Mistake 1: ‘Promoting’ your child too soon – We parents seem to want to keep our kids young — except when it comes to their car seats. That’s misguided. In addition to delaying things such as violent video games and makeup, we should delay kids’ progression through the stages of car seats.
They should stay in each position and seat as long as they safely can. Each step up is actually a bit more dangerous because it offers less protection for growing bodies. • Rear-facing seat: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or reach the weight and height limits set by the seat manufacturer.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees. Research has shown that rear-facing seats distribute the force of a crash over a large area of a baby or toddler’s body, keeping them safer. Look for an infant seat with higher height and weight limits so you can keep your child in it longer.
Better yet, Consumer Reports says transitioning to a convertible seat, but keeping it rear-facing, has additional head-protection benefits. • Forward-facing seat with five-point harness: These seats also attach to your vehicle. NHTSA says to keep your child in this type of seat “until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.” The challenge is that those limits vary widely — from about 48 to 58 inches in height and 50 to 90 pounds in weight.
In fact, if you look at NHTSA’s car seat finder tool, you have a choice of either a 5-point harness seat or a booster seat for two entire years, between ages 4 and 6. This is the problem Miller ran into. Her son Kyle was heavy enough to age out of the forward-facing seat they owned, so they moved him to a booster.
- A five-point harness seat might have saved him.
- Manufacturers now offer larger five-point harness seats that accommodate older kids.
- And if your child resists, point out that NASCAR drivers also use five-point harnesses.
- Booster seat: You shouldn’t skip this step.
- Booster seats are designed to raise children to a height where they can safely wear the vehicle’s built-in seat belt.
Consumer Reports says high-backed boosters are safer than backless ones because they do a better job of properly positioning the seat belt across the child’s chest, hips and thighs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says booster seats can reduce a child’s risk of serious injury by 45 percent.
Which type of booster seat is safest?
Combination Booster Seats The longer your child remains in a five-point harness, the safer he or she will be in the event of a crash.
What is the purpose of a high back booster seat?
Types of Booster Seats: – 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. They are designed to raise a child up so that lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly over the strongest parts of the child’s body.
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.)
When can a child switch to a high back booster?
Booster seat : – Once your child exceeds either the weight or height of a forward-facing seat, it’s time to transition to a belt positioning booster seat, Making the switch typically occurs between the ages of eight and 12, but again, it all depends on the height and weight of your child.
- The height is right when your child can sit against the back of the booster or vehicle’ seat and his or her knees bend over the edge of the booster seat.
- The weight is right if it is in the maximum range of the car seat manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Some all-in-one car seats or convertible car seats transition to a booster seat.
With these models, you simply remove the 5 point harness and use your vehicle’s seat belt system. Important Note: Whether in a harness or a booster, your child should continue to ride in the back seat of a vehicle until age 13.
When can a child switch from a high back booster to a backless booster?
Why Does My Child Have to Sit Still in a Backless Booster? – Even if your child is old enough and fits within the height and weight range of a backless booster, that doesn’t mean they are ready to sit in one, If your child can’t sit still, you risk sliding the seat belt off the collarbone and shoulder.
- If you are in an accident while your child is leaning, it could result in serious injury.
- If your child is still wiggly in his or her seat, they should remain in a harnessed booster,
- Once they have reached a level of maturity where they sit and act appropriately in their seat, you may move them to a backless booster seat.
This typically happens around age five or six. Click here to find out more about when to move your children up to the next car seat or a booster seat.
Do high back boosters need to be anchored?
Booster Seat Safety – If you are using a front-facing car seat that converts to a booster, you can anchor it to the seat using the LATCH system. You cannot attach it using the seat belt since your child will be using the belt. If your car is not equipped with LATCH, check your car seat instruction manual or the manufacturer’s website.
- They should have instructions on how to use a booster seat without LATCH.
- A high-backed booster to backless booster may have tethers to clip it to the LATCH anchors in your car.
- This is not necessary for using the booster seat, but it might be convenient to have your booster seat held in one place.
- If you’re not using LATCH, you can set the booster in the seat where your child will sit.
To use the belt positioner on a high-backed booster, adjust the headrest to the proper height. Check the instruction manual or manufacturer’s website for specific details. Once the headrest is adjusted, you can slide the seat belt through the belt positioner.
Can a 4 year old sit in a high back booster?
What age can you switch to a booster seat? – It’s hard to tell the right time to switch your child to a booster seat. Each child grows at different rates. However, here are some general guidelines that will help you determine if your child is ready to move to a booster seat.
Your child weighs at least 40 pounds. Your child is at least 4 years old. Your child will stay in the booster seat the entire car ride with the seat belt properly fitted across the shoulder and below the hips. Your child has outgrown the internal harness or height requirements of a forward-facing five-point harness car seat.
How long should my child stay in a 5-point harness?
When can a child start to use a booster seat? – A child is ready for a booster seat when they have outgrown the height or weight limit of their 5-point harness car seat. This is usually when they reach over 65 pounds or 49 inches. You can check your car seat’s manual for its height and weight limits and if it can be converted to a booster seat.
Generally, kids weighing over 65 pounds are ready to switch to a booster seat. When your child reaches 49 inches (about 4 feet) tall. When you believe your child is mature enough to properly sit in a booster seat with the seat belt correctly positioned at all times.
It’s important not to rush the switch to a booster seat. If your child still fits the height and weight requirements of their car seat, that is their safest option.
What age can you stop using a 5-point harness?
