Car Seats by Age
Each Kinderkraft I-Spark Baby Car Seat Group 2/3 seat is made to be suitable for a particular age group. It is recommended that children sit in their seats until they reach the manufacturer’s weight or height limits and then get an extra seat until the vehicle belts are fitted properly, usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches in height or age 10-12.
When shopping for a new car seat, take into consideration features like fabric that is resistant to staining, pieces that are removable and can be machine washed, and hardware that wipes clean.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seat cradles babies and toddlers protecting their necks and spines from injury in a crash. They’re also safer because they spread the force of impact over an area larger than the surface which reduces spinal cord injuries.
Parents are often enticed by the idea of change their children to forward-facing car seats before they’re ready, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to go forward.
The heads of children are huge relative to their bodies. They are also developing, making them more vulnerable to crash. The head of a child can generate up to 25 times the weight of their body in a collision which is more than enough force to cause a fatal injury. That’s why young children are at the greatest risk of sustaining fatal head injuries when they sit in a front-facing car seat.
Many parents think that their children have bigger necks than older children, which means they can handle the transition to an forward-facing car seat faster. It’s important to keep in mind that a child who is in the 95th percentile of their age isn’t any more powerful than a kid who is 5th percentile, and that no amount of push-ups by teens will change this. In the case of a car crash, a bigger kid’s head is more likely to be hit with greater force, which could result in brain and spinal cord injuries.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, you can convert them into a convertible car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach their 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 limit of weight or height of their convertible car seat, you’ll need to place them in an adult booster seat. The majority of booster seats come with an integrated angle indicator that informs you when the seat is properly installed and ready to change to face forward. It is best car seats for newborns uk (https://Www.pushchairsandprams.uk/) to use a booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle, and only with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the strongest protection for your child in case of crash.
Forward-facing
Parents are often enticed by the idea of turn their child’s car seat around as they get older, as it’s more convenient. But they should remember that rear-facing is a safer option for children.
In a crash with an infant facing towards the front, the neck could be at risk. The head can be placed against the seat by force and cause permanent spinal damage. Even if the child’s neck muscles are strong enough, it is still possible to experience whiplash. This is particularly relevant for children younger than them, such as infants.
A child facing in the direction of the driver is more likely hit his head on the dashboard or even a window in a crash. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the car is traveling the head could be pushed back against the seat and could fracture the skull or spinal cord.
The current safety guidelines require children to remain rear-facing until they reach 20 lbs and 1 year old. The reason for this is that children younger than one year old do not have the neck strength to withstand a head-on crash, which is the most dangerous kind of car accident.
Utilizing a harness and tether while rear-facing helps to keep the child’s head in a stable position and reduces strain on their necks. In addition the rear-facing child is less prone to head injuries because the impact is cushioned with the body of the seat.
If you have a child less than one year old and is in a convertible seat or an all-in-one that can be turned from rear-facing to forward-facing at any point, make sure you read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to determine if it’s safe to face forward. The guidelines from the manufacturer will indicate whether or whether a tether is required and what the maximum weight and height are for the particular seat.
Once your child has reached the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they can use a forward-facing seat with a tether. Once they’ve surpassed this, it is time to move into a booster seat.
Booster seat
There is no age or height limit at which children are safe from using booster seats. Children should use a booster seat until the belt fits them properly and that could take anytime between age 8 and 13.
A booster raises the height of a child so that they can sit upright in a car. The shoulder portion of a belt is positioned so that it is close to the chest, but not over. The lap part of the belt should rest across the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats are equipped with a belt guide to help ensure the belt is properly positioned.
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. It is a great option for vehicles with low seat backs, and no head rests. Backless boosters are cheaper however they do not provide neck or head support. Some all-in-one boosters allow users to switch between booster and harness modes, making them suitable for children who are in harness mode up to about 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 vehicle’s lower anchors and a tether when available. Some boosters require the seat belt to keep them in place. You can check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to find out if you are able to use the lower anchors. Also, make sure you read the instructions for the booster seat to understand how to use it.
Parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child to an adult car seat since the child is becoming too tall to fit in a harness seat. It’s risky to “graduate” a child from to a harness. Children could be injured or even killed if the belt is too loose in an accident.
Back seat
All children should sit in the back seat of a car as long as is possible with a child safety seat or booster seat that’s been properly installed. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat or have surpassed its weight and height limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with an appropriate harness until they’re tall for this type of seat.
Once your child has outgrown an infant car seat, you can transfer them to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat with a rear-facing option. These seats are usually good infant car seats for two years or until the child reaches the maximum height and weight of the seat. If you have a vehicle with a middle seat, install the car safety seat in a way that it can be secured tightly to this spot using the lower anchor system or seat belt.
When your child grows out of their rear-facing seat you can place them in a forward-facing restraint using a harness. These seats are usually used until the child reaches the height of 57 inches or exceeds the maximum weight and height guidelines for the seat. You can find out 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.
All children over the age of 18 should be in a booster seat or lap belt for a vehicle at the very least. If not then they should use a back restraint in the middle of the back seat. Also, they should not sit in front of the car if the airbag is in use. Children who sit in the front seats are more likely to be injured in collisions because their bodies are smaller.
You can bring your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic for assistance in selecting and installing the correct child safety seat. They can also check if your car seat is being recalled due to problems or safety concerns. Then, you can purchase one that fits your vehicle and your child’s size. If you can’t try out a seat, check to whether it has a return policy.