When Should I Change My baby’s Car Seat
It’s only logical that most of the parents worry about When Should I Change My baby’s Car Seat because parents always want to keep their children safe.in this article below, we will discuss the necessary tips and information that you need to know to decide if you should change your children’s car seats or not.
We will simultaneously feed you with valuable information for children of three age groups: for little infants, toddlers, for children above 4 years of age.
Booster seat
Booster seats are safety seats to which you should move when your child is about 4 years old. These seeds ensure the safety of your child in the car. In some countries, it is even mandatory to keep your child in safety booster seats. Booster seat chair forward-facing, and they can take advantage of the native seat belts of your car to give extra safety. Booster seats are installed on the rear two seats of the car.
Facing seat
Forward-facing seats
Children are shifted to forward-facing seats when there are more than 4 years old but it is recommended to keep children rear-facing as long as possible. Booster seats are front-facing seats. These front-facing seats are suitable for children up to 12 years of age. If your little ones want to see the world around them, they can while sitting in the forward-facing seats. Front-facing seats have all the necessary security features.
Rear-facing/convertible seat
Convertible seats are adopted by parents when their children are about 9 months to 2 years old. Convertibles are fully safe for little children because they feature rear-facing characteristics. They have the straps and anchors to ensure the child’s safety. If you have a convertible seat for your child then you can drive worry-free.
Weight limit
There is a particular weight limit for children to use safety car seats. If your child is more than 35 kg in weight then it would be recommended to make them accustomed to native car seats.
Buckle
Buckles and straps are safety features of all car seats. It is recommended to not make your child wear jackets for heavy clothing because that can hamper the capacity of the straps and buckles. You should always check if your children are safely buckled up or not before starting driving.
Group
There are three main groups of car seats for children:
● If your child is a newborn, then it is recommended for you to use infant carriers.
● Once your child grows out of the infant carrier capacity, you should move to convertibles or toddler car seats.
● When your child is older than 4 years, you should consider shifting to booster car seats. Forward-facing booster car seats are suitable for children of 4 years to 12 years.
Infant car seat
Infant car seats are specialized car seats for newborns. Newborn’s physical structure is weak and fragile, this necessitates the need for infant car seats. Infant car seats are rear-facing, and they are installed on the rear seats of the car.
Seat belt
Seat belts are used to keep passengers steady on car seats. It is illegal to ride a car without buckling up the seat belts.
Child car seat
Child car seats are specialized seats for little children from newborn to 12 years old. We have mentioned above three classes of child car seats.
Seat manufacturer
You need to check if the manufacturers have provided anchors, tethers, or not. If you don’t find the safety features, you should probably buy a product from a different manufacturer. LATCH is another safety feature that is usually needed.
Point harness
A 5-point harness is an internationally recognized safety equipment for children’s car seats. These are necessary multi point and keep the child secure and safe.
Height limit
Children’s car seats have no specific height limits, but you should check if your children have grown out of the capacity of the existing seat.
There are usually weight limits for different types of car seats. We have provided information about the weight limits above.
Front seat
Letting a child under 12 years of age sit in the front seats of the car is way too dangerous.it is even illegal to let children sit in front seats. Back seats are always more safe for children. The risk-on life is much higher if children are sitting in front seats.
Back seat
Legally it is allowed for children of 13 years old or more to sit in the native rear seats of the car. Rear seats tend to be safer and are recommended for children to sit in.
Convertible Car Seat
Convertible seats are used to carry children of 8 months to 2 years old. These seats provide ample protection to Little children in the car.
Safety seat
Safety seats are specialized car seats for children. Children under 13 years of age are required to do used safety seats in the car.
The highest weight
Children are recommended to use safety car seats till they are 35 kilograms of weight. It is not illegal to use safety seats for children of higher weights, but children tend to get big enough to use native seats.
