Child Booster Seats for Cars

 Safety seats are designed for small children to be protected in vehicles in case there is an accident. Regular seat belts will not secure their tiny bodies as well as they do adults. Therefore, child booster seats for cars are highly recommended for many kids ages 3 to 6. They are best used for children who are too big for infant and toddler seats but are not big enough to be protected by the vehicle's safety restraints alone. The following article will discuss whether or not your child needs to ride in a booster seat and how important that can be for safe traveling. It is a given that newborns, babies, and toddlers need a special seat to keep them safe while riding in a car. However, some parents place their child in a regular automobile seat too quickly. Booster seats are designed for older children who do not meet the weight or height requirements to sit in the seat of the car. Many wish to remove all special seats around 3 to 4 years of age, but based on their size, some still need the additional seat until they are 6 to 7 years old. Age isn't really a requirement, as it is their height that counts. There are different laws for each state, but the average height is 4 foot, 9 inches, and the average weight is 80 lbs for a child to ride in a regular car seat. Any child who is smaller should be in child booster seats for cars. If not, the driver of the vehicle can be ticketed if pulled over by a police officer. Many parents say they wouldn't still have their older kids in booster seats if they were not required to by law, but they do not realize how much safer these seats can be for their smaller children. It has been said that booster seats can reduce injuries sustained by children in automobile accidents by up to 45%. These seats assist the child by raising them up just a bit so the shoulder section of the seat belt fits properly. When the belt is ill fitting, the upper body is more likely to be thrown forward during an accident. This leads to an increase of head injuries. The lap belt can also cause more damage when not worn at the right place. Internal injuries from the belt can result if a wreck were to occur. As you can see,  child booster seats for cars are very important in keeping your child safe. Just because he is too big for an infant or toddler seat doesn't mean he's ready to sit in a vehicle seat alone. If he does not meet your state's requirements for height and weight, he needs to be in a booster seat. It may not be the coolest thing for a child in elementary school, but it will keep him more secure in the event of a car crash.

Booster Seats For Older Children

If you have ever watch a child in a car, that is too small for a regular shoulder seat belt, they will almost always pull it off their shoulder and place it behind them. It is never tight enough to hold them in case of an accident and isn't doing much good. This is why booster seats were designed. The problem is that just because your child is to big for his forward facing safety car seat, he is still not quite tall enough for the lap and shoulder belts to fit him. They weren't made to. Your child should ride in booster car seats until his ears can reach the top of the seat. This is usually about 4' 9" in height and between ages 8 and 12 years. of age. A booster car seat are made to lift the child up, so that the regular seat belts will lay correctly on your child and hold them tightly. Booster Seats For School Aged Children Booster seats are to be used for older children who have outgrown their regular forward-facing car safety seats. There are ways that you can tell whether your child has out grown his car seat and is ready for a booster seat. He has grown tall enough or has reached the weight limit for a harness. Your manual for your car seat will specify what those limits are.When your childs shoulders are above the very top slots of their car seat. The shoulder straps should be at or above her shoulders. There are two kinds of booster seats, which are High-back and backless booster seats. They do not come with harness straps, booster seats are to be used with the lap and shoulder belts in your car. They usually come with a plastic clip or guide to help you correctly use them. Make sure to read the manual for directions on how to install them properly.Installation Tips1. You must always use a lap and shoulder belt with your booster car seat. It is not safe to use them with only lap belt.2. When using a booster seat, the lap belt should lie low and snug across your child's upper legs.3. The shoulder belt should cross in the middle of your child's chest.WarningIf your car does not have shoulder belts, do not use booster car seats. You will need to use a forward facing car seat. Another option is a travel vest. Some of them can be use with only lap belts. You must check the manual on each one, as they are all different.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 a seat belt. Do not use safety car seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash.No one seat is the best or the safest. The best child safety seat is the one that fits your child’s age and size. It needs to be correctly installed, fit well in your vehicle, and be used properly every time you drive.
               

10 Ways to Reduce Car Seat Safety Common Car Seat Errors

Car seat safety ideas and rules are constantly changing to put crash data to better use. These car seat safety ideas are designed to provide the best protection for your baby in case of a crash, but the constant changes can be confusing for parents. Confusion often leads to car seat safety errors. Take a look at these ten common car seat safety mistakes, then learn how to fix them so baby is as safe as possible in the car.

 

1. Don't Use a Car Seat At All

Just because most of today's adult generation rode around without car seats and lived doesn't mean this is the best car seat safety practice now. Crash data has shown us that car seats work. A car seat's primary function is to prevent ejection from the vehicle, and preventing ejection makes death in a car crash 4 times less likely. Add that to the reduction in injuries when car seats are used, and you have good reason to blow off the old-fashioned "no car seat" advice.

2. Throw Away Car Seat Instructions

That car seat instruction book is useless, right? Wrong. The instruction book tells you nearly everything you can or can't do to use the car seat safely. From where to place the harness height adjuster to when to use the top tether strap and where to place the car seat when installing with LATCH, the instruction book is a wealth of car seat information. If you've lost it, call the manufacturer for a new one, look it up online or check the basic instructions on the car seat's side label.

