Things to know about child seats on cars

Most of us don't even think about driving without a seatbelt. That is a good reason. In a collision, with a speed of only about 30 miles per hour (equivalent to 48.3 km / h), if an unstable person will be thrown forward with a force of 30 to 60 times the weight their body. What if the unstable person is a child? It is almost certain that the child will rush down, hurt himself and the others. Worse, they could be thrown out through the window.

Even when you hug a child while driving, it is not considered safe. When colliding, the child will be squeezed between your body and the inside of the car. Even if you have a seatbelt then the child will be thrown from your hand under the impact of the impact. You simply can't keep the baby, no matter how hard you try.

The best way to take children by car is to place them in a child seat suitable for their weight and size and be installed with certainty. In this article, we will explore how this technology works and how to choose the best child seat.

Why is a child seat necessary?

When the vehicle hits another object, such as a tree, a wall, or another moving vehicle, it will be stopped immediately under the impact of a collision. However, anything that does not hold tightly inside the vehicle will continue to move, including people. This happens because of inertia. Inertia is the trend of continuing an object's movement until there is another object against this movement.

Imagine: When you are in the middle of a steady speed of 50 miles per hour (about 80.5 km / h) the speed of your car and your speed are almost the same, so you have The feeling is that you and the car are moving like two separate individuals. But if the car hits a phone card column, for example, it is obviously your inertia and the car becomes completely independent. The phone pole will keep the car stopped, but your speed is the same. Your face can be hit on the windshield, steering wheel or the seat back of the chair in front of you. Your chest can hit the clock panel.

You may even get knocked out of the car. Your internal organs continue to move. Your brain will be compressed into the front part of the skull; and your heart, lungs, kidneys may be cornered or into the bone. That sounds terrible! And that's why we use seat belts. The seat belt is designed to fasten your body into the vehicle, disperse the destructive force of the collision to the more resilient parts of the body, increase the chances of survival and reduce the likelihood of serious injuries in those collision up to 50%.

However, seat belts are designed for adults. They are crossed over your shoulders, across your body, giving your chest and pelvis an almost absolute braking force. In order for a seat belt to do its job well, it must be very fit to the body; and simply with a baby the size of a seat belt is too big. Instead, we should use a specially designed child seat.

There are 3 basic types of child seats, each designed for children in different ages and body sizes.

- Seat facing back for babies and convertible seats.

- The chair looks forward.

- Lift seats and booster seats do not have backs.

1. Seat facing back for babies and convertible seats.

The rear-facing seats for children under 7 years of age are generally suitable for children weighing less than 10kg, approximately from birth to 12 months of age. Although they could be installed in front if extremely necessary, it would be much safer to install this chair in the rear seat of the car. This is extremely important if the front seat has side airbags. If there is something that causes this air bag to burst, the outburst of this airbag is enough to seriously injure the child in the front seat. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all children 12 and younger should sit in the back seat.

The rear-facing design of these seats better protects the child's head, neck and spine than the chair facing forward; And really, it's best to let children stay in the seats facing back as long as possible. Of course, until the child reaches the maximum weight of this child seat, it is no longer appropriate to protect the child. Similarly, if the child's head is higher than the top of the chair, it will no longer effectively reduce the impact of the collision. Now it is necessary to replace them with a special chair for toddlers.

Some types of infant seats also have a few other features that make it safer to protect, or simply to use them more conveniently. Some models have brackets attached to removable vehicles, to maintain the position of the seat until they are no longer needed. The practical car seat attaches to the base and is locked to this position, allowing you to use it as a baby sling. This allows you to put your baby in or out of the car every time you don't need to re-install the entire chair. With a few models, the chairs can be adjusted to be more comfortable, or to increase the size for growing children.

If you find it difficult to place a chair that matches your child's height and weight, then 'walk through the streets and walk around the market'. Some manufacturers have launched convertible seats with higher limits and weight. A convertible is bigger and heavier than a single infant chair

It is safe and can be used longer and for older children. When your child has reached the proper height and weight, a convertible can convert under the manufacturer's instructions for use as a forward facing child seat.

