9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year shouldn't ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries. Instead change to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully. Safety Infant car seats are designed to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could also prevent your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries. All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun. The most effective infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in the event of an accident. The seat also has a top tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. infant car seats that swivel pushchairsandprams is important to keep in mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you are using. When your child is 20 lbs and one year, it's time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year are backwards, their head is cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks. When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. The child should not be able to move into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between carseats. But keep in mind that the video is slowed down. A child could be injured when they move too fast. Comfort A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat features a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any impacts. The seat also comes with a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy will shield your child from the sun. The seat can be locked to the belts of the vehicle for safety. It also comes with an locking clip that keeps the buckle secure even when the seat isn't being used. If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when they sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle may be too low for them. This can be fixed by placing a towel that is tightly folded under the front of your car seat. If this does not work, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat. Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force of a crash in the event that they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, as the muscles and bones of children are more malleable than those of adults. Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for longer and is more convenient for parents since they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, without re-threading. Convenience If you are traveling with a small infant, a forward-facing infant car seat is a great choice. 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 which makes it easier to carry your little one into and out of the car to go to the supermarket or other errands. Even when your child is at the age at which they can change their car seat to one that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. When you look at it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body — including the head neck, torso, and head is held by the seat's back when they are facing in this direction. You'll want to check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine the best time to turn your child's car seat around. You'll see that they have a maximum height and weight limit, and also specific rules about things like the crotch strap's position. These limits are designed to protect your child as they grow. You should also think about whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, ensure that the strap is properly fitted and secured to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual for your seat. Also, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or below their shoulders, and are not too high or low. This can affect how they're restrained during the event of a crash. A convertible car seat is a good choice for parents with several children or who are planning to have more children. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts off being used as a rear-facing infant car seat before moving your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat. Style You've put in a lot of time and effort deciding on the best baby car seat for your child. As they grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's time to change them. Although the idea of having your baby face forward could be thrilling, there are important safety considerations you should be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limitations. Keep in mind that children vary in both size and age. Don't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum length. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet. Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash of a frontal collision which can cause serious spinal injuries. In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many infant car seats have practical features that make them easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap in and out of the car which allows you to take your baby from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part an overall travel system. If you're about to transition your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of your car seat. When installed properly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps must be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any concerns or questions ask a certified safety technician in your area or contact the manufacturer of your car seat.