Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and slid into a stroller that is compatible to make it easy to transport. This makes them popular with parents who are planning to take frequent trips outside of the city.
Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders, regardless of which car seat type you pick. Bulky clothing or blankets can hinder a secure harness fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats that have rear-facing positions) are designed to accommodate infants and children up to the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. They typically include an infant insert to make sure the head of a newborn is securely inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child ride rear-facing for longer up to about age 4 or 5.
Most car seat manufacturers include the option of reclining angles that can be adjusted in order to prevent the baby's back from sliding forward when the vehicle slows down. You'll need to read your car seat's manual to determine how to adjust the reclining angle, or find a video from an influencer of your car seat to learn how to do it. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing like blankets or coats because they can hinder a snug harness fit and cut off airflow around your infant's chest and neck.
Many parents are reluctant to switch their children from rear-facing to forward-facing as they are concerned that the force of a crash will cause the baby to lose their legs and feet, or that their head and neck could be thrown forward violently in a side collision. It is important to remember that rear-facing offers a more protection than forward-facing.
A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward facing car seat being tossed around violently in a crash simulator. The resultant head injury is a gruesome injury to the head. The video of the same crash from the rear-facing seat isn't as severe because the child's head is cradled by the shell.
So, if your state law requires you to change your child's face forward avoid it! This is not in accordance with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are designed specifically for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them into the seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents might be capable of adjusting the recline angle and headrest for their child's comfort, and also select from various attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant car seats come with a maximum weight and height, and most children will outgrow them before they are ready to move to a forward facing car seat.
It's natural for parents to want to turn their baby around as soon as they can however the current norm requires that children less than one year old remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are one year old. The reason for this is that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision, which occurs when a child turns forward in an accident.
If a baby is being thrown forward in a frontal collision the spinal cord could be stretched and strained, resulting in paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backward in the car the neck bones stay together and are secured by straps that secure the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.
In addition, infants facing the rear are less likely to be placed in the back seat of the car in an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests instead of their necks, in a collision.
Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat that is suitable for his or their size. Check the car seat instructions from the manufacturer as well as your vehicle's owner's manual before making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a technician for car seats who is accredited in your area.
When an infant outgrows their car seat, they can change to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that is designed to start in the rear-facing position, and then transitions to forward-facing once they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash seatbelts for adults after they've reached their recommended weight and age.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible. Both have their benefits however, which one is best for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable infant car seat.
As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be repositioned from front-facing to rear-facing. This allows them to fit kids from infancy through late elementary school, based on the model you select. Certain rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than the infant car seats which allows for more time of use.
Check if the convertible infant car seat has removable inserts for newborns to ensure a comfortable fit for your child. These pads are firm and lift the baby's body so they can reach the lowest slots for straps, and then move them forward a bit to stop their heads from hitting the harness straps.
Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer between cars, and some of them can click into strollers to create a transport system. This feature makes it easy to transfer your car to your stroller without waking your baby, for trips to the grocery store or mall, or for doctor visits.
In the end, however, your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants, either by reaching their weight limit or height limit. Most experts agree that it's the right time to switch to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to consult your seat's manual to ensure that your child is prepared.
Although convertible car seats may appear more expensive initially than car seats for infants but they can be more affordable in the long term because you'll be capable of using them for several years. Additionally, certain models have lower anchors which permit you to install them with less force than traditional seats, which could minimize injuries from an accident.
Safety Ratings
When shopping for an infant car seat, safety is the top priority. All infant car seats are required to conform to the safety standards set by the federal government. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra peace of mind.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure your child's safety kept in mind. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat and reduce the force of a crash, are also available.
An effective method to determine how safe an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to check its crash test ratings and reviews. It is essential to keep in mind that the use of a car seat for infants will determine how safe it is. According to our discussions, the majority of accidents involving infant car seats result from misuse -- either unsafe installations or improper restraints for the child.
To ensure that you're using an infant car seat properly, search for one with a easy-to-read instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it's safe and level, such as bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. When installing the seat, tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. A good indication of this is the ratcheting sound it makes as you tighten.
Even if you're merely going to the store or taking a short trip to the park, it's not a good idea to leave your infant in a car. It's not just dangerous in a car crash however, leaving an infant car seat or baby carrier on a rough surface could cause injuries and falls. Car seats and carriers that tip over or roll can cause injuries to babies, or worse and even cause them to suffocate.
best car seat newborn Push Chairs And Prams will require a booster car seat at some time. To save money over the long term consider an all-in-one or convertible car seat that offers you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.