Child restraint Standards
Up until September 2014, when a child reached the upper height marker on a forward facing o-4 child restraint, the child would go into a Booster seat. In September 2014 a new class of child restraint was introduced, the G type seat. The G type seat is a forward facing child restraint (6 months to 8 years) that allows the child to be restrained with a harness until the are approximately 8 years of age.
Parents can, and still do, use booster seats as there is nothing preventing the use of a booster seat. Booster seats come in a number of variations a straight plain booster seat and a booster seat/ forward facing child restraint, and a rearfacing forward facing and booster seat in one seat (There is only one CHild restraint in the category whihc is the INFA LUXI Child restraint).
Booster seats are designed for a child who has outgrown a forward facing restraint, and uses a car’s lap/sash belt. It is important that the sash part must cross your child’s shoulder and not run across their neck. Most booster seats come with a sash guide to guide the seat belt into the right position.
Centre position use plus Lap Seat Belt
IF you wish to place a child in the centre of the back seat which only has a lap type beltt, then you need to use a G type seat such as the INFA Evolve which has an integrated harness for the child.
Common Problems – Booster seats
Early Booster transition
When it comes to child parents/ particularly mother try to graduate the children to the next level in the child restraint before they are ready. This happens both with going from rear facing child restraint to forward facing child restraint and trasitioning from the forward facing position to a booster seat using just the lap/sash seat belt.
However as noted before the G-type seat will prevent this type of problem in the future.
When a child is transitioned too early to a booster seat the sash part of the seat belt may not transition across the shoulder but be closer to the neck. When using the booster seat/mode, PLEASE use the sash guide that is included/ built into the child restraint.
Sub-marining
Submaring is the term used a person slides underneath the lap part of a seat belt, this happens when the seat is very flat with the back of the seat/child restraint at the same level.
To prevent submarining Infa Secure have designed their child restraints to prevent submarining by lowering the rear of the child restraint. Other manufacturers have included an Anti Submarining clip attached to the lap part of the seatbelt to form a crotch strap, the lap part of the seat belt must be passed through the anti submarining clip to prevent the child from sliding nder the lap part of the seat belt.
If you are unsure as to whethe r the seat has been designed to prevent submarining then please contact the manufacturer to clarify.
A booster seat will offer the best protection for a child until they have reached the weight or height limit, or upper shoulder height marker of the booster seat. Some booster seats have adjustable head rests to accommodate children as they grow taller. Children should use a booster seat until they are a minimum of 145cm tall. DO NOT move your child out of a booster seat too early.
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