Nothing is scarier than getting into an accident with your kids in the car. Child restraints in car booster seats were designed to keep kids safe in the event of a crash since their bodies are tinier and more susceptible to be damaged while using seatbelts by themselves. The WHO mentions that parents should pay attention to the weight ratings on the child restraint seats they buy, as older kids should be graduated to the standard three-point seatbelt. Getting a booster seat is something parents ought to do. However, much of the problems that come from booster seats stem from how quickly kids are graduated out of them.
Why Are Car Booster Seats Safer?
Science Daily mentions that booster seats can potentially reduce minor injuries in the event of a crash. The reason they’re so much safer is because of the belt-positioning on the seats. The force of an impact imparts momentum on a child. If the seatbelt is too loose on the child, then the resulting shock threatens severe injury. This injury may come through trauma from the belt’s construction to stop movement or whiplash from the sudden stop that inevitably results. Booster seats allow kids to utilize their safety belts snugly. According to Atlanta Parent Magazine, the downside comes from trying to graduate kids too quickly to the next step. Parents need to be more mindful about whether their children can graduate from their current booster seat.
Don’t Promote Them Too Soon
Child booster seats go through rigorous testing to ensure that they’re safe. Some seat manufacturers have tried to fudge results. Pro Publica reports on Evenflow’s lax testing procedures on their “Big Kid Seat,” which the company claimed could support kids up to 40 lbs. but fell woefully short in practice. Guidelines are placed there to help parents and cutting corners like this puts innocent kids in harm’s way. Parents must stay vigilant to see the companies that they should avoid when shopping around for the right booster seat. However, they should also pay close attention to the recommendations.
Typically, kids between zero and two years use rear-facing seats. Kids between two and eleven years can use front-facing seats once they are within the weight range that the seat caters to. The recommended use time varies from seat to seat, and there is a considerable transition period that allows parents to phase out the old seat and phase in a new one. However, just because a kid is old enough and weighs enough to move up to the next level doesn’t mean that you should move them up just yet. Keeping kids harnessed until they surpass the height and weight limit on a booster seat is the best practice. It allows their bones to become hardier to stand up to the increased forces in a larger booster seat. For parents, knowing when to graduate your kid to the next seat relies on your ability to accurately judge the safety of these seats and the safety they offer to your child.
When Should You Get A Car Booster Seat?
