You’ll Never Guess This Infant Car Seat Newborn’s Benefits

Infant Car Seat – What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be dismantled from their base, and snapped into a stroller compatible with them for easy transport. This feature makes them popular for parents who plan to frequently travel out of town.

Dress your baby in clothing that the harness straps can comfortably be positioned over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat you select. Bulky clothing and blankets can make it difficult to get an ideal fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, referred to as convertible car seat with a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and small children up to a certain weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant insert to make sure the head of a newborn is securely inside the shell of the seat.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that infants ride rear-facing until they reach their weight or height limits for the car seat, whichever comes first. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your baby to be rear facing for longer, until about age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

The majority of manufacturers design their car seats with an angle of reclining that can be adjusted to keep the baby’s head from sliding forward when the vehicle is stopped. You can either read the manual that comes with your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle or view a YouTube video of an influencer of your car seat. It is also important to avoid putting your baby in bulky clothes, like blankets or coats as they could hinder an ideal fit for the harness and block airflow around the baby’s chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant to change their child’s position from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one because they fear that the force of a crash will eject the baby’s legs and feet, or that their head and neck may be thrown violently forward in a side impact. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing provides a much better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video by a car seat influencer shows an infant in a forward-facing car seat being tossed around violently in the crash simulator. The head injury that follows is terrifying. The video of the same incident from the rear seat isn’t as severe because the child’s head is held by the shell.

If your state requires that you face your child forward, ignore it. This is not in line with best infant seat practices. That is the reason why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever comes first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed for infants and newborns. Harnesses assist in securing them to the seat. Parents can adjust the headrest, recline angle and stroller attachments based on the model of car seat. The majority of infant car seat swivel car seats have a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow these seats before they’re ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat.

While it’s understandable that parents want to get their child back whenever they can however, the current norm states that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in car seats until they’re 20 pounds and one year old. This is because infants’ neck muscles aren’t strong enough for the whiplash of a rear-end crash, which is what happens when a child turns to the side in a crash.

If a child is thrown forward during a collision with a car the spinal cord can be stretched and torn which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in the car the neck bones remain together and are secured by harness straps, which prevents this type of injury.

Additionally, infants who are rear-facing are less likely to be placed in the back seat of the vehicle in an accident. They’re also less likely to be injured by the seat belts that stretch across their chests instead of their necks, in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat that is suitable for his or their size. Always consult the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the vehicle owner’s manual before making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a certified car seat technician who is accredited in your area.

When a baby outgrows their car seat, they may move to a convertible or 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. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a lap-sash seatbelts for adults once they’ve reached their recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between an infant car seat and a convertible one. Both have their advantages however, which is the right choice for your family? A car seat for infants is ideal for infants however if you are looking for something that will last many years it is likely that a convertible would be a better option.

As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be changed from rear-facing to front-facing. They are able to accommodate children from infancy until late elementary school, depending on the model you choose. Some models have higher weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, allowing them to be used for longer.

Check if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable infant inserts that will ensure a secure fit for your child. The firm padding raises the infant car seat newborn (qooh.me)’s torso, so they can reach the lowest slots in the straps, and pushes them forward slightly to stop their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the seat’s crotch buckle (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Some infant car seats come with a handle to make it easier to move between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature makes it simple to transfer your car to your stroller without waking your baby seat for trips to the store mall, the doctor’s office, or visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This could occur when they reach their weight or height limit. Many experts agree that it’s time to upgrade to convertible car seats when your child’s head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat’s manual to make sure your child is in the right place.

Although convertible car seats may appear to be more expensive in the beginning than infant car seats however, they could be less expensive in the long run since you’ll be able to use them for several years. Some models also have lower anchors which make it easier to install. This can reduce the chance of injury in an accident.

Safety Ratings

When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety is foremost in your mind. All infant car seat for travel car seats have to conform to federal safety standards. However some go above the minimum requirements to give parents extra security.

High-end features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure that your child’s safety is kept in mind. Load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the force in a crash are also available.

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of a baby car seat will aid in determining its safety before purchasing. However, it’s important to remember that the most important factor in determining the safety of an infant car seat is the way it is used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, most accidents that involve infant car seats are caused by misuse — either incorrect installation or inadequate restraint of a child- and not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

If you’d like to be certain that you are using the correct car seat for your infant, then look for one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level and bubbles on the bottom that will show you EXACTLY the best way to place it. When installing the seat, tighten the straps around the baby’s abdomen and chest. A good indicator of this is the sound that it makes as you tighten.

Finally, when you’re out and about with your baby in car seats, don’t leave the car seat unattended, even if you are just running into the shop or taking a short visit to the park. It’s not just dangerous in the event of a car crash however, leaving an infant car seat or infant carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tilt or roll over can also cause injuries to babies, or worse, suffocate them.

While the decision between an infant car seat and convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat might seem like it comes down to the cost but keep in mind that you will need a booster seat at some point. Consider a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to save money in the long run. These seats offer more options and will last longer than infant car seat for travel car seats.