Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Keeping your child in an infant car seat rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be switched to an forward facing infant car seat-facing car seat when they outgrow the height and weight limits of their current car seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for newborns and young babies. This is because they provide support and support to their head and neck. "Since their spines haven't been ossified, it's crucial to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads" explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing a whiplash effect that can be severe or fatal. However, in a rear-facing car seat, the impact is taken up by the seat and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." In addition the child's legs are put into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with their own bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are against ERF because they fear that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing because the seat's recline feature lets him sit on his legs and read a book or watch TV.

If you have children who are reluctant to face the rear due to their leg length or other reasons you can convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats provided they don't exceed the height or weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.

Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. They can expand when a collision occurs, which can cause the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping infant car seat that swivels car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, they might need to be put in a bassinet or crib during nap time or bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who was sleeping which is not the best option. The safety advantages of rear-facing overshadow the inconvenience, however.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term newborns, so the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps reduce the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is particularly important for premature babies who have weaker bones and still aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This allows you to monitor their behavior, and ensure they are comfortable and content. Most baby car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually any angle.

When your child is no longer in their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit recommended by the seat manufacturer, you can switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only seats which allows them to be used for a longer period of time.

Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as versatile. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a belt positioning booster. They are also easier to set up and take down because they are built with a large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used once, but they'll last longer and save money over the course of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach maximum weight and height limits established by the car seat manufacturer or at least 2 years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two, but don't be tempted to change them earlier. It's safer to wait.

Weight Limits

You should be aware that all car seats for infants have weight and height limits. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, and an upper height limit of around 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limits, you can proceed to the next level of security. You can choose a convertible seat that allows your child to sit rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that show your child is ready for the next stage of a car seat, such as their level of comfort while riding rear facing. You can look for these signs in your child's behaviour and compare it to other children similar to yours in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety experts at a car seat inspection station that are usually run by local government agencies or community-based organizations.

Keeping your infant rear facing as long as possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're mature. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seats is properly installed and don't switch them to a front-facing car seat before they're ready, even the weight or height is close to the limits of their current seat.

If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're concerned that you may not be installing their current car seat in a correct manner, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. These specialists are available through local community organizations, government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can locate one close to you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your office or home to ensure that you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is crucial to its effectiveness. The NHTSA reports, sadly, that nearly half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your infant car seats are correctly installed is to read the instructions, and then have them professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.

The angle check is the first step towards installing the rear-facing infant car seat. Make sure that the base of the car seat for newborn seat is set at a suitable angle for the weight of your baby, which you can find on the the back of the car seat base or in its user's manual.

It is also important to ensure that the head of your baby is positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks and a forward-facing position can put pressure on their necks and spine during a crash. In a rear-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and the spinal cord.

Once your baby has reached the height or weight limit of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, which can be used in the rear position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, make sure that the new model has a greater rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you opt for an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and re-attached to the stroller, it is a great choice for parents who need to get their infants in and out of the car often. The only drawback is that it can be tricky and time consuming to maneuver the car seat and stroller into and out of your car every time, particularly with a newborn. This is a great option for a lot of families when they are willing to invest the time to make it happen each time. Be sure to plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time to spare.