First Step: Rear Facing Car Seat
The head of baby is heavier, larger and the neck is smaller, weaker than older children and adults. A rear facing car seat protects the baby's head, neck, and spine. In a crash or sudden stop, the force of the crash is spread across the back. It is the strongest part of the baby's body at this stage. Use a rear facing infant with five point harness car seat from birth and stay as long as is safely possible until at least age one. If your baby outgrows her infant seat before age one, choose a convertible car seat and in the rear facing position until your baby reaches the height limit or weight limit of the convertible seat in the rear facing position.
Rear facing seats are outgrown when:
1) The weight limit is reached - 22lbs for infant carriers, 30-35lbs for convertible seats
OR
2) There is less than 1" of seat above the child's head. Otherwise the tops of the child’s ears are above the top of the retraint.
Most kids outgrow seats by height before weight.
Step 2: Forward Facing Car Seat
A forward facing car seat faces the front of the car, is designed to protect a small child who is at least one year of age in a crash or sudden stop. It is meant for the child who have had spines, bones, and muscles grow strong. The five point harness straps of a forward facing car seat would spread the force of a crash over the strongest parts of the body.
Keep your child in the forward facing car seat as long as is safely possible or until the child reaches the height or weight limit of the seat. If you are using a car seat that can be used for other stages as well (Convertible Car Seat or 3-in-1 Car Seat), make sure you follow the height and weight limits of your car seat for when it is used forward facing.
Many forward facing car seats have height limits of 40 inches (102 cm) and weight limits of 40 pounds (18 kg). But there are forward facing car seats with five point harness car seat which have higher height and weight limits. (see Car Seat for Older Kids) Therefore this stage could extend until the child reaches 80 pounds or 57”.
Forward facing seats are outgrown when:
1) The weight limit is reached – 40-70lbs for Convertible Car Seats , 80lbs for Older Forward Facing Car Seat.
OR
2) There is less than 1" of seat above the child's head. Otherwise the tops of the child’s ears are above the top of the retraint.
Most children outgrow their forward facing car seat between ages 4 and 5.
Step 3: Booster Seat with Seat Belt
When your child has outgrown the forward-facing seat but is too small to use your car's safety belt system alone, it's time for a booster seat. Boosters reduce the potential for belt-induced injuries in small children and help transition them from a safety seat to an adult-size lap and shoulder belt. Booster seats also come in the backless variety, which allows an adult seat belt to fit safely across your child's body. The seat uses the car's seat belt to hold your child therefore, your child must wear both the shoulder belt and the lap belt.
Just as you did with the booster seat, teach your child the importance of proper buckling. In a crash, an improperly buckled seat belt may do serious harm — and following a few simple rules may save your child's life.
Seat belts are made to fit people who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches (145 cm) tall. Please use the booster seat until the adult seat belt fits correctly and when your child weighs at least 80 pounds or reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches.
Step 4: Seat Belt
Most kids can safely use an adult seat belt between ages 8 and 12. Here's how you'll know that your child is ready:
* 1.) Your child weighs at least 80 pounds or reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches.
* 2.) Your child sits against the back of the seat, with his or her knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat. The lap belt rests flat across your child's hips under your child's belly., and the shoulder belt rests on your child's shoulder and across the middle of your child's chest.— not on the face or upper arm.
* 3.) The seat belt does not touch your child's face or neck.
* 4.) Your child can remain seated like this for the entire trip.
Never allow a child to put the seat belt shoulder strap behind her back.
As your child gets older, you may be more likely to drive his or her friends as well. Even when it's crowded in the car, seat belt safety still rules. Allow for extra time to make sure each child is safely buckled in. If you keep extra booster seats in your car for car pool day, buckle them in or store them in the trunk. Loose booster seats may hit someone inside the car if you're in an accident or come to a sudden stop.
Cheap Car seat
Sources:
www.riversideonline.com
www.sickkids.on.ca
www.nhtsa.gov
Posts
