A Guide to Child Car Seats

One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle.  Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes.  Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe.  But with so many different car safety seats on the market, it's no wonder many parents find this overwhelming

The type of seat your child needs depends on several things including age, size, and type of vehicle.  To be sure your child is using the most appropriate seat, read on.

	Infants - Infant-only and rear-facing convertible. All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds.
	Toddlers Preschoolers - Convertible, combination, and forward-facing. Children 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing. It is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible.
	School-aged children - Booster. Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats.  Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age).
	Older children - Seat belts. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age).

The right car safety seat in more detail:

Infants-rear-facing

There are 2 types of rear-facing car safety seats: infant-only seats and convertible seats.
 

Infant-only seats Are small and have carrying handles (and sometimes come as part of a     stroller system). Are used for infants up to 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the model. Many come with a base that can be left in the car.  The seat clicks into and out of the base so you don't have to install the base each time you use it.  Parents can even buy more than one base for additional vehicles.

Convertible seats (used rear-facing) Can be used rear-facing then 'converted' to forward-facing for older children.  This means the seat can be used longer by your child.  They are bulkier than infant seats, however, and do not come with carrying handles or a separate base. Have higher rear-facing weight and height limits than infant-only seats, which makes them ideal for bigger babies. Have the following types of harnesses: point harness - attach at the shoulders, hips, and between the leg Overhead shield - a padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child T-shield - a padded t-shaped or triangle-shaped shield attached to the shoulder straps

Toddlers and preschoolers-forward-facing

There are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used forward-facing.
 

Convertible seats seats that 'convert' from rear-facing to forward-facing seats.

Forward-facing toddler seats these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model).

Combination forward-facing/booster seats these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without the harness as a booster (up to 80 to 100 pounds).

Built-in seats some vehicles come with forward-facing seats built in.  Weight and height limits vary.  Read your vehicle owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for details about how to use these seats.

Travel vests these can be worn by children between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative to traditional forward-facing seats.  They are also useful for when a vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear.

School-aged children-booster seats

Booster seats are designed to raise the child up so that the lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly.  High-back and backless booster seats are available.  They do not come with harness straps but are used with the lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult rides.  Booster seats should be used until your child can correctly fit in lap and shoulder seat belts.
 

Booster seats Are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. A child has outgrown his forward-facing seat when one of the following is true: They reach the top weight or height allowed for their seat with a harness. (These limits are listed on the seat and are also included in the instruction booklet.) Their shoulders are above the top harness slots. Their ears have reached the top of the seat.

Older children-seat belts

 

Seat belts Seat belts are made for adults.  Your child should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age).  This means; The shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat. The lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly. Your child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her knees bent without slouching and can stay in this position comfortably throughout the trip.

Other points to keep in mind when using seat belts include
 

Make sure your child does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her back.  This leaves the upper body unprotected, putting your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden braking.

Never allow anyone to 'share' seat belts.  All passengers must have their own car safety seats or seat belts.

Always read and follow manufacturer's instructions.

If you do not have the manufacturer's instructions for your car safety seat, write or call the company's customer service department.  They will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture.  The manufacturer's address and phone number are on the label on the seat.  Also be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner's manual about using car safety seats.