Overview:
One of the most important rights of the child is to maintain his safety in the car. When expecting the arrival of a new child, he must learn how to install a special seat for him in the car and implement this before he is born to ensure his safety when he comes home from the hospital. Parents must also purchase a good seat that is suitable for the size of the child. The type of seat a child needs depends on several things including the child's age, size, and developmental needs.
The importance of a child seat in the car:
Traffic accidents cause the deaths of many children every year. Accidents have increased since 2015, and this may be due to several reasons (such as: driver distraction), as it is difficult to prevent them from occurring if the driver uses smart devices while driving, even if the person’s driving is sound, that does not mean That other drivers as well.
The commitment of the child to sit in the back seats, and the use of the seat allocated to him in the car that is appropriate for his age and weight, as well as installing it correctly helps to protect him, reduce the possibility of injury, and prevent serious injuries when traffic accidents occur, as children are the first victims of traffic accidents, so it must All children under the age of 12 who are less than 135 cm in height must use an appropriate car seat.
Car Seat Size:
Car seats are divided into 3 main groups according to the age and weight of the child or infant:
- Group 0+: Rear-facing car seats are suitable for infants up to 15 months of age or up to 13 kg.
- Group 1: Front seat suitable for children weighing 9-18 kg or between the ages of 9 months and 4 years.
- Group 2/3: High-back seats are suitable for children weighing 15-36 kg or 4-11 years old.
Types Of Child Car Seats:
The type of seat varies according to the age and weight of the child and the type of car. Types of child seats include:
A rear-facing car seat should be used from birth until the age of 2-4 years, as rear-facing seats provide more protection for the infant's head, neck, and spine than forward-facing ones, so it is best to keep it in a rear-facing seat, until the child exceeds the maximum weight and seat height limits It should:
- Ensure that the belt is properly adjusted.
- The upper part of the belt should be about 2 cm below the child's shoulder.
- To be very narrow, so that only one or two fingers can fit between the child's chest and the belt.
- The belt lock should not be on the child's stomach.
- Checking on each trip the garment as it can affect the fit of the belt.
Installation tips for rear-facing seats:
- Place the seat belts in the rear-facing seat at or below the child's shoulders.
- Ensure that the belt is tight and that the buckle is positioned in the center of the chest.
- Ensure that the seat is securely installed in the car and cannot be moved from either side.
- not placing a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an airbag; Because in the event of an accident and the airbag is deployed, it will hit the back of the car seat directly on the child's head and may cause serious injury or death.
- Loosen baby's clothes into thin layers before putting them on and securing them to a car seat.
2. Forward-Facing Seat:
Once children outgrow a rear-facing seat, the safest option is to use a forward-facing child seat with an inner harness (until at least age 5). Children using these seats are less likely to be injured in a crash than children using seat belts alone and worse. From there they are completely unrestricted, so they must:
- Bind the child comfortably and make sure that the belt is properly adjusted.
- The upper part of the belt should be about 2 cm higher than the child's shoulder.
- To be so narrow that only one or two fingers can fit between the child's chest and the harness.
- The belt lock should not be on the child's stomach.
- Checking on each trip the garment as it can affect the fit of the belt.
3. Car Booster Seat:
High back booster seats do not have an integrated belt to hold the child in place, the car seat belt wraps around the child and the seat, the booster seat raises the child's seating position so that the car seat belt fits them correctly, the high back booster seats also have side wings that help Protect the child's head from impact. Some booster seats also have a back that can be removed when children are older. Seat belts are properly seated when the belt is on the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt is across the chest (not the neck).
4. The Supportive Pillow:
Supportive pillows that do not contain a back, and when using a seat belt to install the seat (as in the car seat booster and booster cushion), the belt must pass through the chest, shoulder, and pelvis of the child, and it must be:
- Wear the belt as tightly as possible.
- The belt should pass over the upper thighs, not the stomach.
- The belt should be over the shoulder, not the neck.
The booster seat and booster cushion can be placed in the front seat or the back seat, but it is safer to place it in the rear seats, especially when the front seat airbag is present.
Car Seat Belts:
Once the seat belts are correctly installed without the booster seat, use the seat belt on every trip. Car seat belts fit the child correctly when the belt is on the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt is on the chest (not the neck). Appropriate safety when the child reaches the age of 9 to 12 years.
Seat belt fitment can vary by vehicle, so check that it fits in all vehicles. For the best possible protection, keep children properly restrained in the back seat.
Instructions when choosing a seat:
- There is no such thing as a "best" or "most efficient" seat, it all depends.
- The age and size of the child, as well as correct installation and appropriate use.
- Try the car seat before buying it, install the seat in the car as tightly as possible, and make sure that it does not move forward or sideways.
- Avoid buying used car seats because it is difficult to determine if the seat was damaged in a previous accident, so to keep the child safe, it is preferable to buy a new seat.
- The high price of a seat does not necessarily mean that it is the best.
- It is recommended that the lining be supportive of the head; To ensure the comfort of the child, especially during travel.
- Ensure that the cloth can absorb moisture, and that it can be removed and cleaned.
- The presence of an umbrella protects the child from the sun's rays.
- It should be easy to remove and install in the baby stroller.
General Tips:
- Cars without a backseat or a rear seat that is not dedicated to passengers are not the best option for traveling with young children.
- Infants under four weeks of age should not travel in car seats for more than 30 minutes, because they may have breathing difficulties.
- Avoid keeping the infant in the child seat for more than 30 minutes.
- Place the infant seat in the back of the car, while not leaving the infant in the seat unattended.
- Try to have someone else drive so that they can sit next to the infant to watch them or have someone else sit next to them.
- Take regular breaks when driving long distances. In addition to giving the child a chance to get out of the car seat.
- Use the child’s car seat only and do not feed the child or allow him to sleep at home.
- For children with disabilities or medical conditions, apply the same rules but use a seat belt designed for their needs.
- Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for its installation and use.