What is the age range for using a child safety seat?
2 Answers
Child safety seats are suitable for children from birth to 14 years old. Additional information: 1. Car child safety seats, also known as Child Restraint Systems (CRS), are specially designed for children of different ages (or weights). They are installed in vehicles to effectively enhance children's safety during car rides. 2. According to European Regulation ECE-R44/03, a child safety seat is defined as a child safety protection system that can be secured to a motor vehicle. It consists of safety belt assemblies with buckles or flexible components, adjustment mechanisms, accessories, etc. It can be combined with additional devices such as portable cradles, infant carriers, booster seats, or impact shields. In the event of a car collision or sudden deceleration, it reduces the impact force on children and limits their body movement to minimize injuries, ensuring the safety of children during car rides.
I've raised three kids, so I have a lot to say about car seats. There's no fixed age for when children must use a car seat, but laws generally require it from birth to 12 years old. It mainly depends on the child's size. Newborns need rear-facing infant carriers—my eldest used one until almost three when her legs got too long and uncomfortable, then we switched to forward-facing. The phase ends when kids can sit firmly without boosters. Nowadays, I see too many parents letting 7-8-year-olds use seat belts directly, but those under 140cm risk neck strangulation. A European crash test showed a 5-year-old without a car seat flying into the windshield during sudden braking—terrifying.
