Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year shouldn't ride facing towards the forward. In a crash their weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead change to FF at the time your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

Infant car seats are made to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing infant car seat-facing position can also prevent your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant car seats come with five-point harnesses that hold the child in place with just one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for better protection against impact. Some have an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant carseats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster, which allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head to stop them from falling over in a collision. The seat also has an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. It's important to keep it in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

It's time to switch when your child reaches 20 pounds and a year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most frequent and severe type). If children under the age of 1 are in a rear-facing car seat, their head is protected by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that could stress their necks.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all-in-one that has a high rearward weight limit and a high. They should not be moved to an adult car seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements, which usually means around age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these carseats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the footage is slow-motion. If a child moves too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat in front seat car seat allows your infant to ride in comfort and remain safe during an accident. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with a single pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt to ensure safety. It also includes a clip to lock the buckle in place when the seat isn't being used.

If your child complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward while sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. 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 test the angle of the car seat.

Remember that children should not face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to take the force of a collision should they fall forward on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, since the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible seat that allows their children to be backwards until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for them because they can easily switch their child's position from forward-facing to rear-facing when the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lb). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness in tandem, without having to re-thread.

Convenience

When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent choice. This allows you to see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family can get into the car seats by age without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers, making it easier to take your child in and out of the car for trips to the store for groceries or other errands.

However, even the time your child is old enough to transition to an forward-facing car seat, it's best to keep them rear-facing for as long as is possible. If you view it from the standpoint of crash test results, a child's head is safer in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, is cradled in the rear of the car seat.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate your child's seat. You'll see that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's position. These limits are meant to ensure the safety of your child as they develop.

You should also think about whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If so, ensure that the tether is correctly fitted and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the shoulder straps of your harness are at or just above your child's shoulders and not too low or high because this can affect the way they are secured in the event of an accident.

A convertible car seat is a great option for parents who have more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat before moving your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit of the rear-facing car seat.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must-have item for your baby, and you spent much time deciding the right one. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's the right time to change them.

Although the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat.

You should also be aware that children are different in size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide when to switch to forward-facing on some specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their legroom limit. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles to take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure, many infant car seat in front seat car seats are equipped with convenient features that make them simple to use. Some of them have bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your baby from the car to a stroller and back. They are typically part of the travel system.

If you are ready to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and verify the fit of the car seat. When properly installed the car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back, and the harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns ask a certified safety technician in your area or call the car seat manufacturer.