concord to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration , car crashes are the No . 1 reason of death for children under the age of 14 . Fortunately , parents can greatly come down this risk of infection through the use of car seats . When used by rights , a car seat cut an baby ’s jeopardy of expiry by 71 percentage , with a 54 pct endangerment reduction for kids over the age of one [ source : National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ] .
Faced with these statistic , the question is n’t whether or not to use a cable car seat , but how to choose the correct one for your baby . allot to guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) , children should ride in a railroad car seat from birth until at least the historic period of eight , and some kids will need a car fundament up to the age of 12 .
apparently , a bantam infant will have immensely different essential than an older child when it comes to choosing a car seat . AAP urge that infants ride in can - facing seats until they extend to the age of one and weigh at least 20 pounds ( 9 kilo ) . Kids should then be placed in a front - front machine stern until they meet the maximal weight unit evaluation on that particular tail end , usually 40 to 80 Irish punt ( 18 to 36 kilograms ) . From that item , children should pose in a booster tail until they ’re at least 4 feet 9 inches ( 144.76 centimeters ) and can be safely keep back with a stock seatbelt [ source : American Academy of Pediatrics ] .
parent who espouse the AAP ’s standard will find that their baby needs three different types of car seats over the baby ’s life-time . Fortunately for parent ( and their billfold ) , this does n’t necessarily mean you ’ll involve three dissimilar car seats . or else , parents can look for all - in - one products that supercede individual railway car seats . With an all - in - one car buttocks , you’re able to enjoy the benefit of both rear- and front - face railroad car fundament , as well as a booster seat all - in - one unit of measurement . These combination products grow with your child from nascency to 100 pound ( 45.4 kilo ) , change to meet his or her needs with each new point of development .
Convinced that all - in - one motorcar seats are one of the most important family widget you ’ll ever buy ? Read on to larn about the different types that are available , and how to pick out among them .
Types of All-in-one Car Seats
With so many types of all - in - one car seat on the market , it can be hard to choose the effective unit of measurement for your child . All - in - one car place conflate an baby seat , forward - facing toddler seat and booster seat into one individual appliance . These all - in - one products should not be disconcert with combination elevator car seats , which only confront forth and can not be used in the nipper ’s first year of life .
It ’s also crucial to signalise all - in - one car seats from change of location systems , which generally include a railcar hindquarters and floor , carrier and stroller . These combination products are made primarily for infants : They allow parent to quickly remove baby from the car to the baby buggy . They are n’t design to accommodate toddlers or erstwhile children .
Size , fit and weight demarcation are some of the most authoritative circumstance when you ’re comparing different types of all - in - one car seat . Before making a purchase , try installing the derriere in your car to check that it will match . look on the design of an all - in - one car seat , it may accommodate baby in the rear - facing lieu until they extend to 20 , 30 or even 35 pounds ( 9 , 13.6 or 15.8 kilograms , severally ) . expert agree that bottom - confront can are by far the safest , so many parent give kids in this position as long as potential . If you ’d wish to leave your child rear - facing past the standard 20 - pounding mark , take a unit with the highest potential weight limit for this configuration .
Another factor to consider when comparing types of all - in - one products is the eccentric of simplicity system . Harness systems are study safer and more versatile than older shield or T - bar restraints , which are generally being phase out by most manufacturers . Five - point harness , which connect at the baby ’s hips , shoulders and between the legs are also thought to be safer than three - point model , which skip the association at the hips .
When comparing harness systems , be sure to assure the weight unit limit for each mannequin . Once the fry is placed in the ahead - facing position , the harness can restrain him or her until a torso exercising weight of between 40 and 80 pounds ( 18 and 36 kg ) , depending on the framework . Once the weight limitation is reach , the child must apply a standardseatbeltand booster unit seat . Many parent prefer to keep their nestling in a harness for as long as possible for added safety . If you ’d choose to stick with the harness , look for a social unit that ’s rated to a gamey free weight limit than the standard 40 pounds ( 18 kilograms ) .
Just as nursing home appliances made from stainless blade are laborious to protest , parents may also have fuss skipping retiring machine seat covered in succulent fabrics in stead of a more virtual framework . While safety should be your No . 1 priority when choosing an all - in - one cable car seat , it ’s hard to ignore aesthetical appealingness entirely . Considering you ’ll be flummox with the same car buns for eight or more old age , it do good sense to choose a unit of measurement that ’s both attractive and functional . you could also look for covert and pad to convert the look of the seat or hide spot and spills over time .
Pros and Cons of All-in-one Car Seats
Before you commence shopping for baby supplies , take the time to understand the pros and cons of all - in - one car posterior so you could determine if they ’re the best option for your family . While the average all - in - one seat will almost always be more than a veritable infant or toddler bottom , it may in reality be the most economical choice in term of long - terminus time value . Rather than grease one’s palms three single seats as your youngster grows , you’re able to keep the same unit to grow with your tyke . You ’ll also be protect the environs by choose these combining products . Instead , you ’ll only demand one undivided unit over the first 12 years of your child ’s life .
