Car seat for preschooler. When it is safe to change to a 15-36 kg model of car seat?
The child has reached a weight of 15 kg. The first thought that appears in the mind of many parents at that time can be summarized in the following words: finally I will change his seat to the one for older children. But before you, like them, run to the store and ask for the safest 15-36 model, take a deep breath and think: what age is your toddler? A lot of children weigh 15 kg at about two years old, and then they are too small for the so-called "last" seat. So when is a good time for a change and how to avoid falling into the trap of "my little one is already too big for a toddler seat"? You can find the answer in the following article.
Move your baby into a 15-36 car seat as late as possible
The above statement is invariably met with astonishment by parents. What do you mean, a big preschooler has to ride in a 9-18 seat, or worse, backwards? However, the laws of physics and the stages of child development are inexorable. First of all, you won't explain to a three-year-old toddler for more than a minute why you shouldn't unbuckle the car seat belt or lean out of the headrest. In addition, the belts that adults use, are not adapted to the structure of small children. And it's not just about height, but also about anatomy. A toddler's head is equal to 20% of his body weight, in your case it is only 5%. Quite a difference, isn't it? In the event of an accident, that head flies inertly forward. Children also do not have fully developed hip bones, that keep the belt in place and prevent it from sliding down to the abdomen (and such a hike could end in serious internal injuries). At least until 4. year of age should therefore ride in a five-point harness, which is properly contoured and will support the child's body in the event of braking or a bump.
What if my baby is 3 years old and weighs 18 kilograms?
Such situations occur quite often. For every four children, at least one will still reach the above weight before the age of four. Even when you buy the best cybex car seat or Takata from the 15-36 kg group, it does not change the fact that it should wait until the child grows a little bit. If you're a proponent of driving toddlers backwards for as long as possible, you may want to invest in a RWF seat up to 25 kg. This solution turns out to be safer than buying a forward-facing seat - recall the part about the baby's head weight. In the case of the FWF seat (forward-facing) in a bump or braking it flies inertly forward, causing tremendous strain on the cervical vertebrae. In the RWF, it is pressed into the back of the seat, and it takes over the forces acting on it. If we have encouraged you to purchase a rear-facing model, please visit our 3 Kiwi store. You will also find FWF seats for older children that have received high ratings in independent crash tests.