A normal seat belt does not fit correctly on a small child, making them more dangerous than helpful in the event of a crash.
Having the proper car seat can help keep children safe by using stronger and more efficient restraints designed for their specific height and weight. Here are a few ways to determine which type of car seat is right for your child.
1. Rear-Facing
Your child’s first car seat will face towards the back of the car. Rear-facing car seats help keep the child more restrained. They also limit the motion of the head, which can prevent possible neck injuries.
In an accident, a rear-facing car seat can spread the force from the collision more evenly across the back of the seat and the child.
Recommended Ages: Newborn to at least 2 Years
2. Forward-Facing
It is up to the parent’s discretion to decide the right time to switch to a forward-facing car seat, but it should not be any time before the child is two years old. This will be the seat used longest throughout childhood. Although front-facing now, these seats should still remain in the back of any vehicle.
There are different types of forward-facing car seat restraints but typically, they all use a type of harness to keep children safe in a crash.
Recommended Ages: 2 Years to at least 5 Years
3. Booster Seats
A booster seat is the last car seat a child will have before using a seat belt. Typically, your forward-facing car seat can be transformed into a booster seat when the time comes.
With a booster seat, the child is positioned in such a way that the seat belt fits correctly across the chest, hips and thighs.
Recommended Ages: 5 Years until 12 Years
4. Seat Belts
You will know your child has outgrown the booster seat when a seat belt lies in the middle of their chest and shoulder, rather than the neck and when the lap belt is across the upper thighs, instead of the belly. Once a child grows out of a booster seat, they should still remain in the back of the vehicle.
Recommended Ages: 13 Years+
For more information on child safety, contact Carrier Academy of Learning today!