Installation tips for forward-facing seats Always read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat. To switch a convertible or all-in-one seat from rear-facing to forward-facing: Move the harness shoulder straps to the slots or position that is at or just above your child's shoulders.
Check the instructions that came with the seat to be sure you are positioning the shoulder straps correctly. You may have to adjust the recline angle of the seat so that it sits more upright in your vehicle. Check the instructions to be sure. If using a seat belt, make sure it runs through the forward-facing belt path be sure to follow car safety seat instructions and that the seat belt is locked and tightened.
Many car safety seats have an integrated lock-off to keep the seat belt locked. If using the lower anchors, make sure that the weight of your child plus the weight of the seat does not exceed 65 pounds. Most seats now state in the manual and on the stickers on the side the maximum child weight to use the anchors. If the child weighs too much, caregivers must use the seat belt to install. Always use the tether when you can.
A tether is a strap that is attached to the top part of a car safety seat and holds the seat tightly by connecting to an anchor point in your vehicle often on the seat back or rear shelf; see your vehicle owner's manual to find where tether anchors are in your vehicle.
Tethers give important extra protection by keeping the car safety seat and your child's head from moving too far forward in a crash or sudden stop. All new cars, minivans, and light trucks are required to have tether anchors as of September Forward-facing seats come with tether straps.
A tether should always be used as long as your child has not reached the top weight limit for the tether anchor. If absolutely necessary, a child in a forward-facing seat with a harness may be the best choice to ride in front.
Just be sure the vehicle seat is moved as far back away from the dashboard and airbag as possible. As a general guideline, a child has outgrown a forward-facing seat when any of the following situations is true: He reaches the top weight or height allowed for his seat with a harness.
These limits are listed on the seat and in the instruction manual. His shoulders are above the top harness slots. Types of booster seats High-back and backless are 2 standard types of booster seats. Watch the video: How to Use a Booster Seat If your booster seat has lower anchors or tether attachments, check its manual for installation instructions. What is the difference between high-back boosters and backless boosters? High-back boosters should be used in vehicles without headrests or with low seat backs.
Many seats that look like high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for smaller children and, later, removed for older children. Backless boosters are usually less expensive and are easier to move from one vehicle to another. Backless boosters can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.
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 over the edge of the seat without slouching and can comfortably stay in this position throughout the trip. This leaves the upper body unprotected and adds extra slack to the seat belt system, putting your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden braking.
All passengers must have their own car safety seats or seat belts. Common question I've seen products that say they can help make the seat belt fit better.
Should we get one of these? No, these products are unapproved and should not be used. They may actually interfere with proper seat belt fit by causing the lap belt to ride too high on the stomach or making the shoulder belt too loose. They can even damage the seat belt. This rule applies to car safety seats too; do not use extra products unless they came with the seat or are specifically approved by the seat manufacturer. These products are not covered by any federal safety standards, and the AAP does not recommend they be used.
As long as children are riding in the correct restraint for their size, they should not need to use additional devices. A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use. Look on the label for the date the seat was made. Check with the manufacturer to find out how long it recommends using the seat. Has any visible cracks on it. Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number.
Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled. Does not come with instructions. You need them to know how to use the seat. Instructions can be found on manufacturer websites or by contacting the manufacturer. Is missing parts. Used car safety seats often come without important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.
Was recalled. Do not use seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash. Seats that were in a minor crash may still be safe to use, but some car safety seat manufacturers recommend replacing the seat after any crash, even a minor one. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all the following situations are true: The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged. No one in the vehicle was injured. The airbags did not go off. You can't see any damage to the car safety seat.
If you have specific questions about the car seat, contact the manufacturer. About carpooling If your child is being driven by someone else, make sure: The car safety seat your child will be using fits properly in the vehicle used for transport. The car safety seat being used is appropriate for the age and size of your child. The person in charge of transporting your child knows how to install and use the car safety seat correctly. When your child is forward-facing, the harness slots should be at or above the child's shoulders.
When the shoulders are above the top slots, it's time to change seats. A forward-facing car seat is also outgrown by height when the tops of the child's ears reach the top of the car seat shell, unless the manufacturer states otherwise in the instructions. When checking the weight limits of the car seat, and be sure you're looking at the forward-facing harness weight limit, not the booster weight limit if it is a harness-to-booster seat. There are many harness-to-booster car seats available today with a higher harness limit that later become booster seats if you're concerned about buying another car seat and then a booster.
Look for a car seat with a higher harnessed weight limit and a higher top shoulder strap height. This will allow the seat to be used longer in car seat mode and likely, but not always, in booster mode too.
The range of car seats available today means no family should struggle to find even a budget model that allows their child to remain safely harnessed to a minimum of age five, and most likely far beyond that.
Still not sure if your toddler is riding safely in the car? Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car seats and booster seats. American Academy of Pediatrics. Car seats: information for families. Updated July 14, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
Booster seats. The University of Michigan C. Mott Children's Hospital. Car seat safety. Cincinnati Children's Buckle Up for Life. Is your child ready for a booster seat? Choosing the best car seat. Get in the habit of always checking the back seat before locking the car door, even if you know no one is in there.
You can also try techniques such as always placing your bag, phone or wallet in the back seat of the car when you drive. For more information and tips see Look Before You Lock.
What do you suggest? Any car restraint that complies with the Australian safety standards meets minimum safety requirements and is safe to use — you do not need to rely on additional safety ratings, expensive brands or marketed safety features. What is important is that the car seat is installed correctly in your vehicle, and that your child is appropriately restrained in a car seat that is most suitable for their height.
What should I do? Any child, no matter their age, should be cm or taller and pass the five-step safety test before moving into an adult seat with a lap-sash seat belt. Take the time to discuss with your child why it is important that they stay in a booster seat, and try not to put convenience above safety.
Can I use the integrated booster seat that is built into my car, or is it safer to buy a separate booster seat or booster cushion that needs to be installed? The law in Victoria allows children four years or older to use integrated booster seats. While integrated booster seats have potential benefits of not relying on the correct installation by a parent or fitter, they also have potential risks due to lack of back support or head protection.
The RCH recommends using either a booster seat or integrated booster seat until a child reaches cm and passes the five-step safety test.
Booster cushions are not recommended as they do not offer back support and cannot be anchored to the car. Booster cushions are no longer manufactured in Australia, and while they are legal to use, they offer less protection. Check with relevant regulatory bodies for specific car seat safety laws in your state. What about when in a rideshare service like Uber? In all Australian states and territories except New South Wales, children can travel in a taxi without a child restraint.
Babies aged under 12 months must travel in the backseat, be held by an adult, but not share the seatbelt. Children aged one to seven years must sit in the backseat and should use a seatbelt. Who should be in a booster seat? High back booster. Backless booster. Did you know? Booster seats are the safest choice for children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats. Using a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly provides the safest ride. All children under the age of 13 are safest riding in the back seat.
Current as of: July 3, Home About MyHealth.
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