3. Take Bad Car Seat Advice

Unfortunately a lot of car seat advice is outdated and dangerous. Parents report bad car seat advice from friends, pediatricians and police officers, because the advice-givers often don't have current information. When someone says you must turn your baby forward-facing at 20 pounds, or that thick towels are great under harness straps, check the advice with a certified child passenger safety technician to be sure you're getting car seat advice from a trained, qualified source.

4. Pick the Car Seat with the Prettiest Pattern

It's nice if your car seat cover matches your car's interior, but the real key to car seat safety is finding a car seat that matches your car and your baby. Reputable baby products stores should let you test the car seat in your vehicle before buying, or let you return it if it doesn't work with your car. If you can't easily install the car seat so that there is less than one inch of wiggle at the belt path, find a new car seat.

5. Don't Install the Seat Correctly

You need to install baby's car seat so there is less than an inch of wiggle at the seat belt path, and so that the recline angle is correct if the seat is rear-facing. You also must learn to lock your seatbelts to keep the car seat installed tightly, and you must be sure that at least 80 percent of the car seat's base is on the vehicle seat. A certified child passenger safety technician, car seat instruction book, and your vehicle owner's manual are the best resources for installation help.

6. Throw the Whole Car Seat In the Washer

Car seats are specially designed with fabrics and plastics that can withstand crash forces. Once you douse the harness straps in bleach and iron them on high, they may not react the same way when baby really needs them. Buckles and other moving parts also can be damaged by soaking or rough cleaning. Babies can make incredibly gross messes in their car seats, but be sure to check the instructions or call the manufacturer for help before cleaning the car seat.

7. Buy All of the Car Seat Accessories

Car seat accessories packages are sneaky, claiming to meet all federal car seat safety standards. The problem is that there are no standards for these car seat add-ons. Federal standards govern only the car seats and LATCH systems. Car seat safety experts say toy bars, neck rolls, fabric covers, seat belt ratchets and other after-market accessories should not be used. If it didn't come with your car seat, leave it off. Manufacturers often void the car seat warranty if extras are used, too.

8. Don't Use All of the Car Seat Parts

Sometimes you have to re-thread the harness straps or take off the car seat cover. Getting the whole car seat put back together properly is a challenge, but it's important to get all of the parts back into the car seat correctly without leaving a spare parts pile. I've seen car seats used without chest clips and overhead shields, and with duct tape or bungee cords where other parts should be. Always use your car seat according to manufacturer's instructions. Ask for help if you're stuck

9. Ignore the Height and Weight Limits for Baby's Car Seat

Most parents end up buying several car seats as baby grows, especially if baby starts out in a rear-facing-only infant car seat. With many states now requiring boosters to age 6 or 8, one car seat just won't do. Watch the height and weight limits for baby's car seat. Babies that are too tall or too heavy for their car seat are not adequately protected in a crash. Harness straps can pull through the seat if baby is too heavy, and baby's head won't have impact protection if he or she is too tall.

10. Use the Oldest, Cheapest Yard Sale Car Seat You Can Find

Lots of people try to recoup their car seat cost by selling the car seat at a yard sale, or they give it to a friend to help out with new baby costs. Most parents aren't aware that car seats have an expiration date, though. Many car seats expire after 5 years, some after 6 years. Check with the manufacturer for details. You should never use a secondhand car seat if you don't know its crash history or recall history. The worst possible choice is buying a used car seat online, sight unseen.

Before You Buy a Baby Car Seat

Parents often ask which of the many car seats is the best car seat on the market. The truth is, the best car seat is the one that fits your vehicle, your budget, your baby and that you will use properly each time your baby rides in the car. Use the following criteria to determine which car seat is the best choice for your baby.

The Safest Car Seat?

All car seats sold in the U.S. must pass the same federal crash tests. Some car seats may have extra features that make them easier to install correctly, such as built-in locking clips or non-twisting straps. Because proper installation is key in car seat safety, these installation helpers may add safety for some people. However, even the cheapest car seat in the store, with no extra features, has passed the basic crash tests and is safe for your baby when installed properly.

Car Seats Must Fit the Baby

Use your baby's height, weight and age to choose the type of car seat to use. Rear-facing-only infant car seats are used through about 20 lbs. Convertible car seats are used rear-facing until baby is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 lbs., and forward-facing through the weight limit listed on the car seat. Height-wise, baby's head should be one inch or more below the top of the car seat when rear-facing. For front-facing seats, the tops of baby's ears should be below the seat top.

Can You Install and Use the Car Seat Easily?

The most expensive, feature-rich car seat is not safe for your baby if you don't take the time to read the directions and install it properly every time it is used. Check the car seat manual to be sure you can install and use the car seat as it is intended. Can you adjust the harness to secure baby in the car seat? Choose a car seat that you will use according to the instructions.

