At What Age Must Children Use Car Seats?
2 Answers
Generally, children under 7 years old need to use car seats. Below is an introduction to car seats: Seat Composition: A child car seat consists of belt assemblies or flexible components with safety buckles, adjustment devices, connection devices, and auxiliary devices (such as portable cribs, infant carriers, booster seats, or impact protection devices). It is secured to the vehicle using the vehicle's built-in anchorage points, which can limit the child's body movement to reduce injuries during emergencies (such as collisions or sudden deceleration). Working Principle: For babies of different genders, gender-specific car seats should be used due to differences in physiological structure. Traditional car seats with five-point harness designs are standardized, which can cause discomfort for baby boys by pressing against their groin area. Male-specific car seats have the five-point harness buckle positioned further forward, providing more space for the baby boy's groin. Meanwhile, female-specific car seats have the buckle positioned more inward, fitting the baby girl's groin better and improving comfort.
How old must a child be to use a car seat? I have quite some experience with this, as both of my children have used car seats since they were little. According to Chinese law, children under 4 years old must use a car seat, as emphasized by the new regulations in 2021. Car seats can reduce the risk of child injury or death in accidents by up to 70%, because children's bodies are fragile and can easily be thrown forward during sudden braking. I recommend choosing a seat with ISOFIX interfaces, ensuring it doesn’t wobble during installation and is securely fixed using the car’s anchor points. Don’t let children sit in the front seat too early—it’s best to use a booster seat until they’re 12. Regularly check the seat for wear and tear, and avoid using second-hand or expired products. Safety comes first—don’t skimp on effort, because a child’s safety is priceless.
