Child Car Seats: Everything You Need to Know from Newborn On
Child car seats are used to keep your child safe whenever you’re operating a moving vehicle. What type of car seat does your child need? When should you move them to another car seat? What should you look for in a car seat?
All of the questions that you may have are going to be answered in the guide. Continue reading for everything you need to know when it comes to your child’s car seat.
Do You Need a Car Seat?
The simple answer to this question is yes, your child does need a car seat. According to the law in most states, if your child is under a specific age, they will need to ride in a car seat to ensure their protection.
You’ll need to ensure that you look up the specific laws of your state to ensure that you’re abiding by those laws. Children under a certain age are required to be in a seatbelt because their bodies aren’t able to withstand the force that is impacted on a car in the event of an accident.
It’s also to keep them safe because their brains and bones are still developing, and they can be caused severe injury if they aren’t in a car seat. If you’re involved in an accident, the car seat will absorb the majority of the force that the car takes on.
When You No Longer Need a Car Seat
There are specifications on each car seat that detail the height and weight that your child needs to exceed before they can be taken out of the car seat. One way to determine if your child is ready to ride in the car without a car seat is if the seatbelt fits them correctly or not.
A child can stop using a booster seat once they’ve reached at least 5 feet tall and have exceeded 80 pounds. If your child doesn’t meet these basic requirements, then they need to continue using a booster seat of some type.
Types of Restraint Systems
Kids under 8 must use a child restraint system. When using a car seat, you must have a seat that uses some kind of restraint system to keep your child safe. The main types of restraint systems are the 3-point and 5-point harness.
The 3-point harness is a harness that fits over the upper body and keeps them from being propelled forward in an accident. A 5-point harness provides more coverage than a 3-point harness does.
The 5-point harness covers your child’s chest and waist area, which makes it unlikely that they will slip out of the seat.
Child Car Seats Explained
Now that you understand why you need child car seats and when your child can stop using one, all that’s left to do is select the right car seat for your needs. Remember that a car seat is used to keep your child safe at all times, and they should ride in one with a seatbelt until they become old enough to sit in a seat using just the seatbelt.
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