Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most infant car seats can be dismantled from their base, and slid into a compatible stroller to make it easy to transport. This makes them very popular with parents who plan to frequently travel out of town.
Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips, regardless of which car seat you select. Bulky clothing and blankets can make it difficult to achieve a snug fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats with rear-facing positions) are designed to hold infants and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats typically come with an infant insert to make sure a newborn's head is comfortably positioned within the seat's shell.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Certain 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 an angle of reclining that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling forward when the vehicle is stopped. You can either read the instruction manual for your car seat to discover how to adjust the angle or view a YouTube video of an influencer of your car seat. It's also important not to wearing your child in bulky clothing, such as coats or blankets as they could hinder an ideal fit for the harness and cut off airflow around your infant's chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing as they fear that the force of a crash will eject the baby's legs and feet, or that their neck and head might be thrown violently forward in a side impact. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing offers a more protection than forward-facing.
A video made by a car seat influencer depicts an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being violently tossed around in the crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is horrifying. The video of the same incident from the rear seat isn't as severe because the child's head is held by the shell.
If your state requires that you face your child forward, ignore it. This is not in accordance with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should stay rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are made for newborns and infants. Harnesses assist in securing them to the seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle of the headrest and stroller attachments based on the type of car seat. 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 understandable parents' desire to turn their baby around as soon as they can however the current norm stipulates that children younger than one year old stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are one year old. This is due to the fact that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to handle the whiplash of the rear-end crash, which is what happens when a baby turns forward in the event of a crash.
If a baby's neck is moved forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. But, if a child is seated backwards in the car, the neck bones stay together and are protected by the harness straps, which prevents this kind of injury.
Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the back of the car during an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chest rather than their necks in the event of a collision.
Considering these risks In light of these risks, it is essential parents adhere to the safety guidelines for car seats and ensure their child is in the right car seat for their size. Check the instructions for your car seat from the manufacturer as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a choice. It's also a good idea to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area for professional help 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 with lap-sash seatbelts.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible. Both have their advantages but which is the best choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a great option for a long-lasting car seat for infants.
Convertible infant car seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. This allows them to fit children from the age of infancy to late elementary school, depending on the model you select. Certain rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than infant car seat that allow for more use.
Check if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable infant inserts that will ensure a comfortable fit for your child. These pads are firm and lift the infant's body up so that they can fit into the smallest slots for straps, and then move them forward a bit to stop their heads from slapping against the straps of their harness.
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 create a transport system. infant car seats best makes it simple to move from your car to your stroller without waking your baby for trips to the supermarket or mall, or for doctor visits.
In the end, however your child will outgrow their car seat for infants, either by reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once 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 your child is in the right place.
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 you can use them for many years. In addition, some models have lower anchors which allow you to install them with less force than traditional seats, which could reduce injuries in a crash.
Safety Ratings
When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety is top of mind. All infant car seats must meet federal safety standards, but some go above and beyond to provide additional assurance for parents.
High-end features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure your child's safety kept in mind. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the base of the seat to reduce the force of a crash, are available as well.
One way to find out how safe an infant car seat is prior to purchasing it is to check 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 is how it's used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats are caused by negligence -- either incorrect installation or inadequate restraint of a child- and not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.
To be sure you're using an infant car seat correctly, choose one that has a clear instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it's secure and level, including bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten it is a good indicator.
Even if you're just going to the grocery store or making a quick visit into the park, it's not a good idea to leave your child unattended in a car. It is not only dangerous in the event of a crash however, leaving an infant car seat or infant carrier on a hard surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tip over or roll can cause injuries or even death to infants.
You will require an additional car seat at some time. To save money in the long run opt for an all-in-one or convertible car seat that gives you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.