Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of infant car seats disengage from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame for easy transportation. This makes them popular with parents planning to travel frequently out of the city.
Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you pick. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to achieve an appropriate fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, also referred to as convertible car seat with an inclination to the rear are designed to fit newborns and small children as long as they meet the weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a baby is securely positioned inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing even longer, until around age 4 or 5.
The majority of car seat manufacturers offer an adjustable reclining angle that can be adjusted to stop the baby's back from falling forward when the vehicle slows down. You can refer to the manual for your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat. Avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing such as blankets or coats. They could hinder an ideal fit of the harness and block airflow around their chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing because they worry the impact force could eject the baby's legs and feet or that their neck and head could be thrown forward violently in a side collision. But, it's important to remember that the position of rear-facing provides more protection than the forward-facing position.
A video made by a car seat influencer shows an infant in a forward facing car seat being violently tossed around in an accident simulator. The head injury that results is a gruesome injury to the head. But the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as horrific because the head of the child is held within the shell of the car seat.
If your state requires that you face your child in the opposite direction, 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 in the seat. Parents can adjust the recline angle of the headrest, and stroller attachments depending on the type of car seat. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight and height, and most children will outgrow them before they're ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat.
It's understandable for parents to want to change their baby's position as soon as they can but the current standard requires that children less than one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason for this is that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision, which happens when a child turns forward in an accident.
If a child's neck is forced forward in an accident that is frontal the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which can lead to paralysis or death. If a child is seated backwards in the car their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, preventing this type of injury.
Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests instead of their necks in a collision.
With these risks in mind, it's vital for parents to adhere to the safety guidelines for car seats and ensure their child is using the right car seat for their size. Refer to the car seat instructions from the manufacturer and the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a decision. It's recommended to visit an accredited car seat technician in your area to get expert advice and assistance.
When a baby grows out of their car seat, he or she can change to a convertible car seat. These seats start in a rear-facing position and switch to forward-facing once they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a lap-sash adult seatbelts once they've reached their recommended age and weight.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between a baby car seat or a convertible. Both have their benefits, but which one is best for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a long-lasting car seat for infants.
As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be moved from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they can accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats have larger weight and size restrictions than the infant car seats, allowing for longer use.
If you decide to buy a convertible infant car seat Be sure to verify whether it comes with removable infant inserts that provide a snug and secure fit for your baby. The firm padding raises the infant's torso, so they can fit into the smallest slots on the straps, and then it pushes them forward a bit to prevent their head from slipping back against the harness straps or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).
Some infant car seats come with a handle that makes it easier to move between vehicles. Other car seats can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature allows you to easily transfer from your car to a stroller without waking up your baby.
Eventually, though, your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants or reach their weight limit or their height limit. Many experts agree that it's time to transition to a convertible seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to refer to your seat's manual to make sure your child is in the right place.
While convertible car seats might appear to be more expensive in the beginning than infant car seats, they may be cheaper in the long run since you'll be able to use them for many years. Some models also have lower anchors, which make it easier to install. This can reduce the chance of injury in a crash.
Safety Ratings
Safety is the primary factor to think about when buying car seats for infants. All car seats for infants are required to comply with the safety standards set by the federal government. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents extra peace of mind.
Premium features such as anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure that your child's safety is maintained. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force during a crash are also available.
An effective method to determine how secure an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It is essential to keep in mind that the usage of a car seat for infants will determine how secure it is. According to our conversations most accidents that occur in infant car seats are caused by misuse -- either unsafe installations or improper restraints on the child.
To ensure you're using a car seat for your infant properly, search for one that comes with an easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators that show it's secure and level, including bubbles on the base that inform you EXACTLY where to position the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. The ratcheting sound that it makes when you tighten is an excellent indicator.
Even if you're merely going to the market or making a quick visit to the park, you shouldn't leave your infant in a car. Apart from being pushchairsandprams.uk in the event of a crash, leaving your infant car seat or carrier on a rough surface outside of the vehicle is a risky practice that can result in falls and injuries. Car seats that are prone to tipping over or roll could also hit and injure babies, or worse they could even suffocate them.
While the decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it comes down to price at this point but keep in mind that you will need an additional booster seat at some time. Choose a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money in the long term. These seats provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.