Why You Should Consider a forward facing infant car seat [More Help]

Children under one year should not ride facing towards the forward. In a crash their neck muscles that are weak could stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead switch to FF when your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Please review your instructions for your car seat.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats with a forward-facing view have five-point harnesses to ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides improved protection against impact. Some models also come with an umbrella to protect from the sun.

The most suitable infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This lets you determine the right angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in the event of a collision. The seat also comes with the top tether strap, which comes from the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. Be aware that you might not have to change your child's seat to a forward facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual for the seat.

It's time to switch when your child is 20 pounds and one year. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during a crash. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). Rear-facing car seats safeguard the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their heads.

When kids move to a forward-facing car seat they should remain in a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that has a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. The child shouldn't be placed in a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is typically between 4 and 5 years old. You can notice the differences in these seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the video is slowed down. Children can be injured in the event that they move too fast.

Comfort

A forward facing infant car seat for travel car seat allows your infant to ride in comfort and be secure in an accident. The seat has a comfortable headrest and body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing cover to protect your child from collision. The seat also comes with a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is correctly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. To ensure safety the seat is designed to be secured by the vehicle's seat belt and has an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward during sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle could be too low for your child. This can be fixed by placing tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat.

It is vital to keep in mind that children are not ready to face forward until they are at least 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force that is applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer, because the muscles and bones of children are more malleable than those of adults.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible seat which allows their infants to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer and is more convenient for parents since they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child has outgrown it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lb) and then to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option when you're traveling with a young child. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller, making it easier to get your child in and out of the car to go to the grocery store or other tasks.

But, even the time your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat, it's safer to keep them rear-facing for as long as is possible. If you view it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head as well as neck and torso is held by the car seat's back when they face in this direction.

It is important to read the manufacturer's instructions for how to change the car seat of your child around. There will be an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't go over and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These rules are designed to protect your child as they grow.

You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with anchors for tethers. If you do, ensure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the vehicle's anchor points as instructed in the seat's manual. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low, as this will affect how well they are secured in the event of a crash.

An excellent option for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more children is convertible car seats. It is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat, and then changed to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must-have item for your baby car seat and you've spent many hours deciding the best car seats infant one. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants, you may be wondering if it's the right time to switch them around.

While the idea of letting your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.

Remember that children vary in both size and age. You shouldn't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum legroom. It may seem that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, but that doesn't mean it is safe to turn the child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.

It's recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one don't have enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many rotating infant car seat car seats are equipped with practical features that make them easy to use. These include bases that stay in the car and snap out and in to let you carry your child from car to stroller or back again and often with a frame stroller as part of the travel system.

If you're about to transition your baby into forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you do so correctly by following all the instructions of the manufacturer and examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, call an accredited safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.