Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
The safest way to ensure your child is in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be moved to a forward-facing car seat when they have reached the weight and height limits of their current car seat.
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infant car seat newborn
Using an infant car seat rear facing is the most secure option for newborns and babies due to the way it holds and supports their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines are not yet formed, it is vital to keep the force of a 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 cause a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. However, with the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. "It's like a hug," says Adele. In addition the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, preventing them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or other vehicle surfaces. "This prevents them from colliding with their own body, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child may become bored or uneasy. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact Lukas prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading a book or watch tv.
If you do have an older child who is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing seat because of leg length or other reasons try convincing them that it's the most secure way for them to travel. Explain that they can remain in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they don't exceed the height or weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.
Be sure to lock your child in a rear-facing seat with the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats. They could compress during a crash, causing the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats facing rear as long as they can, because they are more user-friendly and more mobile than convertible car seats. However keeping your child in a rear-facing car seat could mean that they need to be put in a crib or bassinet at times of nap or at time of bed. This could mean waking the sleeping baby which is not the best option. However, the safety advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort.
Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants who have bones that are weak and have not been ossified since birth or pregnancy.
The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure that they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to view your child from almost any angle.
You can choose a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only seats which allows them to be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are well-known for their versatility. They can be used in forward-facing, rear-facing, or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also simpler to remove and install due to their large base that is located at the rear of your car. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats however they last longer than an infant seat and will 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 that are set by the car seat manufacturer or until they reach at minimum two years old. It is common for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat when they reach the age of two. However, it's better to wait.
Weight Limits
You should be aware that all car seats for infants come with height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and the height limit is around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you are able to move to the next level of safety. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to be either forward or rear-facing or an all-in one car seat.
There are other factors aside from the weight and height limit that can tell you whether your child is ready to make the next step in a car seat. One of these is their comfort level when riding rear-facing. You can check for these signs by watching your child's behavior, and then comparing them to other children in their car seats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is typically run by local government or community groups.
Remaining rear-facing for your infant as long as possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to understand why parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're fully grown. However, you can avoid this temptation by ensuring your child's car seat is correctly installed and that you do not rush to change to a forward-facing seat too soon even if they're not close to the limits on weight or height of their current car seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're concerned that you may not have installed their current car seat in a correct manner Contact a certified child passenger safety technician. These specialists can be found through community groups, local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You are able to locate one near you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile which can come to your home or workplace to ensure that you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
A car seat must be installed correctly in order to be effective. Unfortunately the NHTSA estimates that more than half of all car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best method to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read the manual, then have them professionally assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.
The angle check is the first step in installing the rear-facing infant car seat. Make sure that the car seat base is in a safe position to support the weight of your child, which you can find on the indicator on the base of the car seat base or in the user's manual.
You should also make sure that your baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing posture could put pressure on their neck and spine in a crash. In a rear-facing collision, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.
Once your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it is time to switch to a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat. They can be used in a rear-facing position until the front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase an infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you choose to change to this type of seat since older models have lower limits.
If you choose an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and then reattached to the stroller, it is a great choice for parents who wish to get their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only drawback is that it could be tricky and time consuming to move the stroller and car seat in and out of your car every time, especially for a newborn. This could be a good option for a lot of families, when they are willing to take the time to get it right every time. Make a plan and pick the day you will have plenty of time.