Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under the age of one year shouldn't ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing EPS for better impact protection. Some models have an umbrella that protects from the sun.
The most effective infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck to prevent it from flopping over in a collision. The car seat also comes with an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. It is important to remember that you may not need to change your child's seat to an forward-facing car seat until attains the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.
When your child is 20 lbs and one year is over, it's time to make the switch. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are in a rear-facing car seat their heads are cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that could stress their necks.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. The child shouldn't be moved into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is usually around age 4 or 5 years old. You can notice the differences in these carseats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the footage is slowed down. A child could be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing
infant car seat best car seat (
visit your url) allows your infant to ride in comfort and be secure in the event of a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps shield your child from the impacts. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be adjusted with only one pull, and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy will shield your child from the sun. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle to ensure security. It also comes with a locking clip which keeps the buckle secure when the seat is not being used.
If your baby complains of discomfort or appears to slump forward during sleep It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help you can take your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to withstand the force of a collision in the event that they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, as the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It can also make it easier for them because they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lb), to an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is a fantastic option for traveling with a toddler. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the other members of your family can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller which makes it easier to get your little one in and out of your car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.
Even if your child has reached the age at which they can change their car seat to one that is forward-facing it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position the duration you can. When you consider it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- head as well as neck and torso -- is cradled by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate your child's seat. You'll see that they have a maximum height and weight limit, and also specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's location. These guidelines are designed to protect your child's health as they develop.
Another thing to take into consideration is whether you own a vehicle with Tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, ensure that the tether is connected to your vehicle's anchor points according to the directions in the manual. Also, you should ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high in order to affect how well they are secured in the event of an accident.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have multiple children or who plan to have more. It is a one-stop car seat that can start with a rear-facing infant car seat before moving your child to a forward-facing seat when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing position in the car seat.
Style
The car seat for your baby was a must-have item for your little one and you spent many hours deciding the
best infant carrier car seat one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you may be wondering when it's time to flip them around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety factors to consider. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their
car seat inserts for newborns seat and height limits.
It is important to remember that children differ in size and age, therefore you shouldn't base on when you should switch to forward-facing on some specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their legroom limit. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, since their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.
Some infant car seats come with a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because kids under one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash of a frontal collision which could cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not just secure, but also simple to use. These include bases that remain connected to the car and snap out and in to allow you to transport your child from stroller to car and back again, and they often pair with a frame stroller to form part of an overall travel system.
If you're ready to move your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats ensure that you do it correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and then examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly, the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your area or the car seat manufacturer.