Positioning booster
The booster seat should be positioned in the rear seats of the car. The straps and buckles should be checked if they are tightly attached or not. After installing the seat, it should be steady and rigidly staying in its position. If pulled, it should not move more than 1 inch.
Older Child
For children aged between 4 and 12, booster car seats are suitable enough. Ensuring the safety of big children is something the booster car seats do very well.
INFANT CARRIERS
How early should I change from infant carrier to toddler seat?
We recommend keeping your baby in the infant carrier until they can sit by themselves on their back. Please follow the specified minimum age requirement or weight requirement for that specific toddler car seat.
How fast should I change from infant to toddler car seat?
If your baby outgrows the infant carrier, only then it is time to change to the toddler car seat. Nonetheless, there is a specified weight limit or age limit for that toddler car seat, please follow that.
TODDLER CAR SEATS
How fast should I move from a toddler carrier to a booster seat?
Usually, the minimum recommended age for a child to be sitting in a booster seat is four. But we also recommend that you keep your child rear-facing as long as you can. Please follow the minimum age and weight requirement for the child to sit in the booster seat.
How early can we stop using a toddler car seat?
The recommended tip is to keep your child rear-facing as long as you can. The minimum age for the child to move from the toddler car seat is four. Please check if the child has met the minimum age and weight requirement.
CHILD CAR SEATS/BOOSTER SEATS
When should be the right time to stop using the booster seat?
The recommended age for a child to sit in the booster seat is 4 to 12. Your child can leave the booster seat when they are mentally mature enough to seat in a normal car seat.
When should i upgrade my child’s Car Seat?
We recommend you to carry the child in an infant carrier until they outgrow the size of the career and then transferring them to the toddler car seat. When they become four years of age, transfer them to the booster car seat and a child is eligible to see it in the booster car seat from 4 to 12 years of age.
Helpful tips for buying a baby car seat
● Before buying the car seat try it out very carefully. Try a few for your convenience.
● Properly check the fitting systems of the baby car seat are reliable enough.
● Go through the online guide of the product before buying the product finally.
● Be sure to check if your baby is weight and age is compatible with the product.
● Try not to buy second-hand cars seeds because they lack the security capacity most of the time.it is OK to accept a second-hand car seat if it is from a person that you know and you know the history of the car seat.
● Put yourself in the everyday usage of the baby car seat and see if you feel comfortable in your imagination.
Tips and tricks to keep your child safe:
Child safety is the prime concern of every parent, when driving a car you should always keep your children seated rear-facing until they are 4 years old. You should always check if the straps and buckles are properly attached and connected.
You should also check if your children’s hands or legs are bent or improperly positioned while sitting in safety car seats.
Do not use any jackets for heavy clothing under the belt or straps. Always use anchors or Tethers that are available.
Various kinds of Car seat:
There are basically three types of safety seats.
● Infant-only carriers.
● Rear-facing convertible seats for toddlers.
● Booster car seats for big children.
Tips on using a child car seat:
While using a car seat for your children, check if all the safety instructions have been followed or not. Tips for buying a car seat for your children always try out the product a few times for best comfortability.
Car seats for toddlers:
Parents usually use rear-facing convertible seats for toddlers. These seats are usable until the child is 4 years old.
Fitting the baby in the car seat:
Always buy a car seat that is proportionate to the size of your children. As your children grow, keep changing the car seat. Children should be comfortable in their seats, making it happen is a parent’s job.
Buying a car seat keeping in mind the current law
As given in www.gov.uk, you need to use a child car seat until your child is 135 CM tall or 12 years old. Your child needs to be seated rear-facing until they are 15 months old.
Description of different types of car seats:
Rear ward facing seat for your baby
● These sets are reclined seats for your children, they have safety straps,5-point harness for safety.
Size-i(from birth to 105 cm height)
● this type of safety car is for your baby till their height is 105 CM. This model will cover you for about 4 to 5 years.
