Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can detach from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This makes them very popular with parents who intend to frequently travel out of town.

Dress your baby seat in clothing so that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you pick. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to get an ideal fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats with an open rear position) are designed to accommodate newborns and children as high as the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant car seats on sale insert that ensures the head of a baby is securely placed inside the seat shell.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing even longer, until around age 4 or 5.

Most manufacturers design their car seats with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling backwards when the car is stopped. You can either read the instruction manual for your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle or view a video made by an influencer for your car seat. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing like blankets or coats, because they can prevent the snug fit of the harness and cut off airflow around the baby's neck and chest.

Many parents are reluctant in switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the impact force could eject their baby seat's legs or feet, or that their neck and head could be violently thrown forward in an impact from the side. But, it's important to remember that the rear-facing position provides more protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant in a forward facing car seat being tossed around violently in the crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is horrifying. The video of the same accident from the rear-facing seat isn't as horrific because the child's head is cradled by the shell.

If your state law requires you to move your child to forward-facing avoid it! This is not in line with the best practices, which is why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever comes first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed to protect infants and newborns, with harnesses that help to secure them in the seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents might be capable of adjusting the headrest and recline angle to ensure their child's comfort as well as select several attachments for their stroller. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to be switched to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's understandable that parents want to get their child back whenever they can The current law requires that kids under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they reach 20 pounds and one year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from an accident that rears them, which happens when a child turns into the opposite direction in an accident.

If a baby's neck gets thrust forward during an accident in front the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards in a car, their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.

Rear-facing babies are also less likely to end up in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by the seat belt that extends across their chests instead of their necks, in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the right car seat for his or their size. Take a look at the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer as well as your vehicle's owner's manual before making a choice. It's also a good idea to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area to get expert advice and assistance.

If an infant is out of their car seat, he or she can change to convertible car seats. These seats start in the rear-facing mode and switch to forward-facing when they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a lap-sash adult seatbelts once they've reached their recommended weight and age.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn in deciding between an infant car seat and convertible seats. Both have their advantages however which one is the best infant carrier car seat for your family? A car seat for infants is ideal for infants however if you are looking for something that will last for several years then a convertible may be a better option.

Convertible infant car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. They can accommodate kids from infancy through the end of elementary school, based on the model you select. Some rear-facing car seats have larger weight and size restrictions than infant car seat, allowing for longer use.

Check if the convertible car seat is equipped with removable inserts for newborns to ensure a snug fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's body so that they can fit into the smallest slots on the straps, and then moves them slightly forward to stop their head from slipping back against the harness straps or the seat's crotch buckle (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Some infant car seats come with handles to make it easier to transfer between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature lets you easily transfer your car to a stroller without wake your baby.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This could happen when they reach their weight or height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat's manual to ensure that your child is ready.

Convertible car seats may seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially however they can turn out to be cheaper over time because they can be used for a long time. Additionally, some models have lower anchors that allow the installation of these seats with less force than traditional seats, which could lessen the risk of injuries in an accident.

Safety Ratings

When shopping for 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, some go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra security.

Premium features, such as adjustable harnesses that do not rethread and anti-rebound bars, can help ensure that your child is secured properly and securely. Load legs, which support the seat's base and reduce the force during a crash are also available.

Reviewing crash test ratings and reviews of a car seat for infants will aid in determining its safety before purchasing. However it's important to keep in mind that the most important aspect in determining the safety of an infant car seat is the way it is used. Based on our conversations most accidents that occur in infant car seats are the result of improper use, either through unsafe installations or improper restraints for the child.

To ensure you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, look for one that has a clear instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it's solid and level, with bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Also, ensure that you firmly tighten the straps to the abdomen and chest of your child before you install it. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it makes as you tighten.

Even if you're just going to the store or making a quick visit into the park, you shouldn't leave your infant in the car. It's not just dangerous in a car crash and leaving your infant car seat or baby carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Car seats and carriers that are prone to tipping over or roll could also hit and injure babies, or worse they could even suffocate them.

You will require a booster car seat at some time. To save money over the long term consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.