The infant seats and convertible seats are securely attached to the car using the LATCH seatbelt and / or system (will discuss this system later in the article), and the child will be forced to tight with the chair with one of the saddle designs as follows:

- Type of 3-point saddle with straps running across the shoulder and fastening to the lock near the bottom of the chair.

- 5-point saddle type with 5 straps: 2 on the shoulder, 2 on the hips and 1 on the bottom.

- The type of barrier over the head has a barrier that runs down around the child, similar to the common bumps found during walks around the fair.

- A T-shaped shield consists of a T-shaped mattress or a triangular shield attached to the shoulder straps. This shield does not squeeze through the child but is attached to the upper part of the object.

If you're thinking of buying a convertible instead of buying a dedicated rear-facing model, determine in advance that the shield over the head or T-shaped panel may not be suitable for young children. year old. In fact, the type of saddle with 5 points is considered the best choice because it is easily adjusted to perfectly fit your kid.

2. The chair faces forward.

As your child grows up, they will quickly exceed the manufacturer's recommendations for rear-facing ones. For children younger than 1 year old and weighing more than 9.1 kg, the seats facing forward become appropriate. If you bought a convertible seat for babies, by following the manufacturer's instructions, you can change this chair and continue using it. Instead, you can choose to buy a dedicated front facing chair.

A forward-facing chair is most suitable when used in the rear compartment of the vehicle, where the seat belt and the LATCH system are used to ensure the safety of the seat itself and the whole bumpers are used. to protect the child. Although it can be installed in the front seat of the car if necessary (for example, in case you are driving a truck without a back seat), never do this if you use a bag. gas. Some recent trucks have airbag on / off buttons for the passenger side. If you are required to go with your child, to sit in the front seat and have the on / off switch, you must turn off the airbag mode.

Sitting in the back row is always the best. According to NHTSA, putting a child in the back seat instead of the front seat reduces the risk of death by up to 27% whether or not the car has side airbags.

3. Lift chair

When a child is too big for a saddle-shaped chair it is time to use the booster seat. A child is considered ' too big ' if it exceeds the manufacturer's weight limits or when its head is higher than the top of the chair. Usually, a child will need to use a booster seat when it is about 4 or 6 years old.

As we have seen, the seat belt is designed to be in the horizontal position of the pelvis and chest, dispersing the impact force to the strongest parts of the skeleton. A booster seat works by lifting the child up, making the adult seat belt fit into these areas.

When using a seatbelt designed to fit the vehicle, the booster seats do not have a full saddle to hold the child in place; instead, he kept the child in the chair. This means ensuring that the seatbelt is properly adjusted.

You need to make sure that:

- The seat belt is securely tightened and as tight as possible.

- The rope must go through the pelvis, not the stomach.

- The cross straps must cross the shoulder, not the neck.

Usually, by the age of 6, or when a child can sit up straight without spilling or slouching, he can remove the full chair to come up with a booster seat without a back. A booster seat without a backrest is simply a regular chair without a backrest. As with other car seats, you can see convertibles converted from a model with a back-to-back back without a back. Remember, when sitting in a booster seat without a back, your child must sit upright so that the seat belt cross over his shoulder and not the child's neck.

A child is still not fit to use a regular one until it is high enough so that its leg is bent on the knee at the edge of the chair; it must be mature enough to sit back against the chair without collapsing; the loop of the seat belt is high on the thigh or under the hip, not on the stomach; The part of the shoulder strap over the shoulder must lie over the shoulders and the chest, avoiding the arms and neck.

A child who is ready to use a normal adult chair without the help of a booster seat will be about 1.5m tall and at about 8 years old. Keep in mind that because children change their body size based on age, some children can still use booster seats at the age of 10 or 11.

When buying a chair

What you find necessary when buying a chair depends on many factors, including the age of the child and the type of vehicle you are using. No chair is 'the best '; The best one is the one that fits your child's height and weight. All chairs currently on the market meet the necessary safety standards. Choose one that best suits the child and with your car. Some models have different features, choose one that helps you use it properly every time and leave the idea that the more expensive the more secure the chair!

