Car Seat FAQs
Do you have a certain question you’d like answered about your child’s car seat? If so, check out the questions we have answered below! If your question isn’t answered, be sure to send us an e-mail so we can give you the answer you’re looking for!
Questions:
- What type of car seat does my child need?
- What is my state’s car seat law?
- How do I get my car seat looked over to make sure it’s installed properly?
- Why does my baby need to be rear-facing?
- How long does my baby need to be rear-facing?
- When is it ok to put my baby forward-facing?
- How long can my child use their car seat?
- Do car seats expire?
- Where is the safest place to install a car seat?
- What is the difference between an infant, convertible and a booster car seat?
- Is my child ready for a convertible car seat?
- Is my child ready for a booster car seat?
- What is side impact protection?
- What is EPS foam?
- What is a 5-point harness?
Answers:
The type of car seat that your child needs depends on their weight, height and their age. When it comes to newborns and infants, they will be in either an infant car seat or a convertible car seat. Both infant and convertible seats usually have a minimum weight requirement of 5 lbs. Although, infant seats usually go up to around 30 lbs, some convertible can go up to 65 lbs.
When it comes to your toddler, they will usually be starting out in a convertible car seat. They will use this until their weight and height exceed the limit. Then, they will move onto a booster car seat. Booster car seats can last up to about 100 lbs.
You can find your state’s car seat laws here!
Every parent worries that they may have installed their child’s car seat wrong. This is easy to believe since 3/4 seats are installed wrong in some way, whether it’s major or minor. So, to make sure your child’s seat is 100% safe, I recommend that you go down to your local police station or fire station. They will look it over for you, and will correct any errors.
You may be wondering why your child needs to be rear-facing. That answer to that question is because their neck needs time to develop and strengthen. Their head is usually wobbly to being with, and will remain that way for a few months. Until their neck is strong and 100% sturdy, you need them to be rear-facing. This is just in case there was accident. Their neck would not be able to support their head and they could easily get a neck injury by slamming forward too quickly. Keep your baby safe and keep them rear-facing!
Your baby needs to stay rear-facing until they’re at least one year AND 20 lbs. They have to meet both of those requirements until you even think about turning them forward-facing. Keeping them rear-facing for as long as possible is important. Even if they meet both of those requirements, you want to keep them rear-facing until they no longer fit that way.
Once again, you will want to keep your baby rear-facing until they’re at least one year AND 20 lbs. Until then, you don’t want to move them forward-facing. Try to keep them rear-facing as long as possible! Ask your pediatrician when they think it’s ok to make the move from rear to forward-facing.
This has a few different answers. First of all, you want to make sure their car seat hasn’t expire. Yes, car seats do expire, and they do usually around every 5 years or so. This is to make sure they are in the safest seat possible at the time. Technology is always changing for the better! Also, you want to make sure they are not exceeding their seat by both their height and weight requirements.
Yes, car seats do expire! Therefore it is important to always check the date on your child’s seat. This can usually be found until the seat where the base hooks in.
The safest place is always in the middle of the back seat. This is the farthest place from any possible impact. So, try to avoid behind the passenger seat and the driver’s seat.
An infant car seat is made for infants usually weighing from 5-35 lbs max. A convertible car seat is made for both newborns and infants weighing 5-65 usually. The difference is that an infant seat is easier to carry around, and a convertible seat is more like an actual car seat in a car. Infant seats are lighter in weight and have and easy to carry handle while convertible seats do not.
When it comes to booster seats, these are for children that have outgrown their convertible seat. They range from backless to high back seats and usually last your child until around 100 lbs.
Your child is ready for a convertible car seat once they have outgrown their infant seat. Or they can be ready as a newborn. Just make sure that they meet the requirements for that particular convertible seat.
Your child is ready for a booster car seat once they have outgrown their convertible seat. They are also ready once they meet the requirements for both weight and height for that particular booster!
Side impact protection is probably my favorite feature! Britax is known for this in their car seats, and was one of the first companies to distribute it into their products. It is extra padding and more impact foam in order to protect your child. If a collision were to happen, your child would be better protected because it would help shield your baby/child from impact by distributing against crash forces by containing their head and body. It is one of the best features you can have in your child’s seat!
EPS foam, or also known as Expanded Polystyrene foam is used in many things like helmets and car seats. It acts as a cushion to help protect your little one upon impact.
A 5-point harness is a great feature to have in your child’s seat! It is when the harness meets at both your child’s shoulders, in between both legs and clips right in the middle by their belly button. A 5-point harness gets it’s name because it meets in 5 places.
If you have any other questions, feel free to drop us an e-mail at: admin [at] findmycarseat [dot] com.
