9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a forward facing infant car seat rear facing car seat, Read the Full Document,

Children under one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles that are weak could be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Instead change to FF when your child is at the maximum height or weight limit 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 could assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to secure the child with one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide enhanced impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This lets you choose the ideal angle for your child's neck to stop it from slipping over during a collision. The car seat also comes with an upper tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you may not need to switch your child to a forward-facing car seat until she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.

It's time to switch when your child is 20 pounds and one year. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most common and severe type). When kids under 1 year are riding rear-facing their heads are cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could strain their necks.

When kids move to an forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements, which usually means about age 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between the carseats. But keep in mind that the footage is slowed down. If a child is moving too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest and body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from collision. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be tightened by only one pull, and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from direct sunlight. For your safety, the seat is designed to be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle and has an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your baby complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward while sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't help, you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their car seat.

Remember that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to take the force of a crash in the event that they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more malleable than those of adults.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible seat that allows their children to travel backwards until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This lets parents benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for parents as they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lb) as well as a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lbs). It's easy and simple to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, without re-threading.

Convenience

If you're traveling with a young infant, a forward-facing best infant car seat car seat can be a great choice. This lets you see your child while driving and the other members of your family can enter the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller which makes it easier to take your little one into and out of the car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.

But that even if your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat, it's safer to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. When you look at it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- head, neck, and torso -- is cradled by the back of the car seat when they are facing in this direction.

You'll want to check the instructions provided by the manufacturer on when you can turn your child's car seat around. You'll find that they have an upper and lower limit, and also specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's location. These limits are meant to ensure your child's safety as they develop.

Another thing to consider is whether you own a vehicle with Tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, you must make sure that the strap is correctly installed and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. The last thing to do is make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or below their shoulders, but not too high or low. This will affect how they are restrained during an accident.

A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with multiple children or who plan to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seats that swivel car seat, and then changed to a forward-facing seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

The infant car seat was a must-have item for your child and you spent much time deciding the right one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat you may wonder if it is time to flip the seat around.

While the idea of letting your baby face forward could be thrilling, there are important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.

Be aware that children differ in size and age. Don't base your decision on a certain date on the calendar, or if you think that they have reached their maximum length. A child might appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.

Some infant car seats come with a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children younger than one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash of a frontal collision which can result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe, many infant car seats come with convenient features that make them simple to use. They include bases that are attached to the car and snap out and in to let you carry your baby from stroller to car and back again and are often paired with a frame stroller as part of a travel system.

If you're about to transition your child to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you do so correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions you should talk to an accredited car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of the car seat.