Combination (from birth to 18 kilograms)
● These are mouth feature car seats, you can set them up rear-facing or front-facing.
Facing forward {from 9 kg to 18 kg}
● This kind of seat is comfortable for your children if they want to see the world outside.
Booster with a high back (from 15 kg to 36 kg)
● These are capable of car seats to hold bigger children.
ISOFIX base
This term is used to address those kinds of seats that are internationally recognized for their security features such as having an anchor and being easy to be installed.
FAQs
Which child seat can give me “the best” features and performance?
The best seat for your child is the site that provides the most security to your child. Other major factors such as the stability and sustainability of the product also come into play.
What are the tips to follow to ensure the proper safety of the baby car seat?
● Install the seat that sits rigidly in the car and does not move more than 1 inch.
● The strap should be capable enough to provide stability. Check if all the strips are manufactured with good strength or not.
● The construction of the harness should be also checked if it is comfortable enough at the same time necessarily tight.
● Let the child seat be attached to the rear seat of the car.
What is the most correct way to keep my child warm enough in the days of winter?
It is recommended to avoid any quotes or jackets for the child. We highly endorse you putting on a blanket over the car seat.
How can I be sure if the safety seat is correctly fitted in my car?
The best way is to check the installation manual provided by the manufacturer and install the seat accordingly. Be sure to try out a few products before finally buying one.
What is the age recommendation for a child safety seat?
There is no definite limit of age that should be followed universally. But we sure recommend that the child be less than 12 years of age.
What is TETHER used for?
Tether is a webbing strap provided with each safety seat to ensure its stability in the car. When the safety seat is faced forward, the tether connects with the top of the safety seat and to the designated safety anchor of the car.
What is LATCH used for?
The full version of the word LATCH is Lower Anchor and Tether for Children. IT IS A WIDESPREAD FEATURE OF THE NEW SAFETY CAR SEATS. It is meant to give additional stability to the safe car seat.
Is the LATCH system preferable?
THE LATCH SYSTEM GIVES YOU EXTRA STABILITY without using the native car seat belt. It is recommended to try using the LATCH system first and if somehow the system does not work then use the native car seat belt.
How can I install a safety car seat securely?
At the very first read all the installation instructions given in the installation manual. And then indulge in installing the safety seat by following all the necessary steps. For forward-facing safety seats, the top tether should be available. Check if the safety seat fits tightly in your car.
How to know if the safety seat is tightly installed or not?
If the seat is rear-facing, try pulling the set out of the car and see if it moves more than 1 inch or not. A Tightly seated safety seat will not move more than 1 inch in any direction. If the safety seat is forward-facing, there should be a top tether anchor to improve security. After installing the safety seat, try moving the safety seat in any direction. It should not move more than 1 inch.
Is it necessary to use a locking clip?
The locking clip can be useful to prevent the loosening of the lap portion of the safety car seat belt.
It is occasionally needed for stability but not a mandatory feature to be used.
Which place in the car is the safest for my child to sit in?
According to the national safety instructions, children below 13 years of age are required to set in the rear seats of the car. The rear seats of the car are designed to protect the passengers even more than the front seats.
What would be the right way to keep a newborn securely in a safety seat?
The newborn should be set in the center of the rear seats of a car in a safety seat. That is the most secure spot in the car, away from all potential danger.
The sitting position should be rear-facing and half reclining on the back. This particular position ensures the comfort and safety of the neck and the head.
When can my child sit in the car front-facing?
The child needs to be at least two years old to seat forward-facing. If the car encounters an accident, the spinal cord of the child can be damaged if they are seated facing forward. It is more preferable to let the child seat rear-facing for as long as possible.
What is the reason for facing forward to be important?
Infants tend to have fragile neck bones and muscles, if a child is seated forward-facing he or she can the met with severe neck injury if the car is to crash.
On the contrary, the rear-facing position is much safer and as much as 5 times more secure than the forward-facing position.
