Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of infant car seats detach from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame for easy transport. This makes them popular with parents planning to take frequent trips out of the city.
Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you choose. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to get an ideal fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seat with a rear-facing position designed to accommodate newborns and small children up to a weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert that ensures the head of a newborn is comfortably in the seat shell.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing for longer up to about age 4 or 5.
Most car seat manufacturers include a reclining angle which can be adjusted in order to prevent the baby's back from sliding forward when the vehicle stops. You can either read 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. Do not place your baby in bulky clothing such as coats or blankets. They can prevent a snug fit of the harness and block airflow around their neck and chest.
Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash could cause the baby's legs to be ejected from their feet, or their neck and head may be hurled forward violently in a side-impact. It's important to remember that rear-facing offers a greater level of protection than forward-facing.
A video made by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward facing car seat being violently tossed around in the crash simulator. The head injury that follows is horrifying. However, the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as bad as the head of a child is in the shell of the car seat.
So, if your state law requires you to turn your child's back, ignore it! This does not line up with best practices, which is the reason why the AAP and NHTSA are now in agreement that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever comes first.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are made to protect infants and newborns with harnesses to help keep them in the car seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents might be able to adjust the recline angle and headrest for their child's comfort, as well as select a variety of attachments for the baby's stroller. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow them before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.
It's natural for parents to want to change their baby's position as soon as they can, however, the current law requires that children under one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by an accident that rears them, which happens when a child turns forward in an accident.
If a baby's neck is thrust forward during an accident in front the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. But, if a child is seated backwards in a car the neck bones stay together and are secured by straps of the harness, which help prevent this type of injury.
Rear-facing babies are less likely to end up in the rear of the car in an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by the seat belt that extends across their chest, as opposed to their necks in the event of a collision.
Considering these risks, it's vital for parents to adhere to car seat safety rules and ensure their child is in the right car seat for their size. Always consult the manufacturer's car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual before making the decision. You can also seek professional advice from a car seat technician who is accredited in your region.
When an infant grows out of their car seat, he or she can change to a convertible car seat. These seats start in the rear-facing mode and then switch to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age they can upgrade to a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn in deciding between a car seat for infants and a convertible one. Both have their advantages, but which is the best choice for your family? A car seat for infants is great for newborns however if you are looking for something that will last several years it is likely that a convertible would be more suitable.
As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be repositioned from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they can accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have larger weight and size restrictions than infant car seat which allows for more time of use.
Check if the convertible car seat is equipped with removable newborn inserts to ensure a secure fit for your child. The firm padding raises the infant's torso so they can get to the smallest slots in the straps, and moves them slightly forward to prevent their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the seat's crotch buckle (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).
best infant carrier car seat Push Chairs And Prams come with a handle to make it easier to move between vehicles. Others can be clicked into strollers, creating a transport system. This feature allows you to easily transfer from your car to a stroller, without having to wake your baby.
At some point, your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants or reach their weight limit or height limit. Most experts agree that it's time to move to a convertible seat when the head is within one inch of the top of the seat, but be sure to refer to your seat's instruction manual to ensure your child is ready.
Convertible car seats may seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially however they can turn out to be more affordable over time since they can be used for a long time. In addition, some models come with lower anchors that allow the installation of these seats with less force than traditional car seats, which can lessen the risk of injuries in an accident.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be foremost in your mind. All infant car seats are required to conform to the safety standards set by the federal government. However some go above the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional peace of mind.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses are a great way to ensure that your child's safety is ensured. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat to reduce the impact force in a crash are also available.
A good way to determine how safe 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 use of an infant car seat will determine how secure it is. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats are caused by misuse -- either incorrect 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 correctly, choose one with a easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators to show it's safe and level, such as bubbles at the base which tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Make sure you be sure to secure the straps the chest and abdomen of your child before you install it. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten.
When you're out and about with your baby in a car seat, never leave it unattended, even when you are just running into the shop or taking a short excursion to the park. In addition to being an extremely dangerous idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or a carrier on a hard surface outside of the vehicle is a risky practice that can lead to falls and injuries. Seats and carriers that roll or tip over can also injure or suffocate babies.
While the decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat may feel like it comes down to cost at this point but keep in mind that you will need an additional booster seat at some point. Select a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to save money over the long term. These seats will offer more options and will last longer than infant car seats.