How old should a child be to use a car safety seat?
3 Answers
Child safety seats are suitable for children over six months old and under eight years old. There are various types of safety seats: 1. Infants under one year old and weighing less than 10 kilograms should use a rear-facing infant safety seat. 2. Children aged one to three years and weighing between 10 to 20 kilograms should use a fully enclosed safety seat. 3. Children aged three to eight years and weighing between 15 to 36 kilograms should use a booster safety seat. Introduction to safety seats: A safety seat is specifically designed for children of different weights or age groups, installed in a car to effectively improve child passenger safety. In the event of a car collision or sudden deceleration, it can reduce the impact force on children and limit their body movement, thereby minimizing physical injuries.
When our second child was born, we started using a car seat right from the hospital. Babies are so small and fragile that regular seats simply can't hold them securely – even slight bumps could cause them to be thrown around. For newborns, rear-facing car seats are typically used as they protect the head and neck, and can be used until about one year old. Once the child can sit steadily, switch to a forward-facing seat, which is suitable for ages roughly between 2 and 4. Then transition to a booster seat, which can be used until around 8 or 9 years old or until the child reaches about 135 cm in height. My son is now seven and still uses a booster seat because it ensures the seatbelt fits properly across the shoulders and hips, not the neck, reducing the risk of internal injuries in case of an accident. In short, start using it from birth – don't assume a tiny baby doesn't need it; this is life-saving equipment. Once it becomes a habit, children also learn the importance of safety.
According to traffic regulations, the use of child safety seats is mandatory starting from infancy. Many regions, such as under China's new standards, require children aged 0 to 12 or under 135 cm in height to use an appropriate type of seat. Specifically, newborns up to 18 kg should use infant seats, then switch to child seats up to 25 kg, and finally use booster seats until the height requirement is met. The law is based on crash test data: young children's lighter weight means regular seat belts can cause chest injuries or even suffocation. Having participated in safety design discussions, I advocate that using these seats can reduce accident mortality by 90%. Don't stop using them just because a child appears big enough—always check weight and height regularly and transition to seat belts only after meeting the criteria.
