Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keep your child in an infant car seat rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be moved to a car seat that faces forward once they have reached the maximum weight and height of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
The use of a car seat for infants rear facing is the most secure option for infants and newborns because it holds and supports their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren’t fully ossed, it is crucial to keep the force from the crash away from their heads and necks. In a frontal collision the baby’s head is likely to hit the seat infront of them. This can result in a whiplash that is extremely painful or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, “It feels like a hug.” The child’s legs can also be placed into the car seat to keep them from being thrown against the back of the front seat or any other vehicle surface. “This prevents a collision with their own bodies, which can cause internal injuries,” she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they fear their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. In fact, he prefers to ride backwards because the recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.
However, if you have an older child who is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other reasons Try to convince them that it’s the best option for them to travel. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the height or weight limit is not exceeded.
Also, make sure to buckle your child in the rear-facing car seat securely by using the vehicle’s lower anchor system or seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a tight fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing as long as possible because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may need to be put in a crib or a bassinet at nap or bedtime. This could mean waking the baby who was sleeping which is not optimal. The safety advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, but.
Newborn babies and preemies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seats is lower. This reduces the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants who have bones that are weak and have not ossified after birth or pregnancy.
Additionally, the rear-facing position provides the best car seats for newborns view of your child than facing forward facing infant car seat. This lets you easily check their behavior and ensure that they are content and happy. The majority of infant car seats come with built-in mirrors that can be adjusted to ensure that you can see your child at any angle.
When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit suggested by the manufacturer of their seat You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they are at least two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats that means they can be used for longer.
All-in-one or convertible car seats are well-known for their versatility. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also easier to install and remove due to their large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. They’re more expensive than single-use infant car seats however they last longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat or until they reach at least two years old. It is common for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat rear facing car seat before they turn two years old. But, it’s always better to wait.
Weight Limits
All infant car seats come with weight and height limits that you need to be aware of. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and an upper height limit of about 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child reaches the limits, it’s time to move to the next stage of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that can switch between forward and rear facing, or an all-in one car seat that allows your child to ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.
There are other factors, besides the weight and height limit that can tell you whether your child is ready to move up a stage in a car seat. One of these is their comfort level when riding backwards. You can check for these indicators by observing your child’s behavior and comparing them to other children their age in their car seats. You can also ask for assistance from certified child passenger safety technicians at a car seat inspection station that are usually run by local government agencies or community groups.
Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can is safest for them, and it’s easy to understand why so many parents are hesitant to turn their children back until they’re completely grown. You can ward off this temptation by making sure that your child’s car seat is properly installed and don’t change them to a front-facing seat before they’re ready even if their weight or height is within the limits of their existing seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage in their car seat or you’re concerned that you may not have installed their current car seat in a correct manner contact a certified child safety technician. These specialists can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can locate one close to you by searching online or contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your home or office to make sure you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
A car seat needs to be installed correctly in order to be efficient. The NHTSA states, with regret, that almost half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best method to make sure that your child’s car seats are properly installed is to read through the manual, then have them professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.
The first step when installing a rear facing infant car seat is to determine the angle. Check that the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle for the weight of your baby, which you can find on the indicator on the base of the base or in the user’s manual.
It is also important to ensure that your baby’s head is in the right angle when in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks, and the forward-facing position could put pressure on their neck and spine in a crash. In a rear-facing collision the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which shields the baby’s delicate neck as well as spinal cord.
Once your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it is time to switch over to a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat. They can be used in a rear-facing configuration until the front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, ensure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their infants by car will find it convenient to select an infant car seat that can be detached and attached to strollers. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle on a regular basis, especially if you have a newborn. This could be a good option for a lot of families, when they are willing to invest the time to get it right every time. Make sure you plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time spare.