How to Tell When Your Rear Facing Car Seat is Out Grown
Each car seat comes with a weight limit for each stage the car seat can sit (rear facing, forward facing, and booster). Some come with a height limit. You should look in the car seat's manual to see what are the rear facing weight and height limit. Once your child reaches either of these they have out grown the car seat rear facing. A rear facing car seat is also out grown by height when there is less than one inch from the top of your child's head to the top of the car seats shell. Read how to measure this click here.
What Kind of Seats Forward Face
Convertible seats
Convertible seats are car seats that rear face and then can be turned forward facing. Once your child has outgrown this seat rear facing you can flip it around and use it forward facing. These seats normally have a forward facing weight limit of 40lbs- 65lbs.
3 in 1 car seats
Combination seats
Convertible seats
Convertible seats are car seats that rear face and then can be turned forward facing. Once your child has outgrown this seat rear facing you can flip it around and use it forward facing. These seats normally have a forward facing weight limit of 40lbs- 65lbs.
3 in 1s or all in one car seats are car seats that will rear face, forward face, and booster. Although the selling point of only needing one car seat for your child their entire life is a nice tought, its not always a good option. Car seats have a life span or expiration date, and it is dangerous to use the seat after that date. Most of the time this is 6 years. If you use this seat from birth your child will not be ready to be without a seat by age 6. Another reason these seats do not make good seats is that they make poor boosters. Either they position the seat belt incorrectly or they are outgrown in booster mode at the same time they are outgrown by the harness. These seats may work for rear facing or for forward facing but they will likely not work when your child needs to be boostered and you will likely need to buy another seat.
Combination seats
Combination seats are car seats that have a 5 point harness that can be removed and used as a high back booster. These seats harness till 40lbs-90lbs depending on the seat. Some of these seats do have the ability to remove the back and make a backless booster.
Children should remain in a 5 point harness until they are at least 4yrs AND 40lbs according to Louisiana Law. Many combination seats have the ability to keep a child harnessed well past 4yrs AND 40lbs. It is best not to move a child into a booster before the child is ready. Many children are not ready at 4years old. Why?
Remember when shopping for a car seat the best car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. All seats are held to the same federal safety standards (FMSS 213). This makes all seats equally as safe as the next seat, regardless of price. Price is normally based on brand name, ease of use, and extra features such as cup holders, padding, and how easy it is to install. NHTSA has issued an Ease of Use Rating for every car seat. You can search for a seat on their Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings.
Belle was a 3 years old when her family was in a car wreck. Belle was sitting next to her 7 year old sister, both in boosters. Belle's booster failed her because she was too young to be in a booster. Belle was fatally injured while her sister walked away from the wreck. To read more about Belle visit http://isabelle-broadhead.memory-of.com/About.aspx
Here are some videos on Extended Harnessing (extended harnessing (EH) is when a child remains harnessed past their 4th birthday)
Crash test video of a harness dumby vs a boostered dumby
Importance of Extended Harnessing
Children should remain in a 5 point harness until they are at least 4yrs AND 40lbs according to Louisiana Law. Many combination seats have the ability to keep a child harnessed well past 4yrs AND 40lbs. It is best not to move a child into a booster before the child is ready. Many children are not ready at 4years old. Why?
- Maturity. When seated in a booster the seat belt must lay on certain parts of the child's body. When a child is in a booster and they move too much the seat belt can become out of position. In a harness seat a child will for sure be seated correctly 100% of the time. This is a matter of maturity. This maturity is normally reached around 5-7 years old.
- There is one study that shows that children who are under the age of 5 are safer in a harnessed seat than a booster seat. This study shows an increased risk of head/neck injury in children who are under the age of 5 and seated in a booster.
- Children need to remain harnessed until they reach 40lbs. Our law requires children to be 40lbs before being put into a booster.
Remember when shopping for a car seat the best car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. All seats are held to the same federal safety standards (FMSS 213). This makes all seats equally as safe as the next seat, regardless of price. Price is normally based on brand name, ease of use, and extra features such as cup holders, padding, and how easy it is to install. NHTSA has issued an Ease of Use Rating for every car seat. You can search for a seat on their Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings.
Belle was a 3 years old when her family was in a car wreck. Belle was sitting next to her 7 year old sister, both in boosters. Belle's booster failed her because she was too young to be in a booster. Belle was fatally injured while her sister walked away from the wreck. To read more about Belle visit http://isabelle-broadhead.memory-of.com/About.aspx
How to Place Your Child in a Forward Facing Car Seat
Before installing your car seat into the car you will need to make sure that the harness is in the correct position for your child. For convertible seats check with the car seat manual to see which harness slots are allowed to be used when forward facing. When a 5 point harness car seat is used forward facing the harness should be AT OR ABOVE the child's shoulders, it should be tight and able to pass the pinch test, the harness shouldn't be twisted, and the chest clip should be even with the arm pit.
Before installing your car seat into the car you will need to make sure that the harness is in the correct position for your child. For convertible seats check with the car seat manual to see which harness slots are allowed to be used when forward facing. When a 5 point harness car seat is used forward facing the harness should be AT OR ABOVE the child's shoulders, it should be tight and able to pass the pinch test, the harness shouldn't be twisted, and the chest clip should be even with the arm pit.
Here are some videos on Extended Harnessing (extended harnessing (EH) is when a child remains harnessed past their 4th birthday)
Crash test video of a harness dumby vs a boostered dumby
Importance of Extended Harnessing
How to Tell When Your Child has Out Grown Their Forward Facing Harness Seat
Each car seat comes with a weight limits for each stage the car seat can sit (rear facing, forward facing, and booster). Some come with a height limit. You should look in the car seat's manual to see what are the forward facing weight and height limit. Once your child reaches either of these they have out grown the car seat forward facing.
A forward facing harness seat is also out grown if the child's shoulders are above the top harness slot or the child's ears are even with the top of the top of the car seat.
Each car seat comes with a weight limits for each stage the car seat can sit (rear facing, forward facing, and booster). Some come with a height limit. You should look in the car seat's manual to see what are the forward facing weight and height limit. Once your child reaches either of these they have out grown the car seat forward facing.
A forward facing harness seat is also out grown if the child's shoulders are above the top harness slot or the child's ears are even with the top of the top of the car seat.
