When To Switch From Infant Car Seat

When To Stop Using Your Toddler Seat The Latest

Step 1: Check the weight/height limitation of your seat

If your toddler seat is approved to UN R129, you have to stop using your seat once the maximum height of your seat according to its approval is reached. In addition, ISOfix-installed UN R129 seats also have a weight limitation which you can find on your seats approval sticker and/or user manual. It is time to change to another seat once your child has reached one of the two limitations, whichever comes first.

If your toddler seat is approved to ECE R44-04, the seat has a maximum weight which you can find on your seats approval sticker and user manual. Once your child has reached this maximum, you have to change. However, practically you might not always be able to use the seat until the maximum weight as your child can outgrow the seat in height before. Check step 2 for this!

Step 2: Check the shoulder belts and ear-to-headrest level

When the top of childs ears reaches the highest point of the headrest, it is high time to change.

Additionally, check how the shoulder belts are sitting on your childs shoulders and what your seats user manual advises about this. Many manufacturers say that the shoulder belts should not come from below your childs shoulders. So if the shoulder belts are not coming straight onto the shoulders anymore when having the headrest/belts in the highest setting, then its time to change as well.

Whats The Difference Between An Infant Car Seat And A Convertible Seat

Infant car seats, also sometimes called bucket seats, are made specifically for infants and younger babies. An infant seat can be used from birth until your child maxes out either the height or weight limit, usually around one year of age. Infant seats are always rear-facing and click in and out of a base that stays installed in your car.

Convertible car seats can be used with children of various ages and sizes. Convertible seats start in the rear-facing position and switch to forward-facing once your child has outgrown the seats rear-facing height or weight limits. Convertible car seats dont have bases like infant seats instead, they use your vehicles seat belt or LATCH system for installation. Convertible seats are generally large and heavy and arent designed to be moved regularly between vehicles.

When Should You Upgrade Your Child’s Car Seat

When your child is too big for an infant seat. Many rear-facing infant seats have weight limits of 30 pounds or more, but most dont have matching height limits. So dont be surprised if your child outgrows the infant seat long before he or she reaches the weight limit.

Your safest bet is to trade up to a convertible seat, which can face either the front or the back of the car, and continue to have your child face the rear.

When your child hits 1 year old: Based on our most recent recommendations and test results, if your child has reached his or her first birthday and still fits in a rear-facing infant seat, the safest move is to switch to a rear-facing convertible.

Our newest test methodology includes simulating what happens in the event of a crash. In those tests, we found that a 1-year-old child was far more likely to hit his head on the back of the front seat while in a rear-facing infant seat than he would be if he were riding in a rear-facing convertible seat.

When your childs car seat has expired: Many parents dont realize that child car seats carry expiration dates. This is particularly important when you have several children and use the same car seat for each one.

The owners manual or seat label should tell you when the seat was built and when it should no longer be used. The life span is usually six years.

Even if youre trading in for the same type of seat, one with new, undamaged components will provide better protection.

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How Long Are Infant Seats Good For

Infant car seats are good for as long as your child reaches or exceeds these two criteria:

– The maximum height limits of 30-32 inches.

– The maximum weight limit of 30-35 lbs. Considering each infant car seat has a different height or weight limit, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s label on the car seat of your choice. Every car seat, including infant seats, has an expiration date. Usually, manufacturers set the date of expiry to six years. After the expiration date, it’s no longer safe to use the car seat. You can find the expiration date of the seat printed on its shell.

Are Convertible Seats More Convenient Than Infant Seats

The fact that they can be used both forward-facing and rear-facing makes them sound convenient, but they are actually not. Why wouldnât it? Rear-facing convertible car seats actually sound pretty enticing given the fact that they have better longevity.

You see, a seat that is perfect from the starting age of 3 can never be suitable for an infant whoâs only 3 months old. Thatâs because of their height, weight, body structure and fragility. None of these four factors match.

So, even if you get a seat that you can keep your baby there for 7 years and keep it both forward and rear-facing as necessary, you canât actually keep them there because it will be too big for them.

Also, infant seats are convenient in a way that they can be carried anywhere you go. Theyâre lightweight, and the fact that babies are supposed to outgrow them within a year is not necessarily true. You can keep using an infant seat till they reach the age of 2 or 3, depending on how they grow.

So, the real question still persists. Letâs answer that.

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Why Are Car Seats Important

Using a car seat, also called a child safety seat, is the best way to protect your kids when theyre in a car. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death and injury for children. Because car seats save lives, using a car seat is the law in every U.S. state.

But keeping your child safe depends on choosing the right safety seat and using it correctly. The best car seat is the one that fits your childs weight, size, and age, as well as your vehicle.

Here are some things to know so you can pick a seat thats right for your child:

Babies start out in infant-only seats or convertible seats. As they grow, kids switch to forward-facing seats before moving to a booster seat. Heres a rundown of which seat to use when.

Fitting The Child Correctly In The Car Seat

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When Should You Change Car Seats

Nobody wants to think about an accident. But in the event of the unthinkable, car seats are vital for keeping babies and children safe.

