Posts
Knowing When Your Child is Ready to Move Into a Booster Seat, and Ready to Move Out of One!
When is it Time to Move Your Child to a Booster Seat?
For parents, the safety of your child in the car is of the utmost importance. However, many of us mistakenly move our child into a booster seat or out of a booster seat sooner than it is safe. Whilst each state has their own requirements, children aged 4 – 7 years old must be secured in either a forward facing seat with an inbuilt harness or a child booster seat. Not all 4 year olds are the same size though of course. So parents should progress to a booster seat based on height rather than age. So before rushing your child into a booster seat because they’ve had a birthday, first check that they fit within the shoulder height marker on the car seat you are using.
We at Mum’s Lounge have learned about the newly launched Kid Guard PRO™ from Britax and like most Mums, we know, trust and love Britax products. As a result, we are happy to share what we have found out that the new Britax Kid Guard PRO™ is the only booster in Australia providing safety all the way up to double figures – 10 years (approx.)!
And in the coming weeks, 12 Mums from Mum’s Lounge audience community will be trialling the Kid Guard PRO™ with their child too, so be sure to check back and see what feedback they have for us.
How to Choose a Booster Seat?
When investing in your child’s booster seat we recommend firstly considering all of the safety features it has to offer including ease of use, the comfort of the seat as well as value for money. An expandable booster that can grow with your child is a great option!
In Australia, it is illegal to purchase or use a car seat that does not comply with the Australian/New Zealand Standard 1754. Always look for the certification mark AS/ANZ:1754 on the car seat you choose for your child.
Choose a brand you trust. Britax is the number 1 brand in car seat safety technology leading the world with innovative car seats, strollers and travel systems. The latest safety innovation from Britax called the SecureGuard™ is easy to use Britax patented exclusive feature that ensures the vehicle seat belt is properly positioned on your child’s hips, minimising the risk of abdominal injury during a crash and preventing them from sliding under the seat belt. Whereas booster seats ordinarily offer 3 points of contact, the SecureGuard™ provides a 4th point that sits between the child’s legs securing the seat belt in the correct position, whilst also allowing your child adequate wriggle room whilst on the move.
In the event of a collision, a lap belt that is improperly positioned across a child’s abdomen can cause serious injuries, including injuries to internal organs that can’t always be diagnosed immediately and can be life-threatening. The SecureGuard™ anti-submarining device ensures that the seat belt is secured across the strong bones of the pelvis rather than the abdomen.
The SecureGuard™ anti-submarining device is also available on Britax’s most popular booster seats including the Hi-Liner™, Maxi Lite™, Tourer™ and the newly launched Kid Guard PRO™.
In addition to the innovative life-saving SecureGuard™ anti-submarining device, the Kid Guard PRO™ also features expandable side wings to deliver lateral support ensuring your child’s body is sitting upright, providing a safer seat belt and is equipped with Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT™) to maximise your child’s head protection in the event of a side impact collision. The expandable seat design allows parents to adjust the height of the seat as their child grows – a feature that offers increased safety and value for money.
The compact slim-line base also makes the Kid Guard PRO™ an excellent option for parents with multiple child seats in their car, and it can be easily transferred into a friend or family members care as and when needed. The built in sash guide ensures ease of use regardless of who is fitting it.
The Kid Guard PRO™ also includes their deluxe Thermo5™ fabric made with Bamboo Charcoal which means your child will travel in quality and comfort. (And we may even get a little peace!)
Suitable for children between the age of 4 – 10 year old (approx.), the Kid Guard PRO™ is an expandable booster seat with 9 height adjustments for the RRP of $399!
When Can I Move My Child to an Adult Seat Belt?
According to Britax, children are often moved into adult seat belts too soon. Britax as industry leaders, believe in ‘Harnessed Safety for Longer.’ Adult seatbelts are designed for a minimum height of 145cm, but height isn’t the only indicator.
Before graduating your child to an adult seat belt please consider the following factors outlined on the Britax Australia website.
Please assess the following factors by testing how your child sits in an adult seat:
- If your child’s legs are shorter than the depth of the seat and do no hang comfortably over the seat edge, your child is likely to move forward or slump in their seat which will change the position of the lap belt and increase the risk of serious injury.
- If the seat belt crosses your child’s face or neck rather than their chest, your child is likely to place the seat belt behind their back to remove this discomfort greatly increasing the risk of injury.
- If the lap belt rides up over your child’s abdomen when sitting correctly, your child is at increased risk of serious injury (The lap belt should always be positioned over the hips and thighs).
- If your child wriggles or slumps in their seat, the lateral support provided by a booster seat reduces the risk head, neck and abdominal injury.
With the new Kid Guard PRO™ booster suitable for children up to 10 years of age (approx.), it is recommended that parents keep their child in a booster seat for maximum safety.
For more safety information or additional information on the baby seats, boosters and travel systems available visit Britax.com.au
#ThinkOfWhoYouAreSaving
#GuardYourChamp
#BritaxBigKid
#CarSeatsAreNotJustForBabies
You can read the original article here.
Review: Kid Guard PRO ™ Booster Seat from Britax (suitable 4-10 years)
Over the past few months, we’ve focused a lot on child car safety, particularly for those 4 years and above. The reason for this is simple – many parents are moving their child into or out of a booster seat before it is safe to do so.
The Britax Kid Guard PRO™ is the only booster seat of its kind in Australia providing safety for children from approximately 4 years of age, up to 10, so you can keep them buckled for longer.
The Kid Guard PRO™ features expandable lower side wings extendable seat base and nine points adjustable headrest so it grows with your child delivery comfort and safety on the move as well as exceptional value for money.
