The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year old should not ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Make sure you read the instructions for your car seat.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position can also help prevent your baby from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.

All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses. They can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best car seats infant best car seats newborn seats include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster which allows you to choose the right angle for your child's head in order to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a crash. The car seat also comes with a top tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you might not have to change your child's seat to an forward-facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height listed in the manual of the seat.

When your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old, it's time to make the switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during a crash. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent kind), they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are riding rear-facing their head is cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that could stress their necks.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all in-one that has a large rearward weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement, which usually means around age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the footage is slow-motion. A child can be injured if they move too quickly.

Comfort

A forward facing infant car seat allows your child to ride comfortably and be secure in a crash. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will ensure your child's safety from impact. The seat also has five-point harnesses with simple one-pull tightening and a movable front center adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle to ensure safety. It also includes a clip to lock the latch buckle fastened when the seat is not being used.

If your child is complaining of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward when sleeping, the angle of the seat might be too low for your child. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help, you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to withstand the force of a crash, if they were to fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest taking longer to wait as the muscles and bones of young children are more flexible.

Many parents choose to buy convertible car seats that lets their infants travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets them benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer, and makes it easier for parents as they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child outgrows it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness in tandem, without having to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is a great option if you're traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to see your child's view while driving, and allows the rest of the family to enter the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to carry your child in and out of your car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.

Even when your child is at the age where they can change to a car seat that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing seat for as long as you can. When you consider it from the standpoint of crash test results, a child's head is safer in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- head neck, torso, and head is supported by the back of the car seat when they face in this direction.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to determine how you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll find that they have the maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child as they develop.

Another thing to think about is whether you have an automobile with Tether anchors for your car seat. If so, make sure the strap is properly fitted and connected to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual of the seat. Last but not least, make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and not too low or high. This will affect how they are secured in the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have multiple children or who plan to have more. This is a complete car seat that can start with an infant car seat facing rear, then move your child to a forward-facing position when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing position in the car seat.

Style

You've put in a lot of time and effort in choosing the best car seats infant baby car seat for your child. But as they get older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you may be wondering if it's time to change them.

While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety considerations to keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you believe they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing best car seats for newborns uk seat but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one don't have enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure and secure, many infant car seats have practical features that make them simple to use. Some include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are typically part of the travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you do it correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and examining the car seat for tightness. When properly installed, the best car seats for infants seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, call a certified safety technician in your locality or the car seat manufacturer.