Car Seats For School Going Children
Now that your child is a preschooler weighing above 40 lbs, it is about time that you check if the car seat that you are using is safe enough. Chances are that your child’s weight has crossed the maximum specifications of the car seat. If your child’s head has become taller than the seat then you also need to consider changing the car seat for a seat that will match the requirements of your child’s age, weight and height.
Even thought there might be certain differences in the nature of the law in different states, one thing is common. In all states the use of car seats or booster seats until a certain age is mandatory. It is after the age of 12 or 13 that a child can graduate to regular lap and shoulder based safety belts.
When buying a new car seat for your child, ensure that the model has not been recalled. It is very easy to do that. Just visit the manufacturer’s website and make sure that the model is not listed in the list of recalled models. Also, be very careful when buying a second hand car seat. Under no circumstances buy a second hand car seat older than 5 years, because you may not be able to get spares for the seat. So, when in doubt, buy a new car seat.
Always read the installation instructions carefully before attempting to install the car seat. Try to understand and create a mental picture of how you are going to install the car seat, before actually beginning to install.
Remember that once your child has outgrown the car seat and is between the ages of 8 to 12, you can consider the possibility of your child using the car’s lap and shoulder safety belts, with a booster seat. But try switching to a booster seat as late as possible. For that make sure that the seat to which you are upgrading has a sufficient upper limit in terms of height and weight of the child.
Visit the Britax site and look up the Britax Regent youth seat. This car seat has a high threshold for child weight and height.
Paying a little extra for your child’s safety is something that parents will not shy away from, as long as they have the satisfaction of knowing that their children are safe.
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