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Car Seats by Age Car seats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each one is designed to protect children according to their age. Children should use their car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer. After that, they can utilize a booster until the belts of their vehicle fit properly and they're usually between 10 and 12 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall. If you are looking for a new chair, consider features such as fabrics that are resistant to staining and pieces that can easily be machine-washed. Hardware that is easy to clean should also be considered. Rear-facing Rear-facing car seats cradle infants and toddlers to protect their necks and spines from injury in a crash. They are also safer, because they spread the force of impact over a greater area. This limits spinal cord injuries. Parents are often enticed by the thought of moving their children to a forward-facing seat before they're ready. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep them in rear-facing for as long as you can. The manufacturer will tell you when your child is ready to transition forward. Children's head are large in relation to their bodies and growing. This makes them vulnerable to injury in a crash. In reality children's heads can generate up to 25 times the force of their body weight in a collision — enough to cause fatal injury. This is why children who are in a car seat facing towards the front are at the highest risk of fatal head injuries. Many parents think that their kiddos have bigger necks than their older children, meaning they can handle the transition to an forward-facing car seat faster. But it's important to remember that a baby who is 95th percentile isn't any stronger than 5th percentile kids, and no amount of push-ups for teens can alter the fact that. In the event of a crash the head of a child with a bigger size will likely be hit with more force. This can result in injuries to the spinal cord and brain. If your child is outgrowing their infant car seat, you can switch to a convertible car that allows them stay rear-facing up until they reach their maximum weight or the height limit. Generally, children will reach the height limit first and therefore it is important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your car seat on when to change to forward-facing mode. When your child reaches the weight limit or height of their convertible car seat, you'll have to get them into a booster seat. Most booster seats have an integrated angle indicator that informs you that the seat is installed and is ready to switch to face forward. You should only use a booster seat in the back of your vehicle and always with a lap belt (never a shoulder belt) to ensure the most secure protection for your child in a crash. Forward-facing Many parents are enticed by the idea of turn their babies' car seats around when they grow older, because it seems more practical. However, they should remember that rear-facing is safer for children. Having a baby face forward in a car seat puts their necks at risk in a crash because the head can be thrown against the front seat and can cause permanent injury to the spine. Whiplash can happen even in the event that the neck muscles of the child are strong. This is especially true for younger children, such as infants. A child who is facing forward is more likely to hit their head on the dashboard or on the window during an accident. Depending on the nature of the crash and speed at which the car is moving, the head can be pushed back against the seat and could fracture the skull or spinal cord. The current safety standards require that children remain rear-facing until they reach both 20 pounds and one year old age. This is because children younger than one year do not have the neck strength to withstand the forces in a head-on collision, which is the most serious kind of accident in which cars are involved. The harness and tether will help keep the child's head in place which reduces neck strain. In addition the rear-facing child is less likely to suffer head injuries due to the fact that the impact is cushioned by body of the seat. If you have a child younger than one year old and is in a convertible seat or an all-in-one that can be turned from facing forward to rear at any point, make sure you read the instructions given by the manufacturer to determine when it's safe to face forward. The manufacturer's guidelines will tell whether or the need for a tether exists and what the maximum weight and height is for the particular seat. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat limit They can now be in a forward-facing car seat with tether and harness until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. Once they've outgrown it you can now take them on a trip with a booster. Seat booster There isn't a set age or height at which children can safely stop using a booster seat. Kids should use one until the vehicle belt fits them correctly, and that can happen anytime between age 8 and 13. A booster can increase the height of a child to ensure that they can sit comfortably upright in cars. The shoulder part of a belt must be positioned so that it is close to the chest, but not directly above. The lap portion of the belt must rest across the thighs, not on the stomach. Booster seats have a built-in belt guide to help ensure the belt is positioned correctly. best car seats for infants can be bought with or without a rearrest. The most popular model is a high-back booster which offers neck and head support for children. It's a good choice for vehicles with low seat backs and no head rests. Backless boosters are less expensive, but they don't provide head or neck support. Some all-in one boosters allow you to switch between boost and harness modes. They are suitable for children up to 65 pounds in harness mode, and up to 100 pounds as boosters. Some boosters are equipped with lower anchors (LATCH) system that hooks onto the lower anchors of the vehicle and a tether in the event that one is available. Some boosters require the seat belt to keep them in place. Check your vehicle's manual to determine if you're able to use the lower anchors in your car, and also read the instructions for booster seats to learn how to utilize them. Parents may be enticed to transfer their 30-pound 3-year-old child to an adult car seat since the child is becoming too tall for a harness seat. But hurrying to “graduate” your child from the harness is risky. If the belt is not secure enough, children can be seriously injured or even die in a collision. Back seat Every child should use the child safety or booster seat correctly installed as long as they can. Children who are too large for a rear-facing car seat, or have outgrown the weight and height limits should move to a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until they are too tall for this type of seat. After your baby outgrows an infant car seat, they can be transferred to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that also has a rear-facing position. These seats typically last for two years, or until the child is at the maximum height and weight of the seat. Install the car safety seat on the middle of your vehicle. It can be securely fastened with the lower anchor system and seat belt. When your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat and is tall enough, they can be put in a front-facing child restraint fitted with a harness and tether. These seats are generally used until your child reaches the height of 57 inches or reaches the maximum weight and height recommendations for the seat. You can find out how tall and heavy the car seat is by studying the instructions of the manufacturer, or by looking at a tag attached to it. If possible the older children should use a booster seat or lap belt. If they aren't able to, they should use the middle back seat restraint. Also, they should not sit in front when the airbag is active. Placing children in the front seat could increase the risk of being injured during an accident, as the impact forces are greater on their smaller bodies. You can bring your child to an inspection station or car seat clinic to get help choosing and installing the right child safety seat. They can also check whether your car seat has been recalled due to defects or safety issues. Then, you can buy one that is compatible with your vehicle and your child's size. If you are unable to test a seat, find out if the seat has a policy for refunds.