But don't be tempted to rush into making the switch. There are lots of good reasons why many parents choose to increase the age before facing their baby forward in a car seat.
Why is rearward-facing travel safest for babies and young children? Children travelling forward-facing can be thrown forwards in a head-on collision. That puts stress on the fragile head and neck, which can lead to serious injury. If your child is travelling rear-facing, the car seat spreads the forces across the whole back, protecting the delicate head and neck.
What is the i -Size rear-facing car seat law? Parents are encouraged to use the harness up to the height or weight maximum for their seat, as the harness helps ensure your child is sitting in the safest position.
They should have outgrown their forward-facing car seat with the 5-point harness. They also need to be capable of sitting properly in the booster, with the seatbelt strap in the correct position across their hips and chest and off their neck.
There are a variety of types of booster seats from high back to low back and removable. In general, your child should be in a high back booster seat if your car lacks headrests or the seat back is low. Before getting rid of the infant rear-facing car seat you spent so much time researching, take the time to double-check the height and weight allotment. Once you move to a forward-facing car seat, double-check that it is properly installed and fits correctly in your vehicle.
Remember, when in doubt, chat with a CPST to feel confident in hitting the open road with your little one in tow! Is your child big enough for a booster seat? When deciding if your child is ready for a booster seat, height is more important than weight. Looking for less stress and a more peaceful way to parent? Here is a brief rundown on mindful parenting and why it may be worth taking an extra moment….
All lower anchors are rated for a maximum weight of 65 pounds total weight includes car safety seat and child. Parents should check the car safety seat manufacturer's recommendations for maximum weight a child can be to use lower anchors.
New car safety seats have the maximum weight printed on their label. NOTE: Seat belts— If you install a car safety seat by using your vehicle's seat belt, you must make sure the seat belt locks to hold the seat tightly. In most newer cars, you can lock the seat belt by pulling it all the way out and then allowing it to retract to keep the seat belt tight around the car safety seat.
In addition, many car safety seats have built-in lock-offs so you can lock the belt without having to lock the seat belt separately as well. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual for details about how your seat belt locks. Middle of the back seat— The safest place to ride for all children younger than 13 years is the back seat. If possible, it may be best for the child to ride in the middle of the back seat. However, it is sometimes difficult to install a car safety seat tightly in the middle if the vehicle seat is narrow or uneven.
Also, many vehicles do not have lower anchors for the middle seating position. It is safest to put the car safety seat in a position where you can install it tightly with either the lower anchor system or the seat belt; in some cases, this position may be on either side of the back seat rather than in the middle.
A child passenger safety technician CPST or CPS technician can help you decide which place is best to install your child's car safety seat in your vehicle. The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. When infants outgrow their rear-facing—only seat, a convertible seat installed rear facing is needed.
Three types of rear-facing seats are available: rear-facing—only , convertible, and all-in-one. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their rear-facing—only seat, they should continue to ride rear facing in a convertible or all-in-one seat.
Always read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat. Very small babies who can sit safely in a semi-reclined position usually fit better in rear-facing—only seats.
Babies born preterm should be screened while still in the hospital to make sure they can sit safely in a semi-reclined position. Babies who need to lie flat during travel may be able to ride in a car bed that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard They should be screened again while in the hospital to make sure they can lie safely in the car bed.
Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward- facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by her car safety seat manufacturer.
It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows a seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights. It is important that the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits your child snugly. Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing seats.
Most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age. Instructions that come with your car safety seat will tell you the height and weight limits for the seat. As a general guideline, a child has outgrown a forward-facing seat when any of the following situations is true:. High-back and backless are 2 standard types of booster seats. They do not come with a harness but are used with lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult rides.
Most booster seats are not secured to the vehicle seat with the seat belt or lower anchors and tether but simply rest on the vehicle seat and are held in place once the seat belt is fastened over a child. However, some models of booster seats can be secured to the vehicle seat and kept in place by using the lower anchors and tether along with lap and shoulder belts. Currently, only a few vehicle manufacturers offer integrated booster seats.
Booster seats often have a plastic clip or guide to correctly position vehicle lap and shoulder belts. See the booster seat instruction manual for directions on how to use the clip or guide. Booster seats must be used with lap and shoulder belts. When using a booster seat, make sure:. If your booster seat has lower anchors or tether attachments, check its manual for installation instructions.
If your car has only lap belts, use a forward-facing seat that has a harness and higher weight limits. You could also. Seat belts are made for adults. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly, typically when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.
Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age. When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for the best protection. Front airbags are installed in all new cars. When used with seat belts, airbags work well to protect teenagers and adults; however, airbags can be very dangerous to children, particularly to those riding in rear-facing seats and to preschoolers and young school-aged children who are not properly restrained.
If your vehicle has a front passenger airbag, infants in rear-facing seats must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively low-speed crash, the airbag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause serious brain injury and death. Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children; however, the airbag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger.
Side airbags are available in most new cars. Side airbags improve safety for adults in side-impact crashes. Child care programs and schools should have written guidelines for transporting children, including.
This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of turbulence. Remember that your child will need an appropriate car safety seat to use at your destination. If you have questions or need help with installing your car safety seat, find a certified child passenger safety technician CPST or CPS technician.
Lists of certified CPSTs and child seat—fitting stations are available on the following websites:. Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up. Make sure that everyone who transports your child uses the correct car safety seat or seat belt on every trip, every time. Being consistent with car safety seat use is good parenting, reduces fussing and complaints, and is safest for your child.
Never leave your child alone in or around cars, and lock your vehicle when it is not in use. See full disclaimer. If your child is over 20 pounds and more than 1 year old, you may be tempted to temporarily face the seat forward—if your car seat is approved for forward-facing use—on long trips.
If this is something that is allowed by your state and the specifications of your car seat, be sure to do so conscientiously. Make sure you properly install the car seat in the new position, tightening all anchors and straps, including the extra tether if available. You should place the forward-facing seat in the middle of the back seat.
This will provide extra protection, as that is the safest spot in the vehicle. Deciding when your baby can face forward in the car is a big step, and you should do it carefully. To ensure the safest travel experience possible, you should keep your child in the rear-facing seat as long as you can. You want to do everything you can to ensure safe travel for your family. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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