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Booster Car Seat: Purchase and Safe Use

1 August 2024

Traffic accidents can occur anywhere and at any time, even during short trips close to home. National Road Safety Authority figures reveal that approximately 2,100 children are injured in traffic accidents every year. Approximately 60% of whom are injured when in their parent’s vehicle.

Types of car seats

  • Car seat with a base: the car seat is a small safety seat for babies. It comes with a carry handle. The baby is strapped into the seat with internal straps. The chair itself connects to the car seat base. Only the base is installed in the vehicle and remains permanently anchored to the car’s seat.
  • Car seat without a base: when the car seat arrives without a base, it is critical to anchor it to the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Hybrid car seat: a special seat that can be anchored rear-facing or in the direction of traffic, from birth to the transition to the booster seat. The seat is anchored in the vehicle and the child is strapped with internal straps.
  • Booster seat straps: attached to the booster are internal straps to harness the baby. During the first stage (up to at least 18 kg), the booster seat is anchored to the vehicle and the child is harnessed with internal straps. In this position, the booster serves as a car seat. When the child reaches the suitable stage for a booster (around the age of 5), the straps are removed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the child sits on the booster seat while strapped in with the car’s seat belt.
  • High back booster seat: a high back booster seat not only provides elevation but also a backrest on which the child leans (instead of on the back of the car seat). On the back of the booster seat, there is usually a height adapter for the shoulder belt.
  • Booster seat: a booster seat that allows you to position the vehicle's seat belt on the child's body, in the safest way - on the hips and in the center of the chest.

The safest place for babies in a vehicle

The safest seat for babies is the back seat. The law allows to place babies in the front seat if they are belted in the appropriate safety seat, rear-facing, and only if the airbag has been disconnected.

Direction of the seat in the vehicle

It is important to know that the safety guideline states to seat children in an age-appropriate rear-facing seat at least until the age of two. Studies found that babies who are in a rear-facing seat are five times more protected than babies sitting in a forward-facing seat.

Israeli law requires that babies sit in a rear-facing seat at least until the age of one.

Important to know: the safest location for children under the age of 13 is the back seat. Until this age, children should not sit in the front seat. The reason: most traffic accidents are head-on collisions. When we choose to place babies and infants in the back seat, we lower the risk of injury.

Traffic accidents are the main cause of child mortality in Israel. National Road Safety Authority figures reveal that approximately 2,100 children are injured in traffic accidents every year, approximately 60% of whom are injured while in their parent’s vehicle. Traffic accidents can occur anywhere and at any time, even during short trips close to home.

According to data collected by the National Road Safety Authority, proper use of a car seat, including correct installation, proper anchoring and a good belt appropriate for the age and weight of the child - reduce the chances of death in an accident by approximately 45% and the chance of serious injury by approximately 50%.

Child safety comes first. A car seat, therefore, is a must-have item on any shopping list prior to birth and the addition of a new baby to the family. The selection on the market is huge, with multiple brands and different types of car seats depending on the different stages and weights of children. Just before you go shopping, here is an introduction to some important criteria that will help you find the right car seat.

The choice  depends on your personal needs, your baby’s comfort and the suitability for your vehicle. Once you have the seat, it is important that you properly install it and buckle the babies on every trip.

Remember, since children grow quickly, you should remain alert to their growth and choose a chair that can be adjusted to their size. You should also read the vehicle manual at every stage since some vehicles have certain restrictions relating to the installation of safety seats.

Types of car seats

The car seat is a small safety seat for babies and comes with a carry handle. The car seat base, on which the car seat rests, is permanently installed in the vehicle and remains permanently anchored to the car’s seat. The car seat is anchored to the base, rear-facing, and placed precisely over the base until a click is heard. You can detach the car seat by pressing a special button and release it from the base. The car seat has internal straps that fasten the baby, according to the manufacturer's safety instructions.

The car seat is a small safety seat for babies and comes with a carry handle that is suitable for babies from birth until they reach the weight and height limit. When the car seat arrives without a base, the seat must be anchored to the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The hybrid seat is a special seat that can be anchored rear-facing and in the direction of traffic, from birth to the transition to the booster seat. The chair should be anchored in the car and the child should be strapped in with the inner belt - 2 shoulder straps that are strapped over the pelvic area.

For more important information about safe car trips with a baby in a car

A booster seat that allows for dual uses by changing the structure of the seat. Attached to the booster seat are internal straps to harness the baby. During the first stage (up to at least 18 kg), the booster seat is anchored to the vehicle and the child is buckled with internal straps. In this position, the booster serves as a car seat. When the child reaches the suitable stage for a booster seat (around the age of 5), the straps are removed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the child sits on the booster seat while strapped in with the car’s seat belt.

A high back booster seat not only provides elevation but also a backrest on which the child leans (and not the back of the car seat). On the back of the booster seat, there is usually a height adapter for the shoulder belt. When the children move from a car seat to a booster seat, they should initially be moved to a booster seat with a back - the shoulder belts are frequently close to their neck and then they tend to move the belt behind their back or under their armpits, which puts them at risk. A booster seat with a bank helps properly position the seat belt.

