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 for easy transportation. This feature makes them popular with parents who intend to make frequent trips out of town.

Dress your baby car seat in clothing so that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat you select. Large blankets or clothing can interfere with a snug harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats with an open rear position) are designed to accommodate infants and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually 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 babies ride rear-facing until they attain their weight or height limits for car seats or the weight limit for the car seat, whichever is first. Some convertible and all in one car seats allow your child to ride rear facing even longer, until about age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

Most car seat manufacturers include the option of reclining angles that can be adjusted in order to keep the baby's back from sliding forward when the vehicle slows down. You can either read the manual that comes with your car seat to discover how to adjust the angle or view a video made by an influencer for your car seat. It's also important not to placing your baby in bulky clothing, like blankets and coats, because they can prevent a snug harness fit and block airflow around your infant's chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant to let their children change from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one because they are concerned that the force of a crash will eject the baby's legs and feet or that their head and neck might be thrown violently forward in a collision with a side. It is important to remember that rear-facing provides a more protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed about in a crash simulation. The head injury that follows is horrifying. However, the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat is not nearly as horrific because the head of the child is in the car seat's shell.

If your state law requires you to change your child to forward-facing, ignore it! This does not line up with best car seat practices. That is why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever is first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them to the seat. Depending on the car seat model parents might be able to adjust the angle of recline and headrest to ensure their child's comfort as well as select a variety of attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant car seats are designed to accommodate the capacity to hold a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow them before they are ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's understandable that parents want to change their child's behavior as soon as they can The current law requires that children under one year of age must be rear-facing in car seats until they reach 20 pounds and one year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. This happens when a child turns forward in an accident.

If a child is caught in a frontal collision, the spinal chord can be stretched and strained and cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car, the neck bones stay together and are secured by straps that secure the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.

In addition, infants facing the rear are less likely to be thrown into the back seat of the car in an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by the seat belt that extends across their chest instead of their necks, in the event of a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for the size. Take a look at the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and your vehicle's owner's manual before making a decision. You can also seek out professional advice from a car seat technician who is accredited in your region.

If an infant is out of their car seat, they can upgrade to a convertible car seat. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing direction and then switch to forward-facing once they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash seatbelts for adults after they've reached their recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between a car seat for infants and a convertible one. Both have advantages however which one is the best car seats for newborns uk for your family? A car seat for infants is great for newborns, but if you want something that will last many years then a convertible may be more suitable.

As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be moved from rear-facing to front-facing. Depending on the model, they are able to be used for children as young as late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seats, allowing for longer use.

If you decide to buy a convertible infant car seat make sure to determine whether it has removable newborn inserts that ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your baby. These pads are firm and lift the infant's body so that they can fit into the smallest slots for straps, and then push them forward slightly so that they can prevent their heads from colliding with the harness straps.

Some infant car seats have a handle that makes it easier to transfer between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature allows you to easily transfer from your car to a stroller, without having to wake up your baby.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This can happen when they reach their weight limit or height. Most experts agree that it's the right time to move to a convertible car seat when their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be certain to read the instruction manual to ensure your child is ready.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than baby car seats at first however they can turn out to be more affordable over time since they can be used for a number of years. Certain models also come with lower anchors which allows for a simpler installation. This could help reduce injuries during the event of a crash.

Safety Ratings

When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety should be top of mind. All infant car seats that swivel car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some go above and beyond to provide additional peace of mind for parents.

Premium features such as anti-rebound bars and no-rethread harnesses can help to ensure your child's safety kept in mind. Load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the force during an accident, are also available.

One way to find out the safety of an infant car seat is prior to buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. However it is important to remember that the most important factor in determining how safe an infant car seat newborn car seat is actually how it's used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats are caused by improper use -- or in the case of an inadequate installation or improper restraint of the child -but not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

To ensure that you're using an infant car seat correctly, choose one that comes with an easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators to show it's safe and level, such as bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to position the seat. When you install the seat, tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. The ratcheting noise it makes when you tighten is a good indication.

Also, when you're out and about with your child in car seats, don't leave it unattended, even when you're just going to the store or making a quick excursion to the park. It is not only dangerous in the event of a crash and leaving your infant carrier or car seat on a hard surface can also lead to injuries and falls. Car seats that tip or roll can cause injury or death to babies.

You will need an additional car seat at some time. Consider a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to save money over the long run. These seats will offer more options and will last longer than infant car seats.