Does the Car Seat Fit Your Vehicle?

With so many vehicle seat styles, from benches to buckets, not all car seats will fit in every vehicle. It is essential to find a car seat that can be installed tightly, with the proper angle and less than an inch of side-to-side wiggle. Most reputable baby products stores will let you take a car seat floor model to your vehicle, possibly with a store employee, to check the fit before purchase. If not, check the return policy to be sure you can return the seat if it doesn't fit the vehicle.

Car Seat Recalls

Most recalled car seats are pulled from store shelves when the recall notice is issued. It's still a good idea to check with the manufacturer to be sure your new car seat is not affected by any recalls. If you have borrowed or purchased a used car seat, checking for recalls is even more important. If you also send in the registration card for a new car seat, you will be quickly notified if your baby's car seat is ever affected by a recall.

Are Used Car Seats Safe?

Steer clear of used car seats if you cannot get an accurate history of the car seat's use. You must know a car seat's crash history to determine safety. Buy used car seats only from people you know well enough to trust their account of the car seat's crash history. Car crashes can cause hidden damage to car seats, and the car seat could fail in a second crash, putting your child at risk of injury. Check to be sure no alterations have been made to used car seats.

Car Seat Accessories

When buying a car seat, bypass all of the car seat accessories and installation aids. If an item didn't come with the car seat, it's not safe to use it with the car seat. After-market car seat products aren't crash-tested with each car seat and could cause injury during a crash. This includes head positioners (unless it came with the car seat) and seat belt ratchets, which aren't needed if you install the car seat properly. Use of after-market products often voids the car seat warranty.

Keep Baby Safe As Long As Possible

The best way to keep baby safe in the car is to use a car seat with the most crash protection for as long as it fits your baby. You don't have to turn baby forward-facing right at one year and 20 pounds. Many seats today offer higher rear-facing weight limits, and this is a good option to choose if possible. Also look for higher forward-facing weight limits on 5-point harness seats, and keep your toddler in a booster seat as long as possible after he or she outgrows a regular car seat.

baby seats crash test

Baby seat crash test video done by ADAC. Child dummies shown in emotional video from different angles.

Booster seat safety how to choose it and use a booster seat

Although many of us have fond memories of rattling around in the back of the family station wagon, what we didn't know then is that riding that way was the number one cause of death for children. And now it's even more dangerous out on the road.

While the number of motor vehicle injuries and deaths has been declining as more people use seat belts and car seats, the number of crashes continues to go up every year because there are more cars than ever on the road — and auto crashes are still the leading cause of death in children over age 3. Making matters worse, kids these days spend a lot more time in cars than they used to.

Luckily, we have seat belts to keep us safe. The problem is, seat belts designed to fit adult bodies don't hold our children securely.

That's where booster seats come in. A booster seat does exactly what the name suggests: It boosts your child up so that your vehicle's lap and shoulder belts restrain her safely. Without a booster seat, an adult seat belt can actually cause injury in the event of a crash rather than preventing it.

If the lap belt rests on your child's tummy (which it's likely to do without a booster), for instance, she could suffer stomach, liver, or spleen damage in a crash. And if the shoulder belt rests against her neck rather than her chest, she may try to move it under her arm (where it could crack her ribs and damage internal organs) or behind her back (where it offers no protection at all against head, neck, and spinal injuries). These considerations are serious enough that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now recommends that all children who've outgrown their car seat continue to ride in a booster seat until they're at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall.

What's more, strapping your child into a booster seat may well be the law in your state. Arkansas, California, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington have all enacted laws that require children under age 6 (or those who weigh less than 60 pounds) to ride in appropriate car or booster seats; New Jersey enacted a law requiring proper restraints for kids under 8 who weigh less than 80 pounds. Safety experts hope that other states will soon follow suit. (To find out exactly what your state requires, go to the National Safe Kids Campaign Web site and click on the state-by-state guide on the right side of the page.)

There's plenty of justification for the increasing calls for booster seats: In 2000, 248,000 kids were injured in car crashes and 1,668 children died. Most of them weren't properly restrained, which means that booster seats could have prevented many of those deaths. And while you may assume that most of these tragedies resulted from fiery highway collisions, the truth is that 75 percent of car accidents happen within 25 miles of home, and 60 percent of them happen on streets where the speed limit is 40 mph or less.

Of course you want your child to travel safely. The trick is to avoid those "we're just going to the grocery store" lapses, says Stephanie Tombrello, executive director of the nonprofit child passenger safety organization SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. "Ask yourself, 'If I were in a crash right now, how would I want my child to be riding?'" Then make sure your child rides this way every day.

Since convenience is obviously a big issue for time-crunched parents, Tombrello recommends coming up with an approach that's simple and consistent, so that it becomes automatic. If your family has two cars, for example, you'll make things much easier on yourself if you pony up for two booster seats and leave one in each car, rather than trying to move one seat back and forth all the time — a step that's likely to fall by the wayside on especially frantic mornings.