Can my rear-facing baby’s feet touch the seat back?
It’s a choice of personal preference actually. Longer limbs do not seem to increase the risk.
My child’s weight is more than 40 pound, he does not seem to be ready for a booster seat, what can I do?
There are plenty of products and options on the internet that provides more secure harnesses for children over 40 pounds. You should check them out.
What would be the proper time for my child to sit in a regular belt seat without a booster?
It’s ok if a child is 10 to 12 years old. Under normal circumstances, a child of this age should be fine in a regular car seat.
I have experienced a car crash, should I change the safety car seat?
It is recommended to change all safety car seats if met with a car crash. There is no way to tell where the problem has occurred and whether it will give rise to a more severe problem in the future or not.
Is there any escape-proof car seat?
Unfortunately, no. Children usually learn how to get out of the seat by themselves in everyday usage.
Is it ok if I let my children share one safety car seat?
Absolutely not. Using the safety seat above its capacity will hamper the safety of both children, which will threaten their lives.
Is it ok to put my children in the front seat of a pickup truck?
It would be a risky move, and we highly discouraged to do so if your child is under 12 years of age. We find from statistical data that the rear seats of a car are five times safer compared to the front seats.
How do you know if your car needs to be replaced?
There are a few important criteria that indicate if your car seats need replacing or not.
● you should consider changing your car seats when your infant grows into a toddler. And also when the toddler gets bigger.
● If your child’s weight is between 9 and 15 kilograms then you should use a toddler carrier seat. If your child is between 15-35 kg you should change to a booster car seat.
● Change your car seat as your child grows in height. Your child should be able to sit comfortably in the seat.
● like every product every seat has a definite expiry date, you should change the seat if the expiry date has reached.
● Obviously, if you see it has been damaged you need to change it
When is the right time to upgrade the car seat for my child?
The right time is when your child is bigger than the recommended description of your existing car seat. You should change car seats keeping in mind that the comfort of your children has to be there as he/she grows up.
We recommend you to check the weight and height of your child every 6 months to ensure that your child feels comfortable sitting in that car seat.
How can I be sure if the car seat is safely fitted for my car?
Install the car seat following the proper installation guide provided by the manufacturer. Check if all the hooks and belts have connected to the car or not. Try out the car seat yourself before confirming the purchase.
To be 100% sure, ask customer service to check if your car seat has been installed properly.
How do I know if it’s the right time to change my car seat?
The user manual provided by the manufacturer will have a description of how old the child should be and how much the weight and height should be of your children when using the seat. Follow the age and weight limits strictly to be 100% sure.
How can I fit the car seat into my car?
The proper way to fit a car seat into a car is to literally follow the steps and instructions given in the installation manuals.
Additional check if all the parts and hooks have attached to each other or not. Contact customer care support if you face any difficulty.
When can I change to a booster car seat?
It is recommended that the child should be above 4 years of age and be above 15 kg of weight for the booster car seat to be used. If your child has the mental maturity of stably sitting in the high back booster car seat then it is time to change to the booster car seat.
What should I do to ensure the safety of my newborn in the seat?
Your newborn will have to sit in the car rear-facing because the rear-facing position is safer. Ensure all the protections that are needed and instructed in the user manuals. Make sure that child has enough open space around him/her so that she/he does not feel suffocated.
When can my child use a regular belt instead of a booster?
Usually, The recommended age for a child to use the car seat belt is 10 to 12.
What are the safety guidelines I can follow to ensure the safety of the car seat?
You have to make sure the car seat is fitted in the car firmly and you have to maintain the installation instructions given in the installation manual. Thoroughly check if all the steps have been followed as instructed in the installation manual when installing the car seat.
What size of car seats should I use for my children?
If your child is a newborn you should use a newborn carrier, as soon as your child grows out of the capacity of the newborn carrier you should shift to toddler carriers or convertible seats. For children of 4 to 12 years age, booster car seats are recommended.
