Infant Car Seat – What You Need to Know

The majority of infant car seats be removed from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who intend to take frequent trips out of town.

No matter which car seat you select Dress your lightweight baby car seat in clothing that allows the harness straps to comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to get an appropriate fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position) are designed to hold newborns and children as high as the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a newborn car seat is comfortable placed inside the seat shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that babies remain rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing for longer up to age 4 or 5.

The majority of manufacturers design their car seats with the ability to adjust the reclining angle. be adjusted to prevent the baby’s head from sliding backwards when the car is stopped. You can refer to the instruction manual for your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle or watch a video by an influencer for your car seat. Avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing like coats or blankets. They can prevent an ideal fit of the harness and block airflow around their chest and neck.

Many parents aren’t comfortable switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash could eject their baby’s legs or feet, or that their neck and head could be hurled forward violently in a side-impact. It’s important to remember that the rear-facing position provides much greater protection than the forward-facing one.

A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant car seat in front seat in a forward-facing car seat being thrown around violently in a crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is awe-inspiring. 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.

If your state requires that you face your child forward, ignore it. This is not in line 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 designed for infants and newborns. Harnesses are used to secure them into the seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle, headrest, and stroller attachments depending on the type of car seat. The majority of infant car seats come with the capacity to hold a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow them 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 be rear-facing in a Car Seat Newborn seat until they’re 20 pounds and one year old. The reason is that the neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash from an accident that rears them, which is caused when a child moves forward in an accident.

If a child is caught in a frontal collision the spinal cord can be stretched and strained, resulting in paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards in a car, their neck bones are kept together and secured by the harness, which prevents this type of injury.

Rear-facing babies are less likely to be in the back of the car during an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by the seat belts that stretch across their chest instead of their necks, in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat for his or the size. Always refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the vehicle owner’s manual before making an important 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 out of their car seat, they can upgrade to convertible car seats. These seats are designed to start in a rear-facing position and then switch to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a a lap-sash adult seatbelt once they’ve reached their recommended weight and age.

Convertible

Many new parents are confused when it comes to choosing between an infant car seat and a convertible one. Both have their benefits however, which is the best choice for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable car seat for infants.

Convertible infant car seats convert from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. Based on the model, they are able to be used for children as young as late elementary school. Some have heavier weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, allowing them to be used for longer.

If you choose to purchase convertible infant car seats Be sure to verify whether it has removable newborn inserts that ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your baby. These sturdy pads raise the infant’s body up so that they can get to the lowest slots for straps and move them forward a bit in order to prevent their heads from colliding with the straps of their harness.

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 makes it easy to go from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby for trips to the grocery store mall, the doctor’s office, or visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This could occur when they reach their weight limit or height. Most experts agree it’s time to upgrade to convertible car seats when your child’s head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat’s manual to ensure your child is in the right place.

While convertible car seats can seem more expensive upfront than infant car seats but they can be more affordable in the long term because you’ll be capable of using them for many years. Additionally, certain models come with lower anchors that permit you to install them using less force than traditional seats, which can reduce injuries in a crash.

Safety Ratings

When shopping for an infant car seat, safety is top of mind. All infant car seats that swivel car seats have to conform to federal safety standards. However some go above the minimum requirements to give parents additional peace of mind.

Premium features such as anti-rebound bars and no-rethread harnesses can help to ensure your child’s safety maintained. Load legs, which brace the seat’s base and reduce the force during a crash are also available.

A good way to determine how secure an infant car seat is prior to purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It’s important to keep in mind that the usage of an infant car seat will determine how safe it is. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats stem from misuse — either inadequate installation or inadequate restraint of the childbut not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

To ensure that you’re using a car seat for your infant properly, search for one that has a clear instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it’s solid and level, with bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Also, ensure that you firmly tighten the straps to the chest and abdomen of your baby when you install it. A good indication of this is the ratcheting sound it produces as you tighten.

Also, when you’re out and about with your baby in car seats, don’t leave the car seat unattended, even if you are just running into the store or a quick visit to the park. 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. Seats or carriers that tip or roll can cause injury or death to infants.

You will require a booster car seat at some point. Choose a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to save money over the long term. These seats will offer more options and will last longer than infant car seats.