Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of infant car seats can be detached 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 take frequent trips out of town.
Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps comfortably be positioned over their hips and shoulders, regardless of which car seat you select. Large blankets or clothing can hinder a secure harness fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, also referred to as convertible car seat with a rearward-facing position designed to accommodate infants and small children as long as they meet the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats typically come with an infant insert that ensures a newborn's head is comfortably positioned within 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 allow your child to be rear facing for longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).
The majority of manufacturers have their car seats designed with the ability to adjust the reclining angle. be adjusted to keep the baby's head from sliding backward when the vehicle is stopped. It is necessary to read the manual for your car seat to determine how to adjust the reclining angle, or look up a video from an influencer for your car seat to learn how to do it. It's also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing like blankets and coats, because they can prevent an ideal fit for the harness and block airflow around your infant's neck and chest.
Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one because they fear that the impact force could eject the baby's legs and feet or that their neck and head might be thrown violently forward in a side impact. It's important to remember that the rear-facing position offers much greater protection than forward-facing.
A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward-facing car seat being violently tossed around in an accident simulator. The resulting head injury is horrific. However, the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat is not as severe, because a child's head is in the shell of the car seat.
If your state requires you to face your child in the opposite direction, do not follow it. This is not in line with best practices. That is why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever is first.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are designed to protect infants and newborns, with harnesses that help keep them in the car seat. Depending on the car seat model parents might be in a position to adjust the recline angle and headrest to suit their child's needs, as well as select various attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant car seats have an upper weight and height limit, and the majority of kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to switch 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 stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and 1 year old. This is because the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to handle the whiplash of an rear-end collision, which is what happens when a baby turns forward in a crash.
If a child's neck is forced forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car, their neck bones are kept together and protected by the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.
Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the back of the vehicle in an accident. In the event of a collision they're less likely to be injured by a seatbelt that is positioned across their chests, instead of their necks.
Parents must ensure that their child is using the right car seat for their size. Take a look at the instructions for your car seat from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle prior to making a decision. It's recommended to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.
When a baby grows out of their car seat, they can change to convertible car seats. These seats are designed to start in a rear-facing position and switch to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. best car seat www.pushchairsandprams.uk can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash adult seatbelts once they've reached their recommended weight and age.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between a baby car seat or a convertible one. Both have advantages however, which is the best choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a long-lasting infant car seat.
Convertible infant car seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. Depending on the model, they can accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seat, allowing for longer use.
Find out if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable infant inserts that will ensure a comfortable fit for your child. The firm padding raises the infant's body so that they can fit into the smallest slots on the straps, and then it pushes them forward a bit to stop their head from flopping back against the harness straps or the seat's crotch buckle (which puts them at risk for positional asphyxia).
Infant car seats are also likely to have a handle parents use to transfer between cars, and some of them can click into strollers to form a travel system. This feature allows you to move from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby, for trips to the grocery store or mall, or for doctor visits.
At some point your child will outgrow their car seat for infants in the event of reaching their weight limit or height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to ensure that 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 because you'll be capable of using them for many years. In addition, some models have lower anchors that permit the installation of these seats with less force than traditional seats, which can reduce injuries in a crash.
Safety Ratings
When shopping for an infant car seat, safety should be the top priority. All infant car seats are required to comply with the safety standards set by the federal government. However some go above the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional security.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can ensure that your child's safety is maintained. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat and help reduce the impact force in a crash are available as well.
Examining the crash test ratings and reviews of an infant car seat can help you determine its safety before purchasing. However, it's important to remember that the most important aspect in determining how safe an infant car seat is how it's used. Based on our conversations most accidents involving infant car seats result from improper use, either through improper installation or inadequate restraints for the child.
To ensure that you're using a car seat for your infant properly, search for one with a easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators that it is solid and level, with 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 it is an excellent indicator.
Finally, when you're out and about with your child in a car seat, never leave it unattended, even if you're just going to the store or a quick trip to the park. It is not only dangerous in the event of a crash however, leaving an infant car seat or infant carrier on a hard surface can also lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tip over or roll can also cause injuries to babies or, worse yet and even cause them to suffocate.
While the choice between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it comes down to the cost, keep in mind that you'll need a booster seat at some point. To save money in the long run, choose a convertible or all-in-one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.