What is the right time to shift to a car seat for my children?
When your child is more than 4 years old you should consider getting a booster car seat. For newborns, you should use newborn carriers. For toddlers, you can use toddler carriers are convertible seats.
Do I need to change from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat?
The choice is highly user-dependent. You can choose to either keep your child in an infant car seat or in a convertible car seat. You should have used what you are more comfortable with.
Should I keep my baby front-facing?
The child should be at least 2 years old and preferably more than two years old to keep it seated front-facing.
When is the recommended time to stop using booster car seats?
When your children are above 12 years old.
What is the correct time to stop using toddler car seats?
You should stop using the toddler car seat as soon as your child turns 4 years old.
When should I change into a new car seat for my kid?
When you see your child outgrowing the previous car seat.
What is the recommended age to switch to a convertible car seat?
Convertibles are suitable for babies of 9 months to 2 years old.
When could I switch to car seats?
If you have a newborn then you should immediately have an infant carrier. for toddlers, you should have a convertible car seat. As soon as your child grows 4 years old you should get a booster car seat.
How long should I use baby car seats?
You should use car seats for your baby for as long as it is possible.
When to decide to upgrade to a new car seat?
If the condition of the existing one is nonusable and the security features are not sufficient enough.
An overview of when to change car seats for kids – there are mainly three groups of car seats for babies as we have mentioned several times above. You should have one of those car seats according to your baby’s age.
The time for me to switch to car seats for kids?
When your baby is 4 years old you should get a booster car seat.
How safe would it be to reuse a car seat after a crash?
It is never recommended to reuse a car seat if it has gone through a crash. however, if the car seat is not harmed by the crash then it can be used again.
How to choose a baby car seat?
The security of the car seat comes first, then you should look at the durability of that car seat before buying.
Why is a convertible car seat necessary?
Convertibles are backward-facing toddler carriers. convertible gives more comfort to infants of 9 months to 2 years of age.
How can parents be sure about the safety of the car seat?
If you follow the standard installation procedures of that car seat, then you got nothing to worry about.
What time is right for me to change to a new car seat?
You should change to a new car seat when your little one outgrows the existing car seat.
How are rear-facing seats designed to protect babies more?
Rear-facing seats give extensive protection to the neck and head of the baby. The lower body is also guarded by the baby car seat.
When could I upgrade my existing car seat?
When the older car seat is not usable anymore or cannot give ample security to your children, you should consider getting in your car seat.
What would make sure the safety of newborns of 2 years?
Until the age of 2 years newborns should be carried in infant carrier car seats.
Is it ok if I let my baby seat forward-facing?
It is not recommended to let the baby sit forward-facing until they are 4 years old. It is even illegal to do such a thing. A forward-facing position seems exciting for the child to see the outside world, but it brings tons of dangers.
Exactly when is the right time for an upgrade to my seat?
You should upgrade your seat when your children outgrow the existing one.
Statistics
● Your baby should be sitting in a convertible by the age of 1 year.
● Statistics have shown that children of 2 years when seating rear-facing, are 75% less likely to face deadly injury.
● If there is no information on the history of the car seat, statistical reports show that they are more likely to be less secure for your children.
● Reports across the nation show that children of 1 year old have a higher risk of getting head injury if seated front-facing rather than rear-facing.
● A worldwide survey says children should be seated rear-facing until the age of 4.
● According to legal laws, you should change the car seat when your children outgrow and the surface is the capacity of that seat.
● An American survey showed that children are 70% more prone to accidents if not used a baby car seat.
● Correctly using seat belts in booster seats causes 70% less damage in a car crash.
Conclusion
Finding a proper car seat for your children is as important as knowing how to fit it in your car and using it discreetly. We hope you have got an idea of when you should change the car seat of your child from the discussion above.
This particular article was meant to provide you with useful information and at the same time endorsing you the necessary steps in the various stages of using it.