The Top Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Gurus Are Doing Three Things
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in an infant car seat rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be switched to a forward-facing car seat when they have reached the weight and height limitations of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest option for newborns and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines are not yet formed, it is vital to keep the force of a crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal collision the baby's head will hit the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated to the rear of the vehicle. "It's like a hug," says Adele. The legs of the child can be placed into the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the back of front seat or any other vehicle surface. "This helps to prevent collisions with the inside of their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they fear their child may become bored or uneasy. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact Lukas prefers riding rear-facing because the seat's recline feature lets him cross his legs and read a book or watch tv.
If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or for other reasons you can convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that they can remain in their convertible or all-in-one car seats in the event that they don't exceed the height or weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.
Also, be certain to strap your child in a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They could compress during a crash, causing the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats facing rear as long as they can, because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they might need to be put in a crib or a bassinet during nap time or at bedtime. This could mean waking the sleeping baby which is not optimal. However, the benefits of rear facing outweigh any inconvenience.
Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term newborns which means that the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants with bones that aren't strong enough and have not ossified after birth or pregnancy.
The rear-facing position also lets you observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This lets you monitor their behavior, and ensure they are comfortable and content. Many infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted so you can view your child from any angle.
When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or reaches the height or weight limit suggested by the seat manufacturer you can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known for being flexible. They can be used in forward-facing, rear-facing or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easy to install and remove because they are built with a large base in the back of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than the infant car seats that are used once, but they will last longer and save money over time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat and up to at minimum two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two However, don't be enticed to switch them around earlier. It's better to wait.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all car seats for infants come with weight and height limits. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and an upper height limit of about 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child is at the limits, you can proceed to the next level of security. You can choose an adjustable seat that allows your child to be either forward or rear-facing or an all-in one car seat.
Aside from a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that indicate your child is ready for the next step in a car seat, such as their level of comfort when riding rear facing. You can identify these signs by observing your child's behavior, and then looking at other children in their carseats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is often operated by local government or community organizations.
It is best to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are fully mature before allowing them to turn around. It's possible to avoid this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is installed correctly and don't change them to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even the weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have concerns about your child's readiness for the next phase of car seats or if you are concerned that you may not install the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community groups, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you, or contact your local public health department or safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your home or office to make sure you have the right equipment and that you are using them correctly.
Installation
A car seat has to be installed correctly in order to be efficient. The NHTSA states, with regret, that nearly half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best method to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read through the instructions, and after that, have them examined by a certified car safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step towards installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. You can examine the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.
It is also important to ensure that the baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. pushchairsandprams have big heads and soft necks and a forward-facing posture could cause pressure on their necks and spine during a crash. In a rearward-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the collision force. This protects the baby's neck and spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible seat or all-in-one seat. They can be used in a rear-facing orientation until the front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, ensure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
If you choose an infant car seat that can be removed from the car, and then re-attached to the stroller, it is a great choice for parents who want to transport their infants in and out of the car often. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle each time, particularly when you have a baby. This is a great choice for many families when they are willing to take the time to get it right each time. Make sure you plan ahead, and choose a day when you will have plenty of time spare.