A Productive Rant About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under the age of one year should NOT ride facing forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injury.
Instead, switch to FF when your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of their current seat (or the minimums for the new seat). Please read your instructions for your car seat.
Safety
Car seats for infants are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries.
All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to secure the child with one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides improved impact protection. Some also have an umbrella to protect from the sun.
The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to avoid it falling over in the event of a collision. The seat also has the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you might not have to move your child from a forward-facing car seat until attains the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual for the seat.
When your child reaches 20 lbs and a year old, it's time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are backwards their heads are cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can strain their necks.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a high rearward weight limit and a high. The child shouldn't be moved into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is typically around the age of 4 or 5 years old. You can see the difference in these car seats when you watch these crash videos, however, remember that the footage is slow-motion. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to keep your child safe from a collision. The seat also has five-point harnesses with simple one-pull tightening and an adjustable front center adjuster to ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for security. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle secure when the seat isn't in use.
If your baby complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward while sleeping it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their carseat.
It is crucial to remember that children are not ready to stand up and face forward until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force that would be applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts suggest waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for longer, and also makes it more convenient for parents since they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child has outgrown it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers 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 backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the harness and headrest together without re-threading.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option for traveling with a toddler. This lets you see your child as you drive and the rest of your family can enter the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with strollers which makes it easier to carry your toddler in and out of the car for trips to the supermarket or other chores.
But, even if your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it's best to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head neck, torso, and head -- is cradled by the back of the car seat when they are facing in this direction.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll see that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap's position. These limits are meant to ensure your child's safety as they grow.
Another thing to think about is if you have an automobile with Tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the manual for your seat. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high, as this will affect how well they are secured in the event of an accident.
A convertible car seat is a great option for parents with several children or who are planning to have more. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then moved to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The baby car seat was a must for your child and you spent a lot of time choosing the right one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you may be wondering if it's the right time to flip them around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are some important safety considerations to keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.
Remember that children vary in both size and age. Don't base your decision on a certain date on the calendar, or if you believe they have reached their maximum length. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe for turning them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.
Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one year old do not have the strength of their neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision, which could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure, many infant car seats come with practical features that make them easy to use. infant car seat travel include bases that stay attached to the car and snap out and in to allow you to transport your child from stroller to car or back again and often with a frame stroller as part of an overall travel system.
If you're about to transition your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do it correctly by following all the instructions of the manufacturer and examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or 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 fitting of your car seat, call a certified safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of the car seat.