Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can disengage from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who intend to take frequent trips out of town.

Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you pick. The bulky clothing or blankets could interfere with a snug harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats that have an open rear position) are designed to support newborns and children as high as the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert that ensures the head of a newborn is comfortable placed inside the seat shell.

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

Most manufacturers create car seats with the ability to adjust the reclining angle. be adjusted to keep the baby's head from falling backward when the vehicle is stopped. You can either read the instruction manual for your car seat to learn how to adjust the angle, or watch a video by an influencer for your car seat. Avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing such as coats or blankets. They could hinder an appropriate fit of the harness and block airflow around their chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing because they fear that the force of a crash could cause the baby to lose their feet and legs or that their neck and head might be thrown violently forward in a collision with a side. But, it's important to keep in mind that the rear-facing position offers more protection than the forward-facing position.

A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward facing car seat being violently tossed around in a crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is horrifying. However, the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as horrific because the head of the child is held in the shell of the car seat.

So, if your state law requires you to turn your child's face forward do not follow it! This isn't in line with 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 is first.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made for newborns and infants. Harnesses are used to secure them into the seat. Depending on the car seat model parents might be in a position to adjust the angle of recline and headrest to ensure their child's comfort as well as select several attachments for the stroller of their baby. Most infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit and the majority of children will outgrow these seats before they are ready to switch to a forward facing car seat.

It's understandable for parents to want to change their baby's position as soon as they can however the current norm requires that children under one year old stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash from an accident that rears them, which occurs when a child turns forward in the event of an accident.

If a baby's neck gets forced forward in an accident in front the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which can result in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards while driving the neck bones are kept together and secured by the harness, preventing this kind of injury.

Rear-facing babies are less likely to be in the rear of the car in an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests, as opposed to their necks in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the right car seat for his or the size. Always refer to the manufacturer's car seat instructions and vehicle owner's manual when making a decision. It's recommended to visit a reputable car seat technician in your local area for expert assistance and advice.

When a baby grows out of their car seat, he or she can upgrade to convertible car seats. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing direction and switch to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat that has lap-sash seatbelts for adults once they've reached their recommended weight and age.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to deciding between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have their advantages however which one is best car seats for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a long-lasting car seat for infants.

As your child grows and becomes a convertible Infant Car Seat Newborn car seat, they can be repositioned from rear-facing to front-facing. They are able to accommodate kids from infancy through late elementary school, depending on the model you select. Some rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seats that allow for more use.

Make sure that the convertible car seat is equipped with removable infant inserts that will ensure a snug fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's torso so they can get to the smallest strap slots, and pushes them forward slightly to stop their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Some infant car seats have a handle that makes it easier to transfer between vehicles. Others can be clicked into strollers, creating a transport system. This feature allows you to easily transfer from your car to a stroller, without having to wake up your baby.

Eventually, though, your child will outgrow their car seat for infants or reach their weight limit or their height limit. Many experts agree that it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat 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 ensure that your child is in the right place.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than baby car seats at first however they can turn out to be more affordable over time since they can be used for a number of years. In addition, some models have lower anchors which allow you to install them with less force than traditional seats, which can lessen the risk of injuries in the event of a crash.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the primary factor to think about when buying infant car seats. All baby car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some surpass the minimum requirements to provide additional assurance for parents.

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

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of a car seat for infants will help you determine its safety before you purchase. However it is important to remember that the most important factor in determining the safety of an infant car seat is how it's used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seat in front seat car seats result from improper use -- or in the case of an incorrect installation or improper restraint of the child- and not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

If you want to be sure that you are using the correct car seat for your infant car seat in front seat, then look for one that has an easy-to-read manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level and bubbles on the bottom that show you EXACTLY where to place it. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. A good indicator of this is the sound that it makes as you tighten.

Finally, when you're out and about with your infant in a car seat, never leave it unattended, even when you are just running into the store or making a quick visit to the park. It's not only a terrible idea in the event of a crash, leaving your infant car seat or carrier on a hard surface outside the vehicle is a risky option that could result in injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tip over or roll can cause injury or death to babies.

While the choice between an infant car seat and convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat may feel like it's all about cost at this point, keep in mind that you will need a booster seat at some point. To save money in the future consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that gives you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.