Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of baby car seats can be removed from their base, and snapped into a compatible stroller for easy transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who are planning to make frequent trips outside of the city.
Dress your baby in clothing that the harness straps comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you choose. The bulky clothing or blankets could hinder a secure harness fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, also referred to as convertible car seats that have a rearward-facing position designed to accommodate newborns and small children as long as they meet the weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. They typically come with an infant insert that ensures a newborn's head is comfortably positioned within the seat's shell.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that babies ride rear-facing until they reach their height or weight limits for car seats or until they reach their weight limits, whichever comes first. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to be rear facing for longer, right up to 4 or 5 (depending on the model).
Most manufacturers have their car seats designed with an angle of reclining that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling backwards when the car is stopped. It is necessary to read the manual for your car seat to determine how to adjust the reclining angle or watch a video by a car seat influencer to learn how to do it. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing, such as coats or blankets because they can hinder a snug harness fit and block airflow around your infant's chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the force of the crash could eject their baby's legs or feet, or that their neck and head may be violently thrown forward during an impact from the side. It is important to remember that rear-facing offers a more protection than forward-facing.
A video from a car seat influencer shows a child sitting in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed in a crash simulation. The head injury that results is horrendous. The video of the same accident from the rear seat is not as bad because the child's head is being held by the shell.
If your state law requires you to move your child's face forward do not follow it! This is not in accordance with best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are designed specifically for infants and newborns. Harnesses assist in securing them into the seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle, headrest and stroller attachments, based on the car seat. Most
infant car seat newborn car seats are designed to accommodate an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow these seats before they're ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat.
While it's understandable that parents would like to turn their child around as soon as possible however, the current norm states that children under one year of age must be rear-facing in a car seat until they're 20 pounds or 1 year of age. The reason is that neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. This happens when a child turns forward in an accident.
If a child's neck is moved forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord may stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car the neck bones stay together and are protected by the harness straps, which prevents this kind of injury.
In addition, rear-facing infants are less likely to be placed in the back seat of the vehicle during an accident. In a collision, they're less likely to be injured by a seat belt that runs across their chests rather than their necks.
Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for his or their size. Refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle prior to making a decision. It's recommended to visit a reputable car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.
If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing position, and then shifts to forward-facing after they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster using lap-sash belts.
Convertible
Many new parents are confused in deciding between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have advantages, but which one is the
best car seats for newborns uk for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a long-lasting infant car seat.
As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be changed from front-facing to rear-facing. This allows them to fit children from infancy until the end of elementary school, based on the model you choose. Some models have higher weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, which allows them to be used for longer.
If you opt for convertible
infant car seat swivel car seats make sure to determine whether it has removable
newborn car seat insert inserts that provide a snug and secure fit for your baby. The firm padding raises the infant's torso so they can get to the smallest slots in the straps, and moves them slightly forward to prevent their head from flopping back against the harness straps or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).
Infant car seats also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles, and some of them can click into strollers to form a travel system. This feature lets you easily transfer your car to a stroller without waking your baby.
Your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat. This could happen when they reach their weight or height limit. Most experts agree that it's time to switch to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be certain to read the manual to make sure your child is ready.
Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than
infant car seat rear facing car seats at first however they can turn out to be cheaper over time because they can be used for many years. In addition, some models come with lower anchors that permit the installation of these seats with less force than traditional car seats, which can lessen the risk of injuries in an accident.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be top of mind. All baby car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some go above and beyond to offer extra peace of mind for parents.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses are a great way to ensure that your child's safety is maintained. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and reduce the force in the event of a crash, are also available.
A good way to determine the safety of an infant car seat is prior to purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. However, it's important to remember that the most important factor in determining how safe an infant car seat is how it's used. According to our discussions most accidents involving infant car seats are caused by improper use, either through unsafe installations or improper restraints of the child.
If you want to make certain that you're using your infant car seat correctly then look for one with a simple manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level and bubbles at the bottom of the seat that show EXACTLY where to place it. Make sure you firmly tighten the straps to the chest and abdomen of your baby when you install it. One good sign of this is the sound that it makes as you tighten.
Also, when you're out and about with your baby in car seats, don't leave it unattended, even when you are just running into the store or making a quick trip to the park. Apart from being an extremely dangerous idea in the event of the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or carrier on a rough surface outside of the vehicle is a dangerous practice that can result in falls and injuries. Car seats and carriers that are prone to tipping over or roll could also cause injuries to babies or, worse yet, suffocate them.
You will require a booster car seat at some point. To save money in the long run opt for a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.
