Child Car Seat Stages
Car seats if used correctly can dramatically reduce the risk of death or injury.
Child car seat stages. High back and backless. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for 2 years or more. Children at this stage are not yet ready for adult safety belts and should use belt positioning booster seats until they are at least 49 and between 8 and 12 years old. When a child has outgrown their five point harnessed car seat is at least 5 years old and is mature enough to sit properly they can move to a belt positioning booster seat.
The best practice car seat stages are based upon child restraint systems that have an increased height and weight limit so children can remain rear facing longer and in 5 point harness seat and booster seat longer depending on the height weight limits to keep them safer. When that happens we recommend that parents purchase a convertible or all in one car seat and use it rear facing. Rear face until at least age 2 and until they reach the upper weight and height limits of the seat even up to age 4. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear facing seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer.
In rear facing mode most convertible car seats start around 4 pounds and max out at between 40 and 50 pounds. Most babies outgrow their infant seats before their first birthday. They come equipped with a five point harness for smaller children to wear in the forward facing position but also work with the cars own seat belt system once the child reaches the appropriate weight. There are two types of booster seats.
According to the nhtsa a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the united states every 33 seconds. The right car seat can make all the difference in a crash. Children can use a booster seat when they have outgrown the weight or height limit of their forward facing harnesses which will be between 40 and 65 pounds. High back booster seats offer a bit more side protection and can help remind kiddos to sit properly.
Convertible car seats can be used from birth but are generally the next step following an infant car seat to allow a child to remain rear facing longer in the vehicle says haverstick.