12 Companies Setting The Standard In Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF at the time your child reaches the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Please read your instructions for the car seat.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses. They ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some models also come with an umbrella to protect from the sun.
The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to avoid it falling over in a collision. The top tether strap is attached to the tether anchor of the vehicle and extends from the top. It is important to keep in mind that your child might not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.
It's time to change when your child weighs 20 pounds and one year. Children and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their heads.
When children transition to an forward-facing car seat they should use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement, which usually means at around the age of 4 or 5. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the two carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed. If a child is moving too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat comes with a soft cushion for the headrest and body as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from collision. The seat comes with five points of safety harness that can be tightened by only one pull, and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure safety. It also includes a locking clip which keeps the buckle in place even when the seat isn't being used.
If your baby complains of discomfort or appears to be slouching forward while sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can remedy this by putting tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this doesn't work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.
It is important to remember that children aren't yet ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough to withstand a force applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, because the muscles and bones of young children are more flexible.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This lets them benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for longer and is easier for parents as they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child has outgrown it.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gives your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, without re-threading.
Convenience
If you are traveling with a small infant, a forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent choice. This allows you to see your child while driving and the rest of your family can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller making it much easier to get your child in and out of the car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.
But, even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. When you look at it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards, the entire body, including the head, neck and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate your child's seat. You will find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific rules about things like the crotch strap position. These rules are designed to protect your child's health as they develop.
It is also important to consider whether your vehicle is equipped with tether anchors. If you do, make sure the strap is properly fitted and secured to the vehicle's anchor points as instructed in the seat's manual. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured in the event of the event of a crash.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have several children or who are planning to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts with a rear-facing infant car seat and then transition 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
The infant car seat was a must for your baby and you spent a lot of time choosing the right one. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's the right time to flip them around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat.
You should also be aware that children are different in size and age, so you should never base when to switch to forward-facing on some specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their maximum legroom. It may appear that a child is taller in a rear facing car seat, but this doesn't mean that it's safe to turn the child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats have an inbuilt reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one don't have enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats come with useful features that make them simple to use. best car seat for newborn uk include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your baby from stroller to car and back and often with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system.
If you're about to transition your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do so correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and then examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side or from front to back, when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, you can contact a certified safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.