The Kid Guard PRO™ also offers 4 points of safety with their patented anti-submarining technology. This ensures that the adult lap belt is always in an ideal position from shoulder to pelvic bones and prevent a child from slipping underneath the lap-belt or suffering from a further injury caused by an incorrectly fitted belt.
In addition to all of these fantastic safety features, this booster also includes the deluxe Thermo 5™ fabric made with Bamboo Charcoal meaning your child will travel in quality and comfort.
Get your FREE Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe in the Car eBook
Click here to download your free copy of Tips for Keeping Your Kids safe in the Car.
You can read the original article here.
Why Is SecureGuard™ So Important For Your Child’s Safety?
SecureGuard™ – Wriggle-proof car safety for your growing child!
Car journeys can be a wonderful voyage of discovery for the inquisitive child. There is always something to look at. Interesting things are going on outside the window or something catches their attention inside the car. Now your child is older and consequently more mobile and independent. The back seat has become their space. It is a place where they play, read, doze, reach down or across.
At Britax, we not only test our products with crash dummies, we look at real children and their needs. We know that for a child who is sitting in a booster secured with a 3-point adult seat belt, wriggling, sleeping, play-fighting and turning can cause the lap belt to ride higher up across their tummy, even if positioned correctly across your child’s pelvic bone when you set off.
Britax Safe-n-Sound has been at the forefront of child safety development for 50 years and during this time we have introduced many breakthrough innovations to keep your child safer. Our latest innovation – SecureGuard™ – makes our booster seats even safer by adding a 4th attachment point to the adult seat belt. This helps to keep the lap belt in an ideal position over the pelvic bones and better distributes the impact energy involved in frontal collisions. At the same time this allows our little wrigglers freedom of movement during the journey.
When your child grows and transitions from a convertible car seat to a booster seat using the car’s 3-point adult seat belt, the SecureGuard™ provides extra protection. For babies and toddlers, we always recommend using a 5-point harness for as long as possible, as it firmly secures their shoulders and hips in the seat.
What is the correct position for a 3-point adult seat belt when used with a booster seat?
Your car’s 3-point adult seat belts are designed to restrain adults. A growing child can use the 3-point adult seat belt with a booster seat, as this correctly positions the 3-point adult seat belt over the child’s body. As a child loves to move around during a journey, the adult lap belt may not stay correctly positioned safely across their pelvic area. Instead, the lap belt may end up across their tummy.
What is the best choice for your family?
The SecureGuard™ makes a safe seat even safer and is available with four products from our most popular car seat ranges – the Kid Guard PRO™, Maxi Lite™, Hi-Liner SG™ and Tourer™.
Does Your Child Pass The 5 Step Test?
(Click on the above image to enlarge)
How long should your child stay rear-facing? When should they be moved into a booster? At what age should your child be moved to an adult seat belt? WAIT… Did you know… Height is the most important factor in choosing the right car seat. Did you also know… cars are designed for average sized adults NOT children so your child must be a minimum of 145cm before they can safely move out of a booster and into an adult back seat in a vehicle. Our car seat timeline breaks down all the information you need to ensure your little one is as safe as possible at every age.
Rear for (at least) a Year!
Australian national child restraint laws state that children up to the age of six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint, with an inbuilt harness. It is important not to graduate your child from a convertible car seat to a booster seat too early though. Britax, the leaders in child car seat safety, encourage parents to have their child rear facing for as long as possible, recommending to at least ‘Rear for a Year’. A variety of Britax Safe-n-Sound convertible car seats can be installed rear-facing until approximately 2-3 years of age (depending on the height of the child).
Likewise, Britax believe in ‘Harnessed for Longer’, recommending children should be fully harnessed approximately until 8 years of age. Britax Safe-n-Sound Maxi Guard PRO™ features a Hassle Free Harness™ which automatically repositions the shoulder strap height as your child grows. There is no need to rethread the harness, reducing the risk of incorrect installation and harness fitment, and making your life a whole lot easier!
Graduating to the Booster Seat
When your child has outgrown the height limit (when they have grown past the top shoulder height marker) of their current car seat, it is time to move them into a booster. Just like babies, older children are at risk of serious injury in the event of a vehicle accident, which is why a safety tested booster seat is essential for ensuring proper protection of your child when driving. Britax Safe-n-Sound’s Kid Guard PRO™ is the only booster seat of its kind providing continued safety from approximately 4 years to 10 years of age, meaning your little one stays safer for longer. All children 145cm and under should be in a child car seat.
The Older the Better When it Comes to Transitioning to an Adult Seat Belt:
Graduating from a booster seat to an adult seat belt is not a transition that should be rushed! In fact, often children are moved into an adult seat belt way too early! Britax recommend that you only consider moving your child out of their booster seat after they have exceeded the height recommendations and can no longer sit comfortably in the restraint. Their height is the key indicator and, you should also consider how they sit in the seat. In assessing how your child sits in an adult seat, Britax suggest you consider the following:
- If your child’s legs are shorter than the depth of the seat and do not hang comfortably over the seat edge, your child is likely to move forward or slump in their seat which will change the position of the lap belt and increase the risk of serious injury.
- If the seat belt crosses your child’s face or neck rather than their chest, your child is likely to place the seat belt behind their back to remove this discomfort greatly increasing the risk of injury.
- If the lap belt rides up over your child’s abdomen when sitting correctly, your child is at increased risk of serious injury (the lap belt should always be positioned over the hips and thighs).
- If your child wriggles or slumps in their seat, the lateral support provided by a booster seat reduces the risk head, neck and abdominal injury.
You can read the original article here.