Car accidents can be of particular danger to children. Kids can be vulnerable to severe or fatal injuries in car crashes due to their size.
A major priority for parents can be to give their kids some protection from these dangers. One thing that can help is a car seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends not having children ride in a vehicle without a car seat until at least 8 years old, and then only if they fit properly in a seat belt.
The seat a child is using can have big implications on how much protection he or she gets from a car seat. Therefore, picking the right car seat for your children can be a key step in providing them safety. Below are some things parents may want to give careful thought when selecting a car seat for their children:
- Which class of car seat is right for your child: There are three main classes of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster. Which one is the right fit for a child depends on the child’s age and size. According to a chart from the NHTSA, the typical age ranges are: 0 to 2 for rear-facing, 1 to 6 for forward-facing, and 4 to 11 for booster. However, these ranges can shift based on a child’s size.
- Which specific models meet your child’s needs: Within each class of car seat are all kinds of different models. When looking at different models, parents may want to pay special attention to the seat’s specs on child age and size, what features it has, and what sorts of ratings and reviews it has gotten regarding safety.
- How easy a given car seat model is to use: Ease-of-use (including ease-of-installation) is another thing that can be important to look into when picking a car seat. Whether or not a seat is installed and used properly plays a big role in how much protection it provides to a child.
When it comes to your children, safety is a top priority. Choose their car seat wisely to ensure they are safe on the road!
