At What Age Are Children Suitable for Child Safety Seats?
3 Answers
Child safety seats are generally suitable for children under the age of eight and weighing less than 36 kilograms. Additional information: 1. The age until which children should use child safety seats is determined by the traffic regulations of each country. Some regulations are based on age, while others are based on the child's weight. 2. Most national regulations stipulate that children under 8 years old must use them, while some specify under 6 years old, with additional weight requirements. Generally, children weighing less than 36 kilograms must use them. In the U.S., it is customary to use them until the child reaches 100 pounds (45 kilograms). China has not yet legislated the mandatory use of child safety seats, so the age until which children should use them can only be referenced from other countries' standards. Considering the physical characteristics of Chinese children, even if a child is 10 years old but weighs less than 36 kilograms, they should still use a safety seat. Conversely, if a child is 5 years old but weighs more than 36 kilograms (excluding obese children), they may not need to use one.
Child safety seats are extremely important. My relative's baby started using one right from birth. Newborns must use a rear-facing infant carrier seat, which can generally be used up to about 13 kilograms, roughly until one and a half years old. Once the baby's neck and head are strong enough, switch to a forward-facing seat suitable for children under 25 kilograms. When the child exceeds 25 kilograms but is still under 1.4 meters tall, a booster seat is necessary. My 8-year-old is still using one now. The law mandates that children under 12 must use a safety seat, as tests show regular seat belts simply can't protect a child's neck during sudden braking.
From a safety perspective, children must use car seats when traveling in a vehicle. Newborns should use rear-facing seats until at least 1 year old or weighing over 9 kg. After that, switch to a forward-facing seat, preferably one with a five-point harness, which can secure the child up to about 18 kg. Once the child grows taller than 125 cm, a booster seat can be used, but ensure the car's seat belt crosses diagonally over the child's shoulder and chest bone, not the neck. Too often, parents let kindergarten-aged children sit directly in the back seat, but in a collision, the child can be thrown like a bullet.
