Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

The majority of infant car seats be removed from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This feature makes them popular with parents who are planning to take frequent trips outside of the city.

No matter which car seat you choose Dress your baby in clothes that allow the harness straps to fit comfortably over their shoulders and hips. The bulky clothing or blankets could hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats with rear-facing positions) are designed to support newborns and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert that ensures the head of a baby is securely in the shell of the seat.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing even longer, until around age 4 or 5.

The majority of car seat manufacturers offer the option of reclining angles that can be adjusted in order to keep the baby's back from sliding forward when the car stops. It is necessary to read the manual of your car seat to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle, or watch a video by a car seat influencer to learn how. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing, like blankets and coats, because they can prevent a snug harness fit and block airflow around the infant's chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant to let their children change from rear-facing to forward-facing as they worry the force of a crash will eject the baby's feet and legs or that their neck and head may be thrown violently forward facing infant car seat in a collision with a side. It's important to remember that rear-facing offers a better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by a car seat influencer shows a child in the forward-facing car seat being violently tossed around in a crash simulation. The resultant head injury is horrific. But the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as bad, because a child's head is held within the car seat's shell.

If your state law requires you to change your child's back avoid it! This is not in line with best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed for newborns and infants. Harnesses help secure them in the seat. Parents can adjust the headrest, recline angle and stroller attachments, based on the model of car seat. The majority of infant car seat swivel car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's understandable for parents to would like to change their child's behavior as soon as possible The current law requires that kids under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they're 20 pounds or one year old. This is due to the fact that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to handle the whiplash that comes with the rear-end crash which happens when a baby is pushed forward in a crash.

If a child is caught in a frontal crash, the spinal chord can be stretched and strained and cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards while driving, their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, preventing this kind of injury.

Additionally, infants who are rear-facing are less likely to be to be thrown into the back of the vehicle in an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by the seat belts that stretch across their chests instead of their necks, in the event of a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the right car seat for their size. Check the car seat instructions from the manufacturer as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a technician for car seats who is certified in your region.

When an infant grows out of their car seat, they can upgrade to a convertible car seat. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing mode and then shift to forward-facing when they reach their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age they can upgrade to a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible one. Both have their advantages but which is the best car seat infant for your family? An infant car seat is perfect for infants, but if you want something that will last many years it is likely that a convertible would be a better option.

Convertible infant car seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. Based on the model, they are able to accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Some have higher weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than car seats for infants, allowing them to be used longer.

Find out if the convertible infant car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. These firm padding lifts the infant's torso so they can get to the smallest strap slots, and it pushes them forward a bit to prevent their head from sliding back against the harness straps or the buckle on the crotch of the seat (which puts them at risk for positional asphyxia).

Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle that parents use to move them between vehicles and can be inserted into strollers to form a travel system. This feature allows you to easily transfer your car to a stroller, without having to wake up your baby.

Your child will eventually outgrow their Infant car seat newborn car seat. This can happen when they reach their weight or height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's time to move to a convertible seat once their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to refer to your seat's instruction manual to ensure your child is in the right place.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than the infant car seats initially however they can turn out to be more affordable over time since they can be used for many years. Certain models also have lower anchors which allows for a simpler installation. This could reduce the risk of the chance of injury in the event of a crash.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the most important factor to consider when shopping for infant car seats. All car seats for infants are required to meet federal safety standards. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents extra peace of mind.

Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure your child's safety maintained. Other useful tools, such as load legs that brace the base of the seat and help reduce the impact force in a crash are also available.

A good way to determine how safe an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It is important to keep in mind that the usage of a car seat for infants will determine how safe it is. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, most accidents that involve infant car seats stem from negligence -- either inadequate installation or inadequate restraint of the child- and not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

If you want to be certain that you're using the right car seat for your baby, make sure you choose one that has an easy-to-read guide, lots of indicators that the seat is secure and level and bubbles at the bottom that show you EXACTLY how to position it. Also, ensure that you securely secure the straps to the chest and abdomen of your child when you install it. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten is a good indication.

Even if you're just going to the store or making a quick trip into the park, you should never leave your infant car seats best in the car. It's not just dangerous in the event of a car crash, but leaving an infant car seat or baby carrier on a rough surface could cause injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tilt or roll over can also cause injuries to babies or, worse yet, suffocate them.

You will need a booster car seat at some point. To save money in the long run opt for a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.