As a parent, ensuring your child’s safety is your top priority. One of the most crucial aspects of road safety for children is having a proper car seat. However, car seats come in various types and can be complex to understand. Here is a guide on how to position your child in your car, use their car seat harness, and the types of car seats available to help you choose the best one.
Which Way Should Children Face in a Car?
Children should travel rear-facing for as long as possible because when seated forward-facing, the child’s body is pushed out of the seat, leading to most forces being placed on the neck since the head goes forward with great force. This position also increases the risk of injury from your child hitting the seats in front of them.
When seated in a rear-facing car seat, the seat shell works like a protective barrier, absorbing the impact energy and spreading the forces of the impact over the child’s head, back, and neck. This significantly reduces the strain on your child’s neck. If you’re interested in buying a car seat for your child, you can check Diono car seats.
What Is a Car Seat Harness and How Do You Use It?
A car seat harness is installed for child safety in a crash. It keeps your child securely positioned and distributes the impact forces across their hips and chest, which are the strongest parts of their body, which helps minimize injuries. Keep your child in a 5-point harness until they reach their car seat’s height or weight limit, as it provides more excellent protection than using a seat belt with a booster seat.
It’s essential to adjust the harness slots correctly as children grow. For rear-facing car seats, their shoulder straps should be positioned at or below the shoulders, whereas they should be at the shoulders or slightly above them for forward-facing seats.
Ensure your child’s car seat harness is secure with the Pinch Test. Buckle and tighten the harness, then pinch the webbing at the shoulder. A snug harness won’t allow you to pinch any material. If you can pinch the webbing, tighten the harness until it passes the test.
Types of Car Seats
Car seats come in many types and usually differ in weight limits, modes, portability, and features. Here are the four most common car seats.
1. Infant Car Seats
Infant car seats are rear-facing only and suitable for newborns up to two years old. They can be secured with a base for easy car transfers and work as carriers. While the lifespan varies depending on the child, it is usually required for six to 24 months. Note that premature babies might require a car bed before transitioning to an infant car seat.
2. Convertible Car Seats
Convertible car seats are long-lasting and usable from infancy until your child’s outgrowing car seats. They offer both rear-facing and forward-facing positions. However, they need more portability and can’t be used as carriers, making them bulkier and less convenient for some parents, especially newborns.
3. 3-in-1 seat
All-in-one car seats offer extended use from infancy to childhood and are usually the most expensive car seat option. They function as rear-facing infant seats, forward-facing toddler seats, and booster seats, potentially eliminating the need for multiple car seats.
They’re long-lasting, so they can act as the only car seat your child needs until they outgrow boosters entirely. This is because they allow mode transitions to forward-facing and booster modes, with some offering backless booster options for older kids. Additionally, they’re safe as they allow extended rear-facing for toddlers, which is the safest position.
However, they are not portable as they’re not designed to be removed from the car for carrying infants and cannot be used with stroller systems like infant car seats. Their installation can also be complicated due to switching between harness and booster modes.
4. Booster Seat
Transition to a booster seat after your child outgrows their car seat harness. Booster seats are forward-facing only, typically suitable for children weighing 30 to 40 pounds or more. They last until your child no longer needs a car seat. Unlike infant car seats, booster seats might have their harness or utilize the car’s seat belt.
Ensure the car’s lap and shoulder belts fit correctly over the booster seat. The shoulder strap should rest on the chest and shoulder, not the neck or face. The lap belt should sit low on the hips, not the stomach. If your child repositions the shoulder belt behind their back, it indicates an improper fit.
Always perform the Seat Belt Fit Test in any car your child rides in. Once your child outgrows their booster seat and passes the test, they can use the car’s seat belt alone. However, if the regular seat belt doesn’t fit them securely, continue using the booster seat for optimal safety.
Endnote
Car seats are essential to your child’s car safety. Rear-facing seats provide the best protection, absorbing impact energy and reducing neck strain and injuries. Use a five-point harness until your child outgrows it, adjusting the straps as they grow. Car seat types include infant, convertibles, all-in-one, and booster seats.