, a larger child's head will likely be struck with greater force. This could result in brain and spinal cord injury.

If your child is outgrowing their infant car seat, you can switch to a convertible car that allows children to remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Children typically reach their maximum height first. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions of the manufacturer of the car seat regarding when to switch to forward-facing mode.

If your child has reached the weight capacity of their convertible car seat or height limit, you will need to move them to a booster. The majority of booster seats have an angle indicator to notify you that the seat is properly installed and is ready to be flipped to forward-facing mode. It is best to use a booster seat in the back of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in a crash.

Forward-facing

Parents are often enticed to change their baby's car seat as they get older, as it's more practical. However, they must remember that rear-facing is the best car seat newborn option for children.

Having a baby face forward in the car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash because the head could be thrown against the seat's front and could cause permanent injury to the spine. Even if the child's neck muscles are strong enough, it's still possible to suffer whiplash. This is especially true for smaller kids that aren't yet a year old.

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 kind of crash takes place and the speed at which the car is moving, the head may be pushed against the seat. This could result in a fractured skull or spinal cord.

The current safety guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until both they reach 20 lbs and 1 year old. This is because younger kids don't have the strength of their necks to withstand the force in a head-on collision which is the most severe kind of accident in which automobiles are involved.

The harness and tether aid in keeping the child's head in place, reducing neck strain. A child facing the rear will be less likely to suffer head injuries because the impact will be cushioned by their seat.

If you have a child who is less than one year old and in a convertible newborn car seat seat or an all-in-1 seat that can change from forward-facing to rear-facing be sure to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer on when it is safe for your child to face the front. The guidelines from the manufacturer will indicate whether or not a tether is needed and what the maximum weight and height requirements are for that particular seat.

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

Booster seat

There is no age limit or height at which children are safe from using booster seats. The booster seat should be used until a 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 to ensure that they can sit comfortably upright in the car. It also places the shoulder part of the belt in a way that it is near, but not over, the chest. The lap portion of the belt should rest across the thighs, not over the stomach. Booster seats include a belt guide that helps to ensure that the belt is correctly placed.

Booster seats are available with or without a rearrest. The most common booster seat is the high-back that provides neck and head support for children. This is a good choice for vehicles with low backs, and no headrests. Backless boosters are cheaper, but they don't provide head or neck support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between harness and booster modes, which makes them suitable for children in harness mode until about 65 pounds and then as a booster seat for about 100 pounds.

Some boosters have a lower anchors (LATCH) system that connects onto the vehicle's lower anchors and a tether, if one is available. Some boosters require the vehicle's seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle's manual to determine if you're able to use the lower anchors on your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to use them.

Parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child into a booster car seat because the child is growing too tall for a harness seat. It's dangerous to "graduate" children from the harness. Children could be injured or even killed if the belt is loose during the event of a crash.

Back seat

All children should be in the back seat of a car as long as is possible using a child safety seat or booster seat that is properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have exceeded its weight and height limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they are too tall for this type of seat.

When your child is no longer able to fit in an infant car seat swivel car seat they can be transferred to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that also has an open rear-facing position. These seats can typically be used for up to 2 years or until your child reaches the seat's height and weight limit. Install the car safety seat in the middle of your vehicle. It can be secured with the lower anchor system and seat belt.

If your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat it is possible to place them in a child restraint that is front-facing fitted with a harness and tether. Typically, these seats can be used up to 57 inches tall or until your child is at the weight and height limits of the seat. The instructions from the manufacturer or a tag on the car seat will let you know the height and weight it can support.

If possible it is recommended that all children over the age of 5 sit in a booster or lap belt. If not you can use a back restraint that is located in the middle of the back seat. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is in use. Children who sit in the front seats are more likely to suffer injuries in a collision because their bodies are smaller.

You can bring your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to receive assistance selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. They can also determine if your child's seat has been removed due to safety issues or defects. You can then purchase one that fits both your car and the child's height. If you're unable to try a seat, check to whether it has a refund policy.