Thousands of children below the age of twelve were injured and died annually because of car crashes, and it is so sad to know that these accidents can't be controlled and eliminated even if the driver is a professional or expert driver. But there's still a piece of good news to that, that is, the risks of car accidents can be reduced by using the right or proper child safety car seat.
The child safety care seat now comes in a number of types and forms. They are now marketed throughout the world knowing that a great number of consumers are now demanding for it. So it's no wonder that you can find them even at your neighborhood stores. The problem, however, is that with a myriad of types available for car seats, finding the right one can somehow be puzzling. It is even more puzzling with more and more models coming out in the market. Well, it is for this reason actually that these child car seat safety recommendations are given.
So what are these child car seat safety recommendations?
Note that in this article, I will tackle more on what types of car seat will be best for small children. I have included here certain child car seat safety recommendations for children of ages 1 to 8 years. I have even stressed for these child car seat safety recommendations the car seat types best suited for weights and heights of children. So if you want to know these suggestions, consider the following:
Child Car Seat Safety Recommendation for Newborn and 1 Year Old Children
For the newborn and those who are at the age of 1, it is always best to use a rear-facing infant seat or a convertible seat in the rear-facing position. When installing the car seat, be sure to set the shoulder straps below the child's shoulder level, and to ensure that what you're doing is right, review the manufacturer's instructions or manual thoroughly. This recommendation is also ideal for children up to 20 pounds and 26 inches long.
Child Car Seat Safety Recommendation for Children Age 1 to 4
For children age 1 to 4 or those who are up to 20 to 40 pounds and 26 to 40 inches tall, the use of a forward-facing seat or a convertible seat in the forward-facing position is often recommended. Also, it is best to position the straps at or above the shoulder level and still, for proper installation, it is always best to check and review the instruction manual.
Child Car Seat Safety Recommendation for Children Age 4 to 8
For those who are 40 to 80 pounds and 40 to 57 inches tall, a belt-positioning booster seat or a high-back is the perfect type of car seat to use for ultimate safety. It is best to choose the belt-positioning booster seat that uses the vehicle's lap-shoulder belt. The key here is not to use a shield-type booster seat; but when it comes to installation, a thorough review of the instruction manual is highly recommended.
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If you're plagued with an overwhelming feeling of confusion, believe me, you are not alone. It's confusing, trying to distinguish between actual car seat laws and safety recommendations. Understanding the difference between federal regulated crash tests and self-certifying manufacturer's crash tests. Well, I'm here to help. Let me break it down for you.
Car Seat Laws And Safety Recommendations
Car Seat Laws
First of all, each State has their own set of car seat laws. Most, if not all, require your child to ride in a rear-facing seat until the age of 1, and 20 pounds. Most also require that your child ride in a forward-facing position, with a harness, until they reach the age of 3 or 4. After the age of 4, most states require a booster seat until at least the age of 5, however some require a booster seat until the child is 7 or 8.
Safety Recommendations
Now, as far as recommendations are concerned, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a new list of car seat safety recommendations in March 2011. They basically advise that you keep your child in the rear-facing position for as long as possible. In fact, they recommend keeping your child rear-facing until the age of 3, although most states only require it until the age of 1. From 4 to 7 they recommend a forward-facing position with a child safety harness, although most states only require a harness system through the age of 4. And finally, the NHTSA recommends keeping your child in a booster seat until they can properly fit into your vehicles seat belts, which usually happens around the age of 12. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must fit snugly over your child's thighs, not their stomach, and the shoulder belt must fit snugly across their chest, not their neck or face.
Crash Testing
The NHTSA is also responsible for testing these car seats before they become available to the public. The Federal Government regulates these crash tests, and thus far, the standard for testing is a 30 mile per hour sled test with a bench seat. In other words, they use a sled instead of an actual vehicle, and they only test front impact collisions. However, I believe it's important to note that these test crashes are said to be more severe than 95% of actual real-life crashes.
Since the standard Federal regulations only test for front impact collisions, manufacturers have decided to take it upon themselves to crash test for side-impact collisions. That's why you see side-impact approved safety certifications on some seats. They are not following any federal regulations, they are certifying themselves for the most part. Is this a bad thing? No, I don't think so. As long as it's a well-known manufacturer like Britax or Graco. Parents need that extra reassurance, and when the Government is so short on funding, it's nice to see these manufacturers step up to the plate.
It's important to do your research when choosing a car seat for your little one. For a list of what I feel are some of the safest car seats on the market, visit http://thebestcarseatsreviews.com. From infant car seats, convertible car seats, and child booster seats, this website offers full reviews, including the Good & Bad, as well as video demonstrations and customer feedback.
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