Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame for easy transport. This feature makes them very popular with parents who are planning to take frequent trips out of the city.

Regardless of which type of car seat you select Dress your baby in clothing that allows the harness straps to comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips. Bulky clothing and blankets can make it difficult to achieve an appropriate fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also referred to as convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position are designed to fit infants and small children up to a certain weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually include an infant insert that ensures the head of a newborn is securely positioned within the seat's shell.

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 or the weight limit for the car seat, whichever is first. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing for longer until around age 4 or 5.

The majority of manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from sliding backwards when the car is stopped. You can read the manual that comes with your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle, or view a YouTube video of a car seat influencer. Avoid putting your infant in heavy clothing, such as blankets or coats. They could impede a snug fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant about changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the force of the crash may eject their baby's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during a side-impact. It's crucial to remember that the rear-facing position offers much greater protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being tossed around violently in a crash simulator. The resulting head injury is horrific. But the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat is not nearly as bad as the head of a child is within the shell of the car seat.

So, if your state law requires you to turn your child to forward-facing, ignore it! This is not in line with best car seats infant practices. That is why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever is first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed specifically for infants and newborns. Harnesses assist in securing them to the seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents might be capable of adjusting the angle of recline and headrest to suit their child's needs, as well as select various attachments for the baby's stroller. Most infant car seats come with the capacity to hold a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow them before they are ready to switch to a forward facing car seat.

It's natural for parents to want to change their baby's position as quickly as they can, however the current norm stipulates that children younger than one year old remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and 1 year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision. This occurs when a child turns forward in an accident.

If a child's neck is moved forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which can result in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards while driving, their neck bones are kept together and protected by the harness, preventing this type of injury.

In addition, rear-facing infants are less likely to be to be thrown into the back of the car in an accident. They're also less likely be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chest, as opposed to their necks in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat that is suitable for his or the size. Check the car seat instructions from the manufacturer and your vehicle's owner's manual before making a choice. You can also seek out professional advice from a car seat technician who is accredited in your area.

If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that starts in the rear-facing location and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. When they reach the recommended weight and age they can upgrade to a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt.

Convertible

Many new parents are split between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible. Both have their benefits however which one is best for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable car seat for infants.

Convertible infant car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. They are able to accommodate children from infancy until the end of elementary school, based on the model you choose. Certain rear-facing car seats come with greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seats that allow for more use.

Find out if the convertible infant car seat cheap car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the baby's body so they can get to the lowest slots for straps, and then push them forward slightly in order to prevent their heads from slapping against the straps on their harness.

infant Car seat newborn car seats also tend to have a handle that parents use to move between cars and can click into strollers to create a transport system. This feature lets you easily transfer your car to a stroller without wake your baby.

In the end, however your child will outgrow the car seat for newborn seat they were in as infants in the event of reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to make sure your child is prepared.

While convertible car seats might appear to be more expensive in the beginning than car seats for infants, they may be cheaper in the long run since you'll be able to use them for a long time. Additionally, certain models have lower anchors which allow the installation of these seats with less force than traditional car seats, which can minimize injuries from an accident.

Safety Ratings

When shopping for an infant car seat, safety is foremost in your mind. All infant car seats must meet the safety standards of the federal government, but some surpass the minimum requirements to provide extra security for parents.

Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread harnesses are a great way to ensure your child's safety maintained. Other useful tools, such as load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the impact force of a crash are also available.

An effective method to determine how safe an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It is essential to keep in mind that the use of a car seat for infants will determine how safe it is. According to our conversations, the majority of accidents involving infant car seats are caused by negligence, whether it's due to unsafe installations or improper restraints for the child.

To ensure that you're using an infant car seat correctly, look for one with a easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators that it is 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 baby when you install it. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it makes as you tighten.

When you're out and about with your infant in car seats, don't leave it unattended, even when you are just running into the store or making a quick trip to the park. It is not only dangerous in a car crash and leaving your infant car seat or baby carrier on a hard surface can cause injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that tip or roll can cause injury or death to infants.

While the choice between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it's all about the cost but keep in mind that you'll need a booster seat at some point. Choose a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to save money over the long run. These seats will provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.