The right car seat for your child will depend largely on their age and size. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we find that many parents buy one car seat and continue to use it until their child is ready to not wear a car seat. The truth is that your child will have the best protection against injury in a car accident if they have the right car seat.
Continue reading to learn about the four main types and to determine which one would be best for your child. Then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation if you have been involved in a car accident and need a legal opinion.
- Rear-Facing Car Seats These are the best options for young children. They have harnesses that cradle the child in the event of an accident, and they move with the child to reduce stress on their neck and spinal cord. There are several options within this category, including a rear-only facing infant car seat, convertible car seats that can be adjusted to forward- or rear-facing, and an all-in-one seat that can move with the child through to the booster seat stage.
- Forward-Facing Car Seats This type of car seat has a harness along with a tether and it limits the movement of your child during an accident. As is true of the other options, there are convertible, combination, and all-in-one seats that work for the forward-facing stage. If you are not sure if your child still needs a rear-facing car seat, talk to your doctor for the best advice.
- Booster Seats Booster seats are for children who no longer need a car seat but are not tall enough to have the seat belt correctly positioned across the stronger parts of their body. Options in booster seats including those with high backs that offer additional neck and head support and backless booster seats, which do not provide this neck and head support. It is often the best option if your child is riding in a seat with a headrest.
- Seat Belts Your child is ready to wear a seat belt when it fits them correctly. It should lie across their upper thighs. It should be snug across their shoulders and their chest. If should not rest across the neck, face, or stomach area. If it does not fit correctly after adjustment, then your child is not going to be properly restrained in the event of an accident.
Car seats are intended to protect children in the event that an accident does occur – they cannot prevent accidents from occurring in the first place. If you or your child was injured in a car accident for which someone else was to blame, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
