A Step-By Step Guide For Choosing The Right Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Insuring that your child is in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be transferred to an infant car seat that faces forward when they reach the maximum weight and height of the seat they are currently in.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines are not yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force from an accident away from their necks and heads. In a frontal crash, the baby's head will hit the seat in front of them. This can cause a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat, however, the impact is absorbed and absorbed at the back of the car. "
car seats by age 's like a hug," says Adele. In addition, the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with their bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents avoid ERF because they fear their child will be bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. In fact, he prefers to ride backwards because the recline feature allows him to stretch his legs while reading an article or watch TV.
However, if you have a child that is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other reasons, try to convince them that it's the best method of travel for them. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats as long as they don't exceed the height or weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.
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 allow them to wear bulky clothes like winter coats, as these can be compressed during a crash, causing the straps of the harness to become loose and place your child at risk of injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may require being placed in a bassinet or crib during nap time or at bedtime. This could wake the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. The advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, but.
Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term infants, so the headrest of their car seat is lower. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness's chest clip is at or below their shoulders, not at their necks. This is essential for premature infants whose bones are still weak and have not been ossified since birth or pregnancy.
The rear-facing position also lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This lets you easily monitor their behavior and ensure they are comfortable and happy. The majority of infant car seats come with a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to view your child from almost every angle.
When your child is no longer in their car seat as infants, or reaches the height or weight limit set by the seat manufacturer, you can switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they reach two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only seats, allowing them to be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are renowned for being flexible. They can be used rear facing or forward facing and as a belt-positioning booster. They usually also come with a large base at the back of your car making them easier to remove and install. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats, but they last much longer than a standard infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat or are at least 2 years old. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before age two, but don't be tempted to change them earlier. It's safer to be patient.
Weight Limits
All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you need to keep in mind. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches, based on the model. If your child is reaching these limits, it's time to move on to the next level of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that allows you to be switched between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in one car seat that lets your child ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight that is recommended by the manufacturer.
In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other factors that indicate your child is ready for the next stage of a car seat, including their level of comfort while sitting rear facing. You can look for these signs in your child's behavior and compare it with other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety experts at an inspection station for car seats which are often operated by local government agencies or community organizations.
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It is recommended to keep your child facing rear for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are completely mature before allowing them to turn around. You can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is properly installed and don't change them to a front-facing seat before they're ready, even the weight or height is within the limits of their current seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move on to the next stage of car seat or you're worried that you may not have installed their current car seat in a correct manner contact an accredited child safety technician. These specialists are available through community organizations such as hospitals and local government offices and child safety programs. You are able to locate one near you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that can visit your workplace or home to make sure you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
A car seat must be installed correctly in order to be effective. Sadly, the NHTSA reports that almost half of all car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to be sure that your infant car seats are installed correctly is to go through the instructions, and then have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step in installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. Make sure that the base of the car seat is at a safe angle for your baby's weight and height. You can check this on the indicator on the back of the car seat base or in the user manual.
You should also make sure that the baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing position can put pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. In a rear-facing crash, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.
Once your child has reached the limit of weight or height of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing configuration until the front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, ensure that the new model has a greater rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
Parents who often transport their children by car will be able to select an infant car seat that can be detached and attached to a stroller. It can be difficult and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle every time, especially if you have a newborn. This can be a good choice for many families if they are willing to take the time to do it right every time. Make sure to plan ahead and select a date when you have plenty of time spare.