Perhaps the most important advantage of these all - in - one products is the higher exercising weight paygrade for these seats in both rear- and front - facing positions . For example , while the average infant can can have your child up to 20 or 25 pound sign ( 9 to 11 kilograms ) , many all - in - one units are rated up to 30 pounds ( 13.6 kg ) or even higher . This mean your child stays in the safer fanny - facing position for a longer period , which can help keep him or her protect . high evaluation in the front - face billet intend your child can use a harness for an elongated period of time , which often protect the child well than aseatbelt[source : Consumer Reports ] .
Another benefit to these seats is the tot horse sense of familiarity for both parent and kids . Parents get used to the feature of an all - in - one seat , and they wo n’t have to learn how to use a new place for each stage of growing . Kids can enjoy staying put in a seat they ’re used to , which may make the child more willing to ride safely .
In addition to the many vantage of these seats , parents should also take the potential cons of all - in - one motorcar seat . One of the basal drawbacks to these units is their larger size and weight . Unlike baby or booster seats , all - in - one car seats are fairly heavy and bulky . They also do n’t occur with the built - in carry handles of many other type of railroad car seat , which makes them ruffianly to transfer .
Because all - in - one car posterior are meant to stay in the railroad car , they ’re also considered less convenient than other types of seats . You ’ll need a freestanding pram and carrier , and you should be prepared to carry your baby in out and of the car by hand , as the car arse does n’t transform into a carrier like it does with an babe tail end .
While many all - in - one products are designed for children from parturition to age eight and old , they may be a bit too gravid for infants and preemies . It can sometimes be tough to match smaller babies successfully into these seats , so a disjoined infant carrier may be required in some fount [ source : Plomp ] .
After matter the pros and sting of all - in - one gondola seats , read on to learn more about how to use and wield these units .
All-in-one Car Seats Use and Maintenance
No matter which all - in - one motorcar seat you buy , you ca n’t count on it to protect your child unless you get word how to use it correctly . While the manufacturer ’s direction should be your first resource , many safety agencies offer their own tips and testimonial for put in and using car prat safely .
One of the first decisions parents must make when installing a railway car seat is determine which room the seat should confront . accord to Safe Kids USA , a rear end - face up child seat is the safe way to delight your nipper . Once the kid has reached the maximum weight boundary for the tush , turn the railcar backside around so your kid face frontwards . Keep your child in the forrad - face seat using the built - in harness until he or she reaches the maximal weight limit for the harness , then switch to the booster / tail end swath contour . Children need a booster seat until they ’re at least 4 feet 9 inches ( 144.76 centimetre ) and some states may have even more stringent requirements , so be sure to fit the laws in your region [ source : Safe Kids USA ] .
No matter which agency your automobile seat faces , keep it in the back seat , and you ’ll automatically reduce your shaver ’s jeopardy of injury . Never use a back - face up car seat in the front prat of a car equip withair bags .
Once you ’ve mold the correct positioning for your all - in - one car keister , it ’s clip to figure out how to fix it firmly to your car . Cars built after 2001 are equipped with a system acknowledge as LATCH ( Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children ) . LATCH can help reduce installation errors and help oneself your child abide good . Most cars have two LATCH connector on either end of the back place , which allows parents to safely strap in two railroad car posterior using this system [ reservoir : Children ’s Hospital of Philadelphia ] .
After the buns is secure , you must also position your nipper aright within the derriere . According to the Children ’s Hospital of Philadelphia , harnesses on rear - confront seats should be positioned at or below the nestling ’s shoulder spirit level , while harness on onward - facing butt should be positioned at or above the child ’s shoulder level . For all small fry , a well - fitting harness should fit snugly to the body and should n’t be convolute . If you could pinch a section of the harness away from your nestling after he or she is buckled in , the harness is too on the loose [ source : The Children ’s Hospital of Philadelphia ] .
If you plan to take your tiddler on an airplane , depend for an all - in - one car rump approved by the FAA for in - flight use . The seat must be narrow than 16 in ( 40.6 centimetre ) to check in a standard plane backside and can commonly only be localise in a window seat to avoid blocking issue . check that to ask about discounts for children traveling in car stern [ reservoir : Federal Aviation Administration ] .
After all this traveling , most car seats will probably terminate up with succus stigma or cracker crumbs at some point ( or everyday ! ) . To make cleansing easier , pick out water - resistant covers that you’re able to wipe clean . If your car seat gets too dirty , only select a new cover or padding system . To ensure your nipper will stay safe , only take covers or pads designed for your particular cable car seat .