1) Restraining your child in the best places for optimum safety in a crash – A 5-point harness has five attachment points designed to restrain your child at the shoulders and hips, which are the most rigid parts of their body. If there is a crash, the car seat harness transfers the forces of the crash to these rigid points of the body and into the seat.
As a result, tests show that the soft parts of the body, such as the abdomen, are protected from the impact. Using a 5-point harness vs 3-point harness or shield system The soft parts of your child’s body may not withstand the forces of a crash in the same way as rigid parts do. When your child is restrained at the lower abdomen, for example by a 3-point harness or shield, he or she can fold over the belt or restraint.
This means that the belt or restraint can intrude into the abdomen area resulting in significant injury. Informed by research for your peace of mind Certified crash test dummies allow us to analyze the forces on the rigid parts of the body in different crash scenarios.
What kind of car seat should a 40 lb child be in?
State Laws – A lot of states are currently working on laws to bump that age up to two, and for good reason! Bio-mechanically, they are much safer rear-facing than forward facing when they are so little. The crash forces are distributed throughout the child’s seat and entire spine, in the rear facing position! In the forward-facing position, the force is distributed only across their 5-point harness (shoulders, chest and pelvis).
- When your child reaches 40 – 45 pounds, you can forward face in the convertible seat until up to around 65 pounds.
- Be sure to check the weight and height specifications for your specific seat.
- Although, convertible car seats, on average, will hold your child from 5-65 pounds and include a 5-point harness and tether.
I recommend keeping your child in a convertible seat vs. a combination harness to booster seat (i.e. the next seat up) as long as they fit, because convertibles typically offer more head protection and their rounded (concave) structure tends to provide additional impact protection.
**This is the seat your child will probably be in the longest! It is worth doing your homework to find the seat that best fits your vehicle, lifestyle, and budget!
Can a 6 year old sit in a backless booster seat?
Backless booster seat requirements – While high back booster seats are the more secure of the two, backless booster seats tend to be smaller and lighter, making them easier to travel with. They can also accommodate a greater range of heights and weights, meaning a child can use a backless booster seat for a longer period of time without parents having to buy a new one.
But they don’t come with head supports—so if your car doesn’t offer headrests or if the back of the seat isn’t high enough to reach your child’s ears (thereby protecting the bottom of the skull), this isn’t the best type of booster seat for your child. Here are the general requirements for backless booster seats: • Backless booster seat age requirements: From the time kids surpass the weight or height limits allowed by their car seat to about 8 to 12 years of age (depending on the child’s size).
• Backless booster seat weight requirements: From the time kids hit the weight max on their car seat to the time the adult seat belt fits them without the aid of a booster. (More on this below.) • Backless booster seat height requirements: Kids should continue using the booster seat until they’re at least four feet, nine inches, according to AAA,
Are backless boosters safe?
While high-backs are the safest choice, backless boosters are still much safer than no booster at all, and we can see some legitimate reasons parents might choose a no-back model. For one thing, backless boosters are generally less expensive, some costing as little as $14.
What is the difference between a high back booster and backless booster?
(+) Backless Booster Pros – 
One of the biggest pros of a backless booster seat is a better fit for children that are older or tall for their age, A backless booster gives you a few more inches to play with in terms of head space. They’re designed so that your child can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat, which can help in terms of legroom and comfort.
Many of today’s backless models also have seat belt guides just like high back models. Tip: Backless boosters often have a higher weight minimum than high back models, so double check the weight limits before you commit to one. Backless booster seats are also lighter, which means they are great for families that switch cars often or those who have to rearrange seats to accommodate extra passengers or to separate rowdy children.They also appear more grown up for school-age children who don’t want to be seen in a “baby” seat.
Tip: Check the fit if you have low seat backs in your car. If your child’s ears are higher than the seat back, keep him in a high back model to prevent whiplash injuries. Finally, backless booster seats are cheaper than high-back boosters. You can sometimes get them for under $20.
Do booster seats need to be anchored?
Booster Seat Safety – If you are using a front-facing car seat that converts to a booster, you can anchor it to the seat using the LATCH system. You cannot attach it using the seat belt since your child will be using the belt. If your car is not equipped with LATCH, check your car seat instruction manual or the manufacturer’s website.
- They should have instructions on how to use a booster seat without LATCH.
- A high-backed booster to backless booster may have tethers to clip it to the LATCH anchors in your car.
- This is not necessary for using the booster seat, but it might be convenient to have your booster seat held in one place.
- If you’re not using LATCH, you can set the booster in the seat where your child will sit.
To use the belt positioner on a high-backed booster, adjust the headrest to the proper height. Check the instruction manual or manufacturer’s website for specific details. Once the headrest is adjusted, you can slide the seat belt through the belt positioner.
Can a 6 year old sit in a backless booster seat?
Backless booster seat requirements – While high back booster seats are the more secure of the two, backless booster seats tend to be smaller and lighter, making them easier to travel with. They can also accommodate a greater range of heights and weights, meaning a child can use a backless booster seat for a longer period of time without parents having to buy a new one.
But they don’t come with head supports—so if your car doesn’t offer headrests or if the back of the seat isn’t high enough to reach your child’s ears (thereby protecting the bottom of the skull), this isn’t the best type of booster seat for your child. Here are the general requirements for backless booster seats: • Backless booster seat age requirements: From the time kids surpass the weight or height limits allowed by their car seat to about 8 to 12 years of age (depending on the child’s size).
• Backless booster seat weight requirements: From the time kids hit the weight max on their car seat to the time the adult seat belt fits them without the aid of a booster. (More on this below.) • Backless booster seat height requirements: Kids should continue using the booster seat until they’re at least four feet, nine inches, according to AAA,
