Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of infant car seats disengage from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This feature makes them very popular with parents who are planning to take frequent trips outside of the city.
Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps can comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips regardless of the car seat type you pick. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to get an appropriate fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, referred to as convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate newborns and small children as long as they meet the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a newborn is securely positioned within the seat's shell.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight or height limit of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your baby to sit rear facing longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).
The majority of manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's head from sliding forward when the vehicle is stopped. You can either read the manual that comes with your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle, or view a video made by an influencer of your car seat. Do not place your baby in bulky clothing like blankets or coats. They can prevent an ideal fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the impact force could eject their baby's legs or feet, or their neck and head may be violently thrown forward in an impact from the side. However, it's important to remember that the rear-facing position offers more protection than forward-facing.
A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant in a forward facing car seat being violently tossed around in an accident simulator. The resulting head injury is a gruesome injury to the head. The video of the same crash from the rear seat isn't as severe because the child's head is held by the shell.
So, if your state law requires you to turn your child's back avoid it! This is not in accordance with
best car seat infant practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are made to protect infants and newborns, with harnesses that help to secure them in the seat. Depending on the model of car seat parents might be able to adjust the recline angle and headrest to ensure their child's comfort as well as choose from various attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant
car seats newborn seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow these seats before they are ready to move to a forward facing car seat.
While it's understandable that parents would like to change their child's behavior as soon as possible, the current standard mandates that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they're 20 pounds or 1 year of age. The reason is that the neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. This occurs when a child turns into the opposite direction in an accident.
If a baby is thrown forward in a frontal crash, the spinal chord can be stretched and strained, resulting in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in the car the neck bones are kept together and protected by the harness, preventing this type of injury.
Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the back of the car during an accident. In a collision, they're less likely to be injured by a seatbelt that runs across their chests instead of their necks.
With these risks in mind, it's vital parents adhere to car seat safety rules and ensure that their child is using the right car seat for their height. Refer to the car seat instructions from the manufacturer and the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a decision. It's also a good idea to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area to get expert advice and assistance.
If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can change to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing position, and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat that has lap-sash seatbelts for adults once they've reached their recommended age and weight.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have their benefits, but which one is
best car seat for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a durable car seat for infants.
As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be changed from rear-facing to front-facing. This allows them to fit kids from infancy through the end of elementary school, based on the model you choose. Some have heavier weight and height limits in the rear position than infant car seats, allowing them to last longer.
If you opt for a convertible infant car seat Be sure to verify whether it comes with removable infant inserts that help ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your baby. These firm pads lift the infant's body so that they can fit into the smallest slots for straps, and then move them forward a bit in order to prevent their heads from colliding with the straps on their harness.
Some infant car seats have handles to make it easier to move between vehicles. Other car seats can be plugged into strollers, forming a
travel infant car seat system. This feature allows you to go from your car to your stroller without waking your baby for trips to the store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.
Your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat. This can occur when they reach their weight limit or height. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Consult your seat's instruction manual to make sure your child is ready.
While convertible car seats might seem more expensive upfront than infant car seats, they may be cheaper in the long run because you'll be capable of using them for several years. In addition, some models have lower anchors that permit you to install them using less force than traditional seats, which could reduce injuries in a crash.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be foremost in your mind. All infant car seats must meet the safety standards of the federal government, but some go above and beyond to provide extra security for parents.
Premium features, such as adjustable harnesses with no-rethread straps and anti-rebound bars, will help ensure that your child is secured properly and securely. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force of a crash are also available.
A good way to determine the safety of an infant car seat is prior to buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. It is important to remember that the use of a car seat for infants will determine how safe it is. According to our conversations, the majority of accidents involving infant car seats are the result of misuse -- either incorrect installations or improper restraints on the child.
To ensure you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, choose one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction manual and plenty of indicators to show it's secure and level, including bubbles at the base which tell you EXACTLY which position to put the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. A good indication of this is the ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten.
Even if you're just going to the store or making a quick visit to the park, you shouldn't leave your infant in the car. It's not just risky in a car crash however, leaving an
infant car seat or baby carrier on a hard surface can cause injuries and falls. Car seats that tilt or roll over can cause injuries to babies or, worse yet they could even suffocate them.
You will need an additional car seat at some time. Choose a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money in the long term. These seats offer more options and will last longer than
infant Car Seat newborn car seats.
