Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most baby car seats can be dismantled from their base and snapped into a compatible stroller to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular for parents who plan to frequently travel out of town.
Whatever type of car seat you pick make sure your child is dressed in clothing that allows the harness straps to comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips. Bulky clothing and blankets can make it difficult to get a snug fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats with a rear-facing position) are designed to support newborns and children as high as the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats typically include an infant insert to make sure the baby's head is comfortable in the seat's shell.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that babies remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child ride rear-facing for longer until around age 4 or 5.
Most car seat manufacturers include the option of reclining angles that can be adjusted to keep the baby's back from slipping 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 view a YouTube video of an influencer for your car seat. Avoid putting your infant in bulky clothing such as blankets or coats. They can prevent an appropriate fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their chest and neck.
Many parents aren't comfortable changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They fear that the force of the crash may eject their baby's legs or feet, or their neck or head could be violently thrown forward in an impact from the side. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing provides a more protection than forward-facing.
A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant in a forward facing car seat being tossed around violently in the crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is terrifying. However, the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat not as severe as the head of a child is held in the car seat's shell.
If your state requires you to put your child in the opposite direction, do not follow it. This is not in line with best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should stay rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.
Forward-Facing
rotating infant car seat are designed to protect infants and newborns with harnesses that keep them in the car seat. Depending on the car seat model parents might be able to adjust the headrest and recline angle to ensure their child's comfort as well as choose from several attachments for the baby's stroller. The majority of infant car seats have an upper weight and height limit, and the majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to be switched to a forward-facing car seat.
It's understandable parents' desire to turn their baby around as soon as they can but the current standard requires that children under one year old remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason for this is that the neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision. This happens when a child turns forward in the event of an accident.
If a baby's neck is thrust forward during a frontal accident, the spinal cord can stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. However, if a kid is facing backward in the car the neck bones stay 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 to be thrown into the back of the car in an accident. In a collision, they are less likely to be injured by a seat belt that runs across their chests instead of their necks.
With these risks in mind In light of these risks, it is essential parents adhere to the safety guidelines for car seats and ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for their height. Check the instructions for your car seat from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle prior to making a choice. It's recommended to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area for expert assistance and advice.
When an infant outgrows their car seat, they can change to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing position, and then shifts to forward-facing after they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age they can move to a booster using a lap-sash seatbelt.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible. Both have their advantages however, which one is best for your family? An infant car seat is perfect for infants However, if you're looking for something that lasts for several years, a convertible is probably the better choice.
As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be repositioned from rear-facing to front-facing. Depending on the model, they are able to fit children from infancy to late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seats that allow for more use.
If you choose to purchase a convertible infant car seat make sure to determine whether it comes with removable infant inserts that help ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your baby. These firm pads lift the infant's body so that they can reach the lowest slots for straps and move them forward a bit to stop their heads from hitting the straps of their harness.
Some infant car seats have handles to make it easier to move between vehicles. Other car seats can be plugged into strollers, creating a transport system. This feature makes it simple to move from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby, for trips to the grocery store, mall, or doctor visits.
In the end, however your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants in the event of reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat's manual to ensure that your child is prepared.
Although convertible car seats may appear to be more expensive in the beginning than infant car seats, they may be cheaper in the long term because you'll be able to use them for several years. Additionally, some models have lower anchors which permit you to install them using less force than traditional seats, which could minimize injuries from the event of a crash.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be top of mind. All infant car seats are required to comply with federal safety standards. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents additional security.
Premium features, such as adjustable harnesses with no-rethread straps and bars that prevent rebounding, can aid in ensuring that your child is secured correctly and securely. Other useful tools, such as load legs that brace the base of the seat and help reduce the impact force in a crash are available as well.
A good way to determine how secure an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to check its crash test ratings and reviews. However it's important to keep in mind that the most important aspect in determining how safe an infant car seat is the way it is used. According to our conversations the majority of accidents involving infant car seats are the result of misuse -- either unsafe installations or improper restraints of the child.
If you want to be certain that you're using your infant car seat correctly then look for one with a simple manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level, and bubbles on the bottom of the seat that show EXACTLY where to place it. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten.
Finally, when you're out and about with your baby in car seats, don't leave the car seat unattended, even if you are just running into the store or making a quick excursion to the park. It's not just risky in a car crash and leaving your infant car seat or infant carrier on a rough surface could cause injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that roll or tip over can also injure or suffocate infants.
You will need a booster car seat at some point. Select a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to save money over the long run. These seats will provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.