Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most infant car seats can 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 make frequent trips out of town.
Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you pick. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to get a snug fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seats with an inclination to the rear are designed to fit infants and children of a smaller size up to a certain weight and height limit specified by the manufacturer. These car seats typically come with an infant insert to ensure that the baby's head is comfortable in the seat's shell.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children ride rear-facing until they attain their weight or height limits for the car seat or until they reach their weight limits, whichever comes first. pushchairsandprams.uk and all-in-one car seats let your child ride rear-facing for longer up to about age 4 or 5.
The majority of manufacturers create car seats with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's head from falling backward when the vehicle is stopped. You'll need to read your car seat's manual to determine how to adjust the reclining angle, or look up a video from an influencer of your car seat to learn how. Avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing like coats or blankets. They can prevent an appropriate fit of the harness and block airflow around their chest and neck.
Many parents are reluctant in switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They fear that the force of the crash may throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck and head could be violently thrown forward in a side-impact. It is important to remember that rear-facing offers a more protection than forward-facing.
A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being thrown around violently in a crash simulator. The head injury that follows is awe-inspiring. But the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as horrific, because a child's head is cradled within the car seat's shell.
If your state law requires you to change your child's back do not follow it! This does not line up with best practices. That is why the AAP and NHTSA are now in agreement that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever comes first.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are designed to hold infants and newborns, with harnesses that help keep them in the car seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents will be in a position to adjust the recline angle and headrest for their child's comfort, as well as choose from several attachments for their stroller. The majority of infant car seats have an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.
It's understandable for parents to want to turn their baby around as soon as they can, however, the current law stipulates that children younger than one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is because the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to handle the whiplash that comes with a rear-end crash which happens when a baby is pushed forward in an accident.
If a child's neck is thrust forward during an accident in front the spinal cord may stretch and tear, which could cause paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backward in the car the neck bones remain together and are secured by straps of the harness, which help prevent this type of injury.
In addition, rear-facing infants are less likely to be thrown into the back seat of the vehicle during an accident. They're also less likely be injured by the seat belt that extends across their chest rather than their necks in the event of a collision.
Parents must ensure that their child is in the right car seat that is suitable for his or her size. Check the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a choice. You can also seek professional advice from a certified car seat technician who is certified in your region.
When an infant outgrows their car seat, they can change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that starts 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 a lap-sash adult seatbelt when they've reached the recommended weight and age.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have advantages, but which one is the best choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a great option for a durable car seat for infants.
Convertible infant car seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. They can accommodate children from infancy until the end of elementary school, based on the model you select. Some have heavier weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, which allows them to be used longer.
Find out if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable infant inserts that will ensure a snug fit for your child. These firm pads lift the baby's body so they can reach the lowest slots for straps, and then push them forward slightly to stop their heads from slapping against the straps on their harness.
Some infant car seats have a handle to make it easier to transfer between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, creating a travel system. This feature allows you to go from your car to your stroller without waking your baby, for trips to the supermarket mall, the doctor's office, or visits.
At some point, your child will outgrow their car seat for infants, either by reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Many experts agree that it's time to move to a convertible seat when their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to consult your seat's manual to make sure your child is prepared.
While convertible car seats might appear more expensive initially than car seats for infants but they can be more affordable in the long run since you'll be capable of using them for many years. Additionally, certain models have lower anchors which allow you to install them with less force than traditional car seats, which can minimize injuries from an accident.
Safety Ratings
Safety is the first thing to think about when buying an infant car seats. All car seats for infants are required to meet federal safety standards. However some seats go above and beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional peace of mind.
Premium features, like adjustable no-rethread harnesses and bars that prevent rebounding, can aid in ensuring that your child is secured properly and securely. Load legs, which support the seat's base and reduce the force during the event of a crash, are also available.
Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of an infant car seat will aid in determining its safety before purchasing. It is essential to keep in mind that the usage of a car seat for infants will determine how secure it is. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats result from improper use -- or in the case of an inadequate installation or inadequate restraint of the child -but not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.
To be sure you're using an infant car seat properly, search for one that comes with an easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators to show it's secure and level, including bubbles on the base that inform you EXACTLY which position to put the seat. When installing the seat, tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it produces as you tighten.
Even if you're just running to the store or making a quick visit to the park, you should never leave your child unattended in a car. It's not only an extremely dangerous idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or carrier on a hard surface outside of your vehicle is a dangerous practice that could result in injuries and falls. Car seats that tip over or roll can cause injuries to babies, or worse they could even suffocate them.
You will need a booster car seat at some point. To save money over the long term consider an all-in-one or convertible car seat that gives you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.