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 switched to an forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for newborns and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their neck and head. "Since their spines haven't ossified yet, it's important to keep the force of a crash off their necks and heads" explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash, a baby's head would strike the seat in front of them, causing whiplash that could be fatal or even fatal. However, in a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorption by the seat and then dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. best infant car seat pushchairsandprams.uk of a child can be tucked in the car seat to protect them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other surface in the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. He prefers to sit rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read or watch a show while doing so.
If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or other reasons, convince them that this is the best 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 let them wear bulky clothing like winter coats, as these could be swollen in the event of a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose and place your child at risk for injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a tight fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible seats. However, having your child in a rear-facing car seat could mean that they need to be put in the bassinet or crib at time of nap or bedtimes. This may require waking up the sleeping baby which isn't optimal. However, the security benefits of rear facing outweigh any inconvenience.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This reduces the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is important for premature infants, who have bones that are weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.
Additionally the rear-facing position offers the best view of your child than facing forward. This lets you monitor their behavior and make sure they are comfortable and content. The majority of baby car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from nearly any angle.
You can use convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats that means they can be used longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are known for their flexibility. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing or as a belt positioning booster. They are also simpler to remove and install because they have a large base at the back of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used once, but they will last longer and save you money over time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limits that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat, or until they are at minimum two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat when they turn two years old. However, it's better to wait.
Weight Limits
It is important to know that all infant car seats have height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and the height limit is around 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child is at the limits, you can move up to the next level of safety. You can choose an adjustable seat that allows your child to be either forward or rear-facing or an all-in one car seat.
There are other aspects aside from the weight and height limit which can help you determine whether your child is able to make the next step in a car seat. One of these is their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can observe these signs in your child's behaviour and compare it with other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also ask for assistance from a certified child passenger safety technicians at an inspection station for car seats, which are often run by local government agencies or community-based organizations.
Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as is possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to understand why parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're mature. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seat is installed correctly and doesn't change them to a front-facing car seat before they're ready, even when their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage in their car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing their current car seat in a correct manner Contact a certified child safety technician. These experts can be found through local community organizations, government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your office or home to ensure that you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
Installing a car seat correctly is vital to ensure its safety. Sadly the NHTSA states that nearly half of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear-facing). The best method to make sure that your infant car seats are properly installed is to go through the manual, and after that, have them checked by an accredited car safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step to installing a rear-facing infant car seat. You can examine the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.
It is also important to ensure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. The forward-facing position can put pressure on the neck and spine of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. In a rearward-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.
When your baby is at the weight or height limit of their car seat for infants It is the time to move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, ensure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their children by car will be able to choose an infant car-seat that is able to be removed and attached to a stroller. It can be difficult and time-consuming to maneuver your stroller and car seat in and out of the vehicle on a regular basis, especially when you have a baby. If you're willing to invest the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a viable alternative for many families. Be sure to plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time to spare.