Guidelines to Buy the Right Car Seat for Your Child
This article describes the different types of car seats. The seats differ according to the age and weight of the children. Proper installation and selection of the right car seat will ensure the safety of the children in times of crashes.
The safest way for children traveling in cars is to use special car seats that are specially made and suitable for their size and weight. It is extremely dangerous to hold your child on your lap when traveling in a car. In case of a crash, the child can get crushed in between your body and the car’s interior. During a crash, the unrestrained child traveling in a car at 30 mph is thrown forward with a force of 30 to 60 times its body weight resulting in multiple injuries and loss of life.
The right car seat properly installed can prevent serious injury or death by nearly 71%. The law requires that drivers are responsible for the safety of passengers less than 16 years of age. For transporting children, it is mandatory to ensure that they are properly secured in a child car seat or in a booster seat.
Car Seats for Infants
A rear facing car sear that is properly installed can save your baby’s life in a collision. There are two types, namely rear facing car safety seats and convertible seats.
The infant car seats are meant for babies below 1 year and weigh at least 20 pounds. They come with carrying handles or as part of a stroller system and used for infants up to 30 pounds. Some of them have a base that clicks into and out of the base of the car. Harness straps must be slotted at the baby’s shoulders or below. The harness straps at the collarbone should be so tight that it should not allow more than one finger to fit in it. The chest clip should be flat and rest at the child’s armpit level.
Convertible Seats
These are used as rear facing and then converted to forward facing to suit the growing infants. They do not have carrying handles or bases as they are bulkier than the infant seats. They have higher limits of rear facing weight and height than the infant seats. They also come with 5 point harnesses to be attached to shoulders, between the leg and hips. The overhead shield is padded and swings down to protect the child. The T-Shield is a t-shaped padded shield that is attached to the shoulder straps.
Car Seats for Toddlers
The law stipulates that a child can travel in car facing forward when they weigh above 9 kg. Forward facing car seats must use the tether strap. The tether strap must be installed exactly as recommended by the manufacturer to prevent injury to the child in a collision. It should be properly fastened at or above the child’s shoulders. The straps should fit snugly with one finger width between the child’s chest and the strap.
Car Seats for Children Up to 8 Years Old
Under the law, children who have outgrown a child car seat but are still too small to travel in a regular seat belt must travel in booster seats. Children who turned eight years old or weighing 36 kg or 80 lbs, or 145 cm or 4 feet 9 inches tall can travel in cars using a seat belt alone. The top of the booster supports the child’s head. A combination of lab and shoulder belts is a must in a booster car seat.