The Reasons Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Is Everywhere This Year
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in an infant car seat rear facing is the safest option. Children should only be moved to a car seat that faces forward once they have reached the maximum weight and height of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that since their spines aren't yet fully ossed, it is crucial to keep the force of the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash, the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing a whiplash effect that can be fatal or severe. In a rear-facing seat, however, the impact is absorbed and absorbed in the back of the car. "It's like a hug," says Adele. Additionally the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward by the rear of the seat or other vehicle surfaces. "This helps to prevent collisions with the inside of their bodies, causing internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents resist ERF because they fear their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers to sit rear-facing since the seat reclines and allows him to read or watch TV while he does so.
If you have a child who is reluctant to face the rear due to their leg length or other reasons you can convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the weight or height limits are not exceeded.
Be sure to lock your child in a rear-facing car seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothing such as winter coats as they can be compressed during a crash, causing the harness straps to loosen and put your child at risk for injuries. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a tight fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats facing rear for as long as they can because they are easy to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they may require being placed in a bassinet or crib for nap or bedtime. This could result in waking the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. However, the advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort.
Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This reduces the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is at or below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is essential for premature infants who have bones that are weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.
In addition, the rear-facing position provides a much better view of your child than facing forward. This lets you monitor their behavior, and ensure they are happy and comfortable. The majority of infant car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually every angle.
You can use convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats which means 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 or rear-facing positions, or as a belt positioning booster. They are also simpler to remove and install because they have a large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than the infant car seats that can be used only once, but they will last longer and save money over time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer or at least 2 years older. Many children outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat before age two however, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier -- it's safer to wait.
Weight Limits
It is important to know that all car seats for infants have weight and height limits. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of about 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's time to move on to the next stage of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that allows you to switch between rear facing and forward facing or an all-in-one car seat that lets your child ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.
There are other factors apart from the weight and height limits, that can indicate whether your child is ready to move up a stage in the car seat. One of these is their comfort level riding in a rear-facing. You can check for these indicators by observing your child's behavior and looking at other children their age in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child safety experts at a car seat inspection station that are usually run by local government agencies or community groups.
It's best to keep your infant rear-facing as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are mature before they switch them over. It's possible to avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's car seats is properly installed and don't switch to a front-facing seat before they're ready even if their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
You can contact a certified child passenger technician if there are any concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready for the next phase of car seats or if you're worried that you might not installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through local community organizations, 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 will visit your workplace or at home to help ensure you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
The correct installation of a car seat is essential for its effectiveness. Unfortunately it is the case that the NHTSA states that nearly 50% of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your child's car seat is correctly installed is to study the manual and have it professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.
Checking the angle is the first step towards installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. Check that the base of the car seat is at a safe angle to support the weight of your child that is visible on the indicator on the side of the base or in its user's manual.
It is also important to ensure that your baby's head is at the right angle when in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks and the forward-facing position could cause pressure on their necks and spine during a crash. In a rear-facing crash, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.
When your child is at the limit of weight or height of the infant car seat, it is time to switch to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. They can be used in a rear-facing configuration to the front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with an increased rear-facing limit when you choose to change to this type of seat as older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their children in cars will be able to select an infant car seat that is able to be removed and attached to a stroller. car seat newborn can be a challenge and time-consuming to maneuver your car seat and stroller into and out of the vehicle on a regular basis, especially when you have a baby. This could be a good option for a lot of families who are willing to take the time to get it right every time. Be sure to plan ahead and select a day when you will have plenty of time spare.