Five Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Projects For Any Budget
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in a car seat for infants rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be moved to the car seat facing forward once they have reached the weight and height limits of their existing seat.
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Safety Benefits
Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is the most secure option for newborns and babies because it supports and cradles their neck and head. "Since their spines aren't ossified yet, it's important to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads" says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, a baby's head would hit the seat in front of them, creating a whiplash effect that can be severe or fatal. However, in a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be secured into the car seat to keep them from being thrown against the back of the front seat or any other vehicle surface. "This prevents a collision with their bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child will be bored or uncomfortable. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.
If you do have an older child who is resistant to being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other reasons Try to convince them that it's the safest option for them to travel. Explain that they can remain in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Be sure to buckle your child in a rear-facing car seat tightly using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. They can expand when a collision occurs, which can cause the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they may require being placed in a crib or bassinet during nap time or time to sleep. This may require waking up the baby who was sleeping, which is never the best option. However, the safety advantages of rear facing far outweigh any inconvenience.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term babies. This reduces the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.
Additionally the rear-facing position offers a much better view of your child than facing forward. This allows you to monitor their behavior, and ensure they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted to ensure that you can view your child from any angle.
Once your baby outgrows their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit recommended by their seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats, meaning they can be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are renowned for being versatile. They can be used forward-facing, rear-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easy to remove and install due to their large base at the back of your vehicle. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats however, they last longer than an infant car seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat or at least 2 years older. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before the age of two, but don't be tempted to turn them around earlier. It's better to wait.
Weight Limits
All infant car seats come with weight and height limits that you have to keep in mind. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds and an upper height limit of around 30 inches or so, depending on the model. If your child is reaching these limits, it's the time to move to the next stage of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that can be switched between forward and rear facing, or an all-in one car seat that lets your kiddo ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
There are other aspects aside from the weight and height limit that can tell you whether your child is ready to move up a stage in the car seat. One of them is their comfort level riding rear-facing. You can identify these signs by observing your kiddo's behavior and comparing them to other children in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child passenger safety experts at an inspection station for car seats that are usually run by local government agencies or community groups.
Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as is possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to understand why a lot of parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're completely grown. But you can still avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's seat is properly installed and you don't rush to transition them to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're close to the limit of weight or height of the car seat they're currently in.
You can reach a certified child passenger technician if you have any questions about your child's readiness for the next stage of car seats or if you are worried that you might not be installing the car seat correctly. These specialists can be found through community organizations, local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check-in events that can visit your workplace or at home to make sure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
A car seat has to be properly installed to be effective. The NHTSA has found that almost half of car seats are set up incorrectly. best car seats newborn includes rear-facing seats. The best way to ensure that your infant car seat is installed correctly is to study the manual and have it verified by a certified vehicle safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step to installing the rear-facing infant car seat. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.
It is also important to ensure that the head of your baby is positioned correctly in the seat. The forward-facing position can cause pressure on the neck and spine of infants with their large heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.
When your baby is at the weight or height limit of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to transition to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. Make sure to purchase an infant car seat with a higher rear-facing limit if you switch to this type of seat, because older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their children by car will find it convenient to choose an infant car-seat that is removable and connected to a stroller. The only downside to this is that it could be a hassle and time-consuming to move the car seat and stroller into and out of your car each time, especially with a newborn. This can be a good choice for many families if they are willing to spend the time to get it right every time. Make sure you plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time spare.