The Most Innovative Things Happening With Newborn Car Seat
Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A newborn car seat is also referred to as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It is designed to protect infants against injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents. They come with a harness that distributes force of restraining over the child's body and head rather than the neck and spinal cord.
They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, and with the option of varying weights and height limits. They could also be part of an entire travel system that snaps into and out of a stroller base.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing newborn car seats offer the most complete protection for infants during crashes. They are designed to support and cradle children, while protecting their neck, head and spine. They also help to reduce injuries by stopping the impact of an accident from striking your child. This is because your child's body isn't colliding with the vehicle seat or the front passenger seat, but instead the soft, cushioned surface inside their car seat.
Parents should ensure that their child is rear-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limit of their car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around age 1, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and move on to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear seat until they turn two.
There are two main kinds of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats and convertible car seats. Both are equally safe but offer different conveniences. Infant-only seats, for instance, are smaller and lighter. They also have an easy-release base that can be removed from the vehicle and reattached to the stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, and don't have a built-in base for strollers.
Whatever seat you choose regardless of the type, you must adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines and to always place the seat in the back of your vehicle. It is also recommended to place washcloths that are tightly rolled or blankets between the crotch straps and your child to make sure that there isn't any slack in the harness. Ensure that the lower anchors of your car seat are securely installed, and that they are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars.
There is a lot of debate over the length of time a baby can ride with their back facing, research suggests that infants up to 12 months old are less likely to suffer injuries in car accidents if they're facing the back of the car. Car seats with rear-facing infants also experience less impact when they hit the front of the car, as opposed to the back of the car seat, which can cause serious injuries.
Forward-facing
The majority of parents have given plenty of attention to their baby's car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry and was the method you used to get your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is older, you may be considering turning the car seat facing forward. It's important to keep in mind that your child's not ready until they've reached the weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer.
Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and reaches the age of one year. This is because children younger than one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash that can result from being thrown forward in an accident. They also face greater risk of suffering from spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions.
You can purchase a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows your child to remain rear-facing until they reach the weight and height limit for the seat. These are typically bucket-style infant seats that come with an installation base that can be inserted into your vehicle. They can also be removed from the base and connected to strollers in order to form travel systems. However, they typically have lower maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seat.
You can also purchase an extra booster. They are typically equipped with a harness designed for smaller children and can be converted to a belt-positioning seat once your child is ready for it. This type of car seat has the principal benefit of being used in your vehicle throughout the duration of your child's childhood, making it easier to move the car seat from one location to another.
No matter what car seat you pick, always read the manual and follow the instructions for installation. Get a certified safety technician to make sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and is used in a safe manner. It is typical for parents to misuse car seats, and even the most well-intentioned parents can cause injury to their children. The best way to avoid this is by reading the instructions for your car seat and following the recommendations of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents opt for convertible car seats for newborns because they can expand with your child, allowing them to travel in a safe manner from infanthood to toddlerhood. These seats are cheaper than infant ones and have a a longer lifespan. But, it's crucial to select a seat that is easy to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Also, ensure that you buckle up your baby in the correct way each time.
Snug straps stop the head from shifting to a dangerous chin-to chest position that can cause strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a major security issue. car seat inserts for newborns may cause necks to hang and is the reason of a lot of accidents. If the crotch strap has not been tightened enough to pass a pinch test, it can pose a danger. This test will determine if the crotch buckle is tight enough to prevent a baby's legs from slouching down in the seat and result in them being injured or trapped.
Some convertible newborn car seat include torso heights that are adjustable, which allows you to alter the height limit according your child's development. The minimum torso must be the same as the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert to bring your child up to the correct height for the seat.
The best convertible newborn car seat should be a snug fit, comfortable padding, and a small base that lets you put it in your vehicle. It should also feature an incredibly tight, snug harness that passes the pinch-test as well as a small and tightly-rolled blanket or towel for emergencies. It should also have an tether strap that is attached to the anchor points on your vehicle, which can reduce crash injuries by reducing the force of impact on your infant. It should also include the travel set that is a stroller and car seat that can be used to transfer your infant from the vehicle to the stroller.
Safety features
When selecting the right car seats for their newborns parents must consider a myriad of aspects to consider. Car seats are an important purchase for families who are starting a new life and their use reduces the risk that your child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71 per cent. The choice between an infant car-seat and a convertible one is based on a variety of factors, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and convenience.
Car seats for infants are designed with the delicate baby's physiology in mind. The seat's base is usually located in the car and the carrier snaps into the position. This makes it easy to move your baby from stroller to car, and back without causing any disturbance. They also come with harnesses built-in and a crotch belt to ensure your baby's safety.
Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection that is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the baby's neck and head. Foam, metal, and plastic absorb energy and protect the baby's face from direct contact with the frame of a vehicle or any other object involved in an accident. Some have a special sock that extends from the door to shield the head of the child.
Another safety feature that's becoming more prevalent in newborn car seats is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps straight across the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from pinching or twisting around the shoulders, which could expose your baby to higher risk of injury. If you decide to purchase a car seat with this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothing as it can cause interference with the harness.
Verify that the car seat is fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions regardless of the model you select. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. This system comprises a connector which clips into the lower anchor points of your car and the tether which is attached to an anchor in the vehicle. If your car does not have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure car seats.