A booster seat that allows you to position the vehicle's seat belt on the child's body, in the safest possible way - on the hips and in the center of the chest. Sitting without a height booster can result in the vehicle's seat belt, which is not adjusted to the height of children, causing severe abdominal and neck injuries, and even suffocation.

How to choose a car seat

  • Manufacturing date

    Check that the manufacturing date of the car seat, which appears on the back of the chair, is current and close to the date of purchase. The car seats, even those that were not in use, lose their strength due to the materials drying out, making them less safe. If no manufacturing date is indicated on the sticker or in the car seat manufacturer’s manual, the car seats should not be used 10 years from the date of purchase.

  • Adapting to your needs

    Make sure that the safety seat is appropriate for the age, weight and height of your child. Check if you are comfortable operating the car seat, for example: fasten the inner straps, adjust the strap height, adjust the sitting angle and so on.

  • Safety standard compliance

    Only car seats that are standard compliant are to be purchased. The standard may be an American or European standard.

  • Vehicle compatibility

    It is important that you check the car manual to determine if the car seat you have chosen is suitable for your car. Make sure that the seat belt is sufficiently long to anchor the car seat.

Anchoring the seat to the car

Safe and standard installation of the car seat is critical and necessary to protect our children. A car seat that has been properly installed will remain stable even in case of an accident or a sudden stop.

Various vehicle manufactured from 2020 and later have dedicated anchor loops for anchoring the car seats to the back seat. If you are not sure where the anchor loops are or whether your vehicle even has built-in loops, check the car manual. The loops are usually in the back of the side seats, to the right and left of the middle seat. When the car seat is properly installed, according to the manufacturer's instructions, there are no safety differences between the anchoring methods for the same seat.

If you are not sure that you know how or can anchor the car seat properly, get assistance from the staff of the store where you purchased it, provided they are qualified and are a certified child passenger safety technician.

Safe buckling of children in a car seat

  • Before starting, make sure the safety seat is properly anchored to the car seat so that it cannot move more than 2.5 cm to either side.
  • It is important to stretch and tighten the anchor straps of the car seat as specified in the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Before each ride, make sure that the seat belts are fastened to the child's body so that the belt is taut and cannot fold.
  • If you use a booster seat or car seat without a base, it is important that they be securely fastened to the vehicle, even if the child does not sit in them, to prevent them from flying away when braking and harming the other passengers in the vehicle.
  • In rear-facing seats, the shoulder belts should come out at or slightly below shoulder level. It is important to make sure that the seat angle is not too upright and at approximately 30 degrees.
  • In rear-facing seats, the shoulder belts should come out at or slightly below shoulder level.
  • It is recommended to continue driving children in a seat with inner straps as much as possible, especially if the safety seat fits a child over 18 kg.

Direction of the car seat in a vehicle

The safety guideline states to seat children in an age-appropriate rear-facing seat at least until the age of two. Studies found that a baby in a rear-facing seat is five times more protected than a baby sitting in a forward-facing seat. The reason is that in case of an accident, the body is propelled forward in the direction of the travel. In babies and toddlers, the neck vertebrae are not sufficiently developed so any abrupt movement may cause serious injury to the spine.

Important: Israeli law requires that babies sit in a rear-facing seat at least until the age of one.

Location of the seat in the vehicle

The safest place for babies is the back seat. The law allows to put babies in the front seat if they are buckled in an appropriate safety seat, rear-facing, and only if the airbag has been disconnected. The airbag must be disconnected as it inflates very powerfully in case of an accident and may potentially kill a child.

Important

Important

Studies show that when babies are in the front seat, next to the driver - the driver is less focused on driving and is busy taking care of the baby, which endangers the driver and the other passengers in the car. You can install a mirror in the back seat that will allow the driver to watch the babies during the trip, to reassure and instill a sense of security.

Sitting children from the age of 5 in the car

From 18 kg (around the age of 5) until the age of 10, or until they are 1.45 meters tall

Children should sit in the back seat of the vehicle in a booster seat with seat belts. A booster seat allows you to position the seat belt on the hips and in the center of the chest. Sitting without a booster seat can result in the vehicle's seat belt, which is not adjusted to the height of children, causing severe abdominal and neck injuries, and even suffocation.

Over the age of 10:

You can remove the booster seat and buckle the child with the car's seat belt provided that all the following conditions are met:

  • The knees of the child comfortably bend at an angle of 90 degrees.
  • The lower part of the vehicle's seat belt rests on the pelvis and does not reach the stomach.
  • The upper part of the seat belt, which is intended for the shoulder area, rests on the center of the chest.
  • The child sits stably and does not slide off the seat during the trip.
Under the age of 13 - children sit in the back seat

The safest location for children under the age of 13 is the back seat. Until this age, the recommendation is not to sit children in the front seat. The reason: most traffic accidents are head-on collisions. When we choose to put babies and children in the back seat, we lower the risk of injury.

Emphases for safe travel with children

  • Every child and his or her belt: every child must be harnessed with his or her own belt. Do not belt two children with one seat belt - even if they are small.
  • Every child sits in his or her own seat: do not place children of any age on the laps of other children or on adults.
  • Do not compromise on safety: if there are not enough seats in the car for everyone, we will not compromise on safety and will not drive more people than the number of seats available in the car.

Written with the assistance of the Beterem organization – the National Center for Children's Health and Safety

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