How long car seats

If your child is high on the centile chart, 90 th or above, you can expect your seat to last approximately a year less than the guidelines for that seat.

If they are 25 th centile or below, you will probably get a year longer in the seat than it states. Generally, child seats are either categorised by weight or height, so looking at the label on the seat will help you to decide. For child seats Group 1 , this would normally occur at 18kgs or cms. A guide would be when their eye level reaches the top of the seat. We would recommend cms if possible, but look at the child sitting without a seat:. If they look comfortable and the belt is well positioned, then the child could travel without a car seat.

Come see us in store for a second opinion. It depends whether you're using a seat that's sold by weight R44 , or an i-Size seat that's sold based primarily on height. The law requires child seats to be used until the child is cms tall or 12 yrs old in the UK, this is different in some other European countries. Before you stop using a child seat, look at the placement of the seatbelt on the child.

Is the lap part of the belt sitting across the child's hip bone and the diagonal part across the chest? Getting Pregnant. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. By Christin Perry. Image: iStock. Why Do Car Seats Expire? Chicco: There should be a white sticker located on the back of the car seat.

Cosco: The car seat expiration date is likely imprinted into the plastic on the bottom of the seat or a white sticker on the back of the seat, depending on the model.

Evenflo: A white sticker should be located on the bottom or back of the car seat, depending on the model. Baby teeth, or primary teeth, usually start coming in between 6 and 12 months. This timeline can vary widely, though. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Why they expire When they expire Finding the expiration date Disposing of an expired seat Takeaway When you started shopping for gear for your baby, you probably placed the big-ticket items at the top of your list: the stroller, the crib or bassinet , and of course — the all-important car seat.

In general, car seats expire between 6 and 10 years from the date of manufacture. Why do car seats expire? When do car seats expire? Where to find the expiration date on popular brands. Properly disposing of an expired car seat.

The takeaway. Parenthood Baby. What Is Helicopter Parenting? What Is Mindful Parenting? When used with seat belts, airbags work well to protect teenagers and adults; however, airbags can be very dangerous to children, particularly to those riding in rear-facing seats and to preschoolers and young school-aged children who are not properly restrained. If your vehicle has a front passenger airbag, infants in rear-facing seats must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively low-speed crash, the airbag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause serious brain injury and death.

Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children; however, the airbag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger. Side airbags are available in most new cars. Side airbags improve safety for adults in side-impact crashes.

Child care programs and schools should have written guidelines for transporting children, including. This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of turbulence.

Remember that your child will need an appropriate car safety seat to use at your destination. If you have questions or need help with installing your car safety seat, find a certified child passenger safety technician CPST or CPS technician.

Lists of certified CPSTs and child seat—fitting stations are available on the following websites:. Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up. Make sure that everyone who transports your child uses the correct car safety seat or seat belt on every trip, every time. Being consistent with car safety seat use is good parenting, reduces fussing and complaints, and is safest for your child.

Never leave your child alone in or around cars, and lock your vehicle when it is not in use. Any of the following situations can happen when a child is left alone in or around a vehicle.

A child can. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your car safety seat. If you do not have those, write or call the company's customer service department.

Staff will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture. The manufacturer's address and phone number are on a label on the seat. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner's manual about using car safety seats. Some manufacturers' instructions may be available on their websites. Remember to fill out and mail in the registration card that comes with the car safety seat. You can also register your seat on the manufacturer's website.

It will be important in case the seat is recalled. Follow manufacturer directions for cleaning car seats. Cleaning but not disinfecting is usually permitted. That's because disinfectant products may decrease the protection provided by the seat and harness. Although the AAP is not a testing or standard-setting organization, this article sets forth the AAP recommendations based on the peer-reviewed literature available at the time of its publication and sets forth some of the factors that parents should consider before selecting and using a car seat.

DOT HS publication Safe transportation of preterm and low birth weight infants at hospital discharge. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode. Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register. Ages and Stages.

Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Page Content. Types of car seats at a glance: This chart is a quick guide on where to start your search. Types of rear-facing seats Three types of rear-facing seats are available: rear-facing—only , convertible, and all-in-one. Rear-facing—only seats Are used for infants up to 22 to 35 pounds and 26 to 35 inches, depending on the model. Are small and have carrying handles.

Usually come with a base that can be left in the car. Parents can buy more than one base for additional vehicles. This means the seat can be used longer by your child. Convertible seats are bulkier than infant seats, however, and they do not come with carrying handles or separate bases and are designed to stay in the car. Many have higher limits in rear-facing weight up to 40—50 pounds and height than those of rear-facing— only seats, a feature that makes convertible seats ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.

Have a 5-point harness that attaches at the shoulders, at the hips, and between the legs. Should be used only for a child's travel not sleeping, feeding, or any other use outside the vehicle.