In 2017, restraint use saved the lives of 325 children aged 4 and under, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . So its crucial to make sure your backseat rider is in the right seat for her size, and that the seat is in tip-top shape.

So when should you make the move from one seat to the next, and what other car seat change-up scenarios should you be keeping in mind? If any of the following apply to your childs car seat, its time for an upgrade or replacement.

How Do You Know When Its Time To Switch

You may need to switch even if your child has not reached the maximum weight. For optimum safety, youll need to move up to the next car seat stage when the top of your babys head comes up over the seat back. Tip: put your hand on the top of the back-seat, does the top of your babys head touch your hand? Time to move up to a new car seat!

Dont be tempted to switch to a forward-facing car seat too soon. At Maxi-Cosi, we recommend that your child continues to travel in a safe rearward-facing position for as long as possible or at least up to 15 months.

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When To Stop Using A Booster Seat

Step 1: Check the weight/height limitation of your seat

If your booster seat is approved to ECE R44-04, you have to stop using your seat once the maximum weight has been reached, which is 36 kg based on the regulation.If your booster seat is approved to UN R129, you have to stop using the seat once the maximum height has been reached, which is 150 cm based on the regulation.

Step 2: Check your national laws

Each country has different regulations in their national laws for how long a child must use a child car seat. In most countries, the minimum is 135 cm or the age of 12.

Step 3: Check how your child sits in the car without a child car seat

In addition to step 1 and 2, you can do the 5-point check to see if your childs body would be ready to sit in your car without a child car seat. If one of these 5 points is not reached yet, your child should still sit in a booster seat:

Making The Right Choice

To remember these tell-tale signs that signal your baby has already started outgrowing their car seat, just pay attention to the height and weight of your child whenever theyre snuggled and buckled in the seat. Remember: the first step in making your car seat journey safer and better begins with making informed decisions!

If you’re in the market for car seats for your children, or if you simply want to know more about child passenger safety, then give us a at Taxi Baby Co.! We put and keep your child’s safety as our top priority. Our team would be happy to help with whatever you and your child need to keep family travel convenient and stress-free.

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My 20 Month Old Is Too Big For Rear

Imagine its November and your 20-month-old has outgrown all of their winter clothes from last year. Would you not buy them new winter clothes because it will be warmer in four months? Of course you would buy them the clothes! The same should go for the car seat!

The car seat is one of the only products you will ever buy for your child that has the potential to save their life! Just like your child needs new clothes frequently, they may need a new car seat sooner than you thought. If you are in a crash, you will be relieved knowing that you gave them the best protection possible.

When Is It Time To Switch From A Convertible Car Seat To A Booster Seat

Some convertible car seats can be converted to a booster seat, and others can only be converted to a booster seat. Convertible car seats that can be converted to a booster seat should be used until a child is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, or the childs height has increased by at least two inches since the child was last measured in a car seat.

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Use This Guide To Learn When And How To Graduate From Your Infant Carrier To Get Started Let’s Take A Look At The Differences And Benefits Of Infant Carriers And Convertible Car Seats

While convertible car seats are suitable for new-born passengers, its common practice for parents to choose an infant carrier for those very first journeys. Many make the choice because of convenience an infant carrier attaches to the vehicle via a base that stays installed all the time. The carrier simply clicks in and out of the base while baby stays harnessed in the carrier. Many infant carriers are also part of a travel system which includes a stroller.

In comparison, a convertible car seat stays installed in the car while baby is buckled in and out of the harness when the car ride begins and ends. This is a great option if you want to baby wear and it can save you money over time because you can start with a convertible car seat and skip the infant carrier. If you decide to start with an infant carrier, its important to remember that they have height and weight limits and expiration dates just like convertible car seats. But how do you know what they are?

The answer will be found in your car seat manual, which should be read and understood before using your car seat. Whether its your first or fifth, car seats are often updated and reengineered, meaning their usage limits may have changed since you last checked.

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I Already Turned My Kid Forward

Yes! When we know better, we must do better. A few months ago when you turned her forward facing you did what you thought was best, but now you know differently. Avoid regrets, and give your child the best protection.

Many parents worry that it will be a disaster turning an older child back rear-facing. Here is one moms experience turning her almost-3-year-old son back rear-facing:

I was initially very hesitant to move my almost three year old son to rear facing from forward facing. He has been sitting forward facing for over a year and can be strong willed when it comes to change. However, after hearing how much safer it is I was willing to try. The first three or so drives were very difficult as he asked to look out mama and dadas window almost the entire time. We ignored and distracted and I was about to give up when I noticed that although he still complained about sitting rear facing it happened less and less. Now he asks maybe once every other drive if he can sit forward facing and was even fine the other day when his friend joined us and sat forward facing. It was a tough first few drives, but I am very happy we did it and I feel so much safer.

When To Switch From Infant Car Seat Dont Be In A Hurry

The baby car seats of well-reputed Brands are flexible and can accommodate your child even they grow to 4 years of age.

So the only thing that you have to know is when to switch from infant car seat, the rest will be done by the manufacturing companies.

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