Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be switched to an forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines aren't yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force from a crash away from their heads and necks. In a frontal collision, the baby's head is likely to hit the seat infront of them. This can cause a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed and absorbed to the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of a child can be secured in the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the back of the front seat or any other vehicle surface. "This keeps them from colliding with their bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they are afraid that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting in the rear since the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book, or watch TV while he does so.
If you have children who are hesitant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or for other reasons you can convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats as long as they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can, because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible seats. However keeping your child in a rear-facing seat may mean they have to be put in a crib or bassinet at nap times or times of bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which isn't ideal. However, the security advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term infants. This reduces the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies who have weaker bones and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.
In addition, the rear-facing position provides a much better view of your baby than the forward-facing position. This lets you easily check their behavior and make sure they are content and happy. The majority of infant car seats come with built-in mirrors that can be adjusted to ensure that you can see your child at any angle.
When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit suggested by their seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats that means they can be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as flexible. They can be used rear-facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They also usually have a larger base in the back of your vehicle which makes them easy to install and remove. They are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used once, but they'll last longer and will save you money over the course of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits set by their car seat manufacturer or at least 2 years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat when they turn two years old. However, it's better to hold off until they reach the age of two.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all car seats for infants have weight and height limits. The majority have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of about 30 inches or so, based on the model. Once your child reaches the limit, you are able to proceed to the next level of security. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to sit forward or rear-facing, or an all-in one car seat.
In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other factors that indicate your child is ready to move on to the next stage of a car seat, including their level of comfort while riding rear-facing. You can find these signs in your child's behavior and compare it to other children similar to yours in their car seats. You can also ask for help from certified child safety technicians at an inspection station for car seats that are usually run by local government agencies or community organizations.
It's ideal to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are grown before turning them around. But you can still avoid this temptation by ensuring your child's seat is properly installed and you don't rush to switch to a forward-facing seat too soon even if they're close to the limits on weight or height of the car seat they're currently in.
If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing the car seat correctly, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. These experts are available through community organizations, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. pushchairsandprams can search online for a specialist near you or contact your local public safety agency or health department. There are also mobile car seat check-in events that will visit your workplace or at home to ensure that you have the proper equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
A car seat has to be properly installed to be efficient. Unfortunately it is the case that the NHTSA estimates that more than 50% of car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to make sure that your child's car seat is installed correctly is to study the manual and have it examined by a certified car safety technician.
The angle check is the first step towards installing a rear-facing infant car seat. Make sure that the base of the car seat is at a safe angle for the weight of your baby, which you can find on the indicator on the base of the car seat base or in its user's manual.
Also, ensure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing position can put pressure on their necks and spine in 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 spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, it's time to change over to a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing orientation to the front-facing limit. Be sure to get a new infant car seat with an increased rear-facing limit when you choose to change to this type of car seat, since older models have lower limits.
Parents who often transport their children in cars will be able to choose an infant car-seat that is removable and attached to strollers. The only downside to this is that it can be a hassle and time-consuming to move the stroller and car seat into and out of your vehicle each time, especially with a newborn. However, if you are willing to invest the extra time each time to do it right, this can be a good option for a lot of families. Be sure to plan ahead and select a day when you will have plenty of time to spare.