Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of baby car seats can be detached from their base, and then reassembled into a stroller that is compatible to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular for parents who plan to make frequent trips out of town.
Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips, regardless of which car seat type you pick. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to find an ideal fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats with a rear-facing position) are designed to accommodate newborns and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a newborn is comfortably placed inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Certain convertible and all in one car seats allow your baby to ride rear facing even longer, until about age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).
Most manufacturers design their car seats with the ability to adjust the reclining angle. be adjusted to keep the baby's head from falling backwards when the car is stopped. You can refer to the instruction manual for your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle, or view a video made by a car seat influencer. Do not place your baby in bulky clothing such as coats or blankets. They could hinder an appropriate fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their neck and chest.
Many parents are reluctant in switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the force of the crash may cause the baby's legs to be ejected from their feet, or their neck and head may be hurled forward violently in an accident that is side-to-side. It is important to remember that rear-facing provides a more protection than forward-facing.
A video from a car seat influencer shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed about in a crash simulation. The resultant head injury is horrific. However, the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat is not as severe, because a child's head is in the car seat's shell.
If your state requires you to face your child forward, ignore it. This does not line up with best practices, which is the reason why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever comes first.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants with harnesses to help to secure them in the seat. Depending on the model of the car seat, parents may be in a position to adjust the angle of recline and headrest for their child's comfort, and also select from a variety of attachments for their stroller. The majority of infant car seats come with the capacity to hold a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow these seats before they are ready to move to a forward-facing car seat.
While it's understandable that parents want to turn their child around as soon as they can, the current standard mandates that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they're 20 pounds or one year old. This is because the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough for the force of an rear-end collision which happens when a baby turns forward in a crash.
If a child's neck is forced forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord may stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car the neck bones stay together and are secured by straps that secure the harness, which prevents this type of injury.
Rear-facing babies are less likely to be in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by the seat belts that stretch across their chest rather than their necks, in the event of a collision.
Parents must ensure that their child is using the right car seat for their size. Always consult the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and vehicle owner's manual when making the decision. It's also a good idea to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.
When a baby outgrows their car seat, they can move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that starts in the rear-facing position and then shifts to forward-facing after they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash seatbelts.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn between a baby car seat or a convertible. Both have their advantages however, which is the right choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a great option for a durable car seat for infants.
As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be repositioned from rear-facing to front-facing. Depending on the model, they can fit children from infancy to late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than infant car seat that allow for more use.
Find out if the convertible car seat is equipped with 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 moves them slightly forward to stop their head from flopping back against the harness straps or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk for positional asphyxia).
Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles, and some of them can be connected to strollers to form a travel system. This feature makes it easy to go from your car to your stroller, without disturbing your baby for trips to the grocery store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.
Your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat. This can happen when they reach their weight or height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's time to transition 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 prepared.
Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than baby car seats at first however, they could be less expensive over time due to the fact that they can be used for a number of years. Certain models also have lower anchors, which make it easier to install. This can reduce the risk of injuries in an accident.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety is the top priority. All infant car seats have to comply with the safety standards set by the federal government. However, car seat newborn go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra security.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses are a great way to ensure that your child's safety is maintained. Load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the force in the event of a crash, are also available.
Examining the crash test ratings and reviews of a car seat for infants can aid in determining its safety prior to purchasing. It is essential to keep in mind that the use of an infant car seat will determine how safe it is. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats stem from improper use -- or in the case of an incorrect installation or inadequate restraint of a child- and not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.
To ensure that you're using an infant car seat correctly, choose one with a easy-to-read instruction manual as well as plenty of indicators that it is secure and level, including bubbles on the base that inform you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Also, ensure that you securely secure the straps to the abdomen and chest of your child when you install it. A good indicator of this is the sound that it makes as you tighten.
Even if you're merely going to the grocery store or making a quick visit to the park, you should never leave your child unattended in a car. It is not only dangerous in the event of a car crash, but leaving an infant car seat or baby carrier on a hard surface can also lead to injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that roll or tip over can also injure or suffocate babies.
You will need a booster car seat at some time. To save money in the future consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.