Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year old are not allowed to ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF when your child is at the height or weight maximums of their current seat (or the minimums required for a new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward facing position can assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant car seats have five point harnesses that secure the child with one pull tightening, and the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide enhanced protection against impact. Some models have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you set the correct angle for your child's neck to stop it from slipping over in an accident. The top tether strap is attached to the tether anchor on the vehicle and is positioned from the top. It's important to keep in mind that your child may not require switching to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual of the seat you are using.
It's the time to switch to a different model when your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old. Children and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are in a rear-facing car seat their heads are cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can stress their necks.
When children transition to a forward facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all-in-one that has a high rearward weight and height limit. The child should not be placed in a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is typically between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between the carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed down. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing
infant carrier seat car seat allows your child to ride comfortably and stay secure during a crash. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from any impact. The seat comes with five points of safety harness that can be tightened by only one pull, and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure safety. It also comes with an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't in use.
If your
infant carrier seat complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to slump forward during sleep, the seat's angle may be too low for them. This can be fixed by placing tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
It is crucial to remember that children aren't ready to take on the world until they weigh at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough to withstand a force that is applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents choose to buy a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows them to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for much longer, and makes it easier for parents as they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child outgrows it.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, without re-threading.
Convenience
A forward facing Infant Car Seat (
Articlescad.Com) is a fantastic option for traveling with a child who is young. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family can get into the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller, making it easier to get your little one in and out of your car for trips to the grocery store or other chores.
Even if your child has reached the age where they can change to a car seat that is facing forward it is better to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. When you look at it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- head, neck, and torso is held by the car seat's back when they face in this direction.
You should check the manufacturer's instructions for how to turn your child's car seat around. You'll find that they have an upper and lower limit, as well specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap position. These limits are meant to protect your child's safety as they develop.
It is also important to consider whether your vehicle is equipped with Tether anchors. If so, ensure that the tether is correctly fitted and connected to the anchor points on your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Also, make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and not too low or high. This can affect how they're secured in the event of an accident.
A
good infant car seats choice for parents who have multiple children or are planning to have more is convertible car seats. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat, then move your child to a forward-facing seat when they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat.
Style
The
infant car seat rear facing car seat was a must for your baby and you spent many hours deciding the best one. As they grow older and begin to outgrow their infant car seat, 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 some important safety considerations that you should be aware of. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limitations.
Be aware that children differ in terms of size and age, so you should never base the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on some specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their limit of legroom. It may seem that a child is larger in a rear facing car seat, but that does not mean that it is safe to turn your child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.
It's recommended that you keep your child rear-facing until they reach one year old. certain infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with practical features that make them simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your baby from the car to a stroller and back. They are often part an overall travel system.
If you are ready to move your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, make sure you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and verify the fit of the car seat. The car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or front to rear when it is installed correctly. The harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, you can contact an approved safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of your car seat.