A Step-By-Step Guide To Infant Carrier Seat
What is an Infant Carrier Seat?
Parents have two options when choosing the right car seat for their baby: infant car seats and convertible car seats. Car seats for infants offer a shorter duration of use because they can only be used rear-facing.
Infant carrier seats are commonly compatible with strollers (adapters available separately) to create a traveling system. This lets parents take their baby from the car to a stroller easily without disturbing them.
Safety
Many parents are concerned about the safety of an infant's seat, particularly when they purchase one for their first time. As with all car seats, the infant seat was created to safeguard your child as safely as it is possible in the event of a collision. They are most often positioned to the rear, making them the ideal choice for infants who are at the most risk of injury in a car accident.
They also come with extra padding for added head protection as well as lower anchors to fix the seat to the chassis of your vehicle to prevent it from moving in the event of a collision. This is especially important for young infants, who have big necks and heads that are susceptible to injury from the force of a collision or sudden stop. The majority of infant carrier seats can be used in conjunction with strollers, creating a system which allows you to easily move your baby from your car to your stroller without disturbing them.
Most infant car seats also come with a base which can be used in other vehicles. This lets you take your child wherever you go. This is great for those who take taxis or ride sharing services often. It can also make traveling with an infant on planes much more convenient.
Certain infant carrier seats can be used on strollers that don't have an base. This allows you to keep your child safe throughout all sorts of trips and adventures. This is an excellent option for grandparents who want to assist you with transporting your child.
It's also important to keep in mind that an infant carrier seat is never meant to be left alone outside of a vehicle, as babies may roll or tip them over on soft surfaces, causing injuries and possibly death. This is why you should always read the safety instructions carefully prior to using an infant car seat in a different place.
Portability
Many infant car seats come as part of a "travel system", which is an amalgamation of the car seat base and frame of the stroller. These connect to provide seamless transitions. Travel systems are perfect for infants since they permit parents to move their baby from the car to the stroller and vice versa without needing to wake them up. This is the primary reason why more than 80% Babylist parents buy an infant seat.
Many infant car seats are compatible with most strollers. The stroller compatibility feature allows parents to take their baby from the car and put it on a frame for a stroller to allow them to walk through a park or a grocery store. This is an excellent feature to consider when you plan on using an Uber or taxi service. Most of these services require children to be in a safety seat.
Infant car seats are usually lighter and smaller than convertible car seats. They are an excellent choice for families who like to be on the go. Some infant car seats also have a handle so that parents can carry the seat on their own. This is particularly useful when you have a trip scheduled that you don't want to wake your sleeping baby!
Car seats for infants only last until your child is a toddler and they have outgrown the weight and height limits, some convertible car seats can be used as a rear-facing seat for newborns, then converted to a forward facing car seat for older children. These all-in-one car seats are a great choice if you are looking to keep your child in a safe car seat for as long as is possible. You can even find seats that convert to convert into a high back booster seat once your child is no longer in the harness (or exceeds the height and weight limits). Make sure to check for this feature when looking through options!
Easy of Use
A rear-facing infant carrier seat is a car seat that snaps into base of your car. These seats are designed to keep infants and toddlers safe until they reach the weight and height requirements of a booster. Many infant car seats can be used with strollers. This makes it simple to move your baby from the car to the stroller without disrupting their nap schedule.
Find an infant seat that has an adjustable carrier that it can be attached to the base of a stroller or a car. This will let you quickly move your baby in and out of the car, especially if their nap is about to end or if they're hungry, thirsty or bored. Examine the shoulder straps to make sure they are placed correctly for your child. If the straps have been placed too low or high they won't be able to be used correctly in a crash and could be dangerous.
Certain infant car seats come with lower anchors that can be used without the base, which is great for taxi rides as well as for travel on airplanes. It is essential to confirm that the lower anchors have a European routing route and are easy to install and release and look for a click that sounds like an alarm when the seat is secured properly. It is essential to select the seat with an easy-to use harness and carrier adjustment system. Examples include Graco's click connect and UPPAbaby's SmartSecure.
Convertible car seats are the next step following an infant carrier. They are able to be used until your child is at the height or weight requirements for the booster. They can be used conjunction with a stroller but they don't provide the infant-like fit or convenience of a baby carrier. rear facing infant car seat can be converted into boosters, but they are typically larger and less portable, which can make them difficult to maneuver in small vehicles or when transporting children in busy areas.
Installation
Installing car seats, particularly infant car seats, is a challenge. It is vital to install car seats correctly and safely. This is influenced by the position of the seat and the angle of the base, and how you handle the handle.
The majority of infant car seats are made to be attached to a base which remains in the vehicle, which is commonly referred to as a travel system. These seats are designed to be used in a rear-facing position, which is safer for infants than forward-facing seats. Many car seats come with an inbuilt angle indicator that can be used to verify that the seat is placed at the correct semi-reclined position for your baby. The base could also have an adjustor to change the angle.
It is also important to determine if the seat allows you to adjust the height of the shoulder straps without having to unthread and replace them. This can be a real time saver, as it is likely to require multiple times during the course of an infant's car seat use.
Some cars have a rigid point in the back of the seat that is specifically designed to hold baby car safety seats. These are usually tucked deep into the crease between the seat back and bottom cushions. These hooks should snap into place easily as they are designed specifically for the specific seat. When they are in place, you may hear a distinct sound.
It's also a good idea to test the car seat with the child first to ensure it's suitable for your family. If your child feels uncomfortable or the car seat doesn't click into the base, you should look for another alternative.
Certain car seats are equipped to be used without a base. This is helpful when you travel by public transportation or taxi services such as Uber. Read the instructions of the manufacturer for removing and installing the carrier without the base, but most will allow you to do so by simply pressing a button or lever. Some will even provide an explicit "click" when it is secure enough.