Make sure that the saddle section fits well with your child, that the seat is well installed and that the seat belts in your car are in good condition. If you can't try the chair before buying it, make sure it has a return policy. If the chair is not suitable for your child or car or you find it inappropriate for your child, you will want to be able to return it and get a refund or a purchase certificate.

Buying a second-hand chair is also tempting. If you are considering a second-hand model, pay special attention to the life of the chair. Avoid chairs that have been used for more than 6 years or those that have experienced crashes. Take a closer look at the cracks and the signs used on the seats and shields. Even if you buy something new or second-hand, you should pay attention to the ability to return.

When looking for a chair, you can refer to LATCH. This is a new system, developed to make the chair easier to use safely. LATCH is an acronym for 'Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children' and makes it unnecessary to use a seatbelt to protect the child on the trip. . However, your vehicle must be compatible with the anchor system. Beginning in 2002, most new vehicles began production in the United States with the internal LATCH system. LATCH does not necessarily have to be safer than using a seat belt to protect the seat, even though it can make the installation easier. Your child seat retailer can advise you which chair is suitable for your car. Many of the current child seats can be used with both LATCH systems and seat belts. So, if you have two cars, one with LATCH system, one with no and one child seat, you will have to find a chair that can be used with both of these protection mechanisms.

Points to pay attention to when buying child seats

Chairs for babies

- Use a chair facing backwards, estimated to be about 20 pounds (about 9.07 kg). You can also find these models with limits of up to 22, 30 or 35 pounds (9.8 - 13.6 or 15.9 kg) if necessary.

- Should use 5-straps saddle.

- A front control button to make the saddle tighter is easier to use.

- For newborns and babies, it should be based on a maximum of 45 degrees. Some seats have angled indicators and built-in controls to help adjust the seat's back properly.

- Most samples with handrails will require that the handrail be lowered when going.

- A retaining cord facing the back, impact-resistant sponges and elastic cross bars can improve safety.

- Dedicated infant seats may be more appropriate for your child than convertible models.

- Some models may include a full stand and wheel system, while others only have one convenient stand. Choose a system that works best for you.

Convertible seats

- A chair that turns behind is safer. Choose a model with a weight limit of about 30 - 35 pounds (13.6 - 15.9 kg) and let the child sit in the back facing chairs for as long as possible.

- The chair should be removed when the top of the child's head touches the top of the chair or when the child reaches the limit of 30-35 pounds in weight.

- Look for one with a 5-point saddle shape and a saddle adjustment button in the front.

- Some models have retaining wires that can be used to face back and shockproof sponges to increase safety. Some models also have clamps for locking.

Lift chair

- A booster seat is best used when your child reaches 40 pounds and is used with a cord over the lap and shoulders.

- Use a booster seat until the manufacturer's limits are reached or until your child can use the seatbelt appropriately.

- Use a high back if your car has a low back and no head rest. A non-backrest chair is also suitable for use when your car seat has head rests.

- Many types of booster seats support adjusting the head and pads to feel more comfortable.

Please use it correctly!

We all see that children are safer in the back seat and should be placed in a chair or an appropriate booster seat until they can sit and use the seatbelt. We all know that, for a chair to be used effectively, it must be properly installed.

Sadly, many people buy and install chairs and cannot be sure that they are securely tightened and properly installed. You should always use the correct saddle position and make sure they fit; All seats are different, but the instructions for use will give instructions on how to correct the seat belts. The chair should be tightly secured, pull it to check before each trip is a good habit to set up. The chair should not be easily moved from side to side or forward. Your seat belt may have a built-in locking system, but if not, you need to invest one.

When the child sits in a chair, there should be a chest clamp in the correct position - to the middle of the child's chest or armpit. Straight saddles with properly placed straps on the shoulders or shoulders are a must. If your child needs a blanket or an object to cover, place it on the top of the saddle rather than trying to stretch the straps to cover the cover.

Of course, all the chairs have a complete guide, and it's worth checking again for the second time to make sure you have installed the chair as safely as possible. Remember, following the instructions is essential to ensure the safety of your child.

Thai Thanh