Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under the age of one year shouldn't ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Instead, switch to FF at the time your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of their current seat (or the minimums required for the new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat 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 also stops your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The most suitable infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to prevent it from flopping over in the event of collisions. The seat also has a top tether strap that is attached to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It's important to keep in mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

When your child is 20 lbs and one year is the right time to make the switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and serious type). Rear-facing car seats safeguard the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their head.

When children move to a forward facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. The child shouldn't be placed in the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. You can notice the differences in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, but remember that the footage is slowed down. Children can be injured if they move too quickly.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your infant to enjoy a comfortable ride and stay secure during a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any impacts. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness which can be adjusted with only one pull, and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy can shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for safety. It also includes a locking clip which keeps the buckle secure when the seat is not being used.

If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward during sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle could be too low for the child. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this isn't working, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.

It is important to remember that children aren't yet ready to take on the world until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand a force that would be applied to them in a crash should they fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest waiting longer, since the muscles and bones of children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat that lets their infants travel rearward-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It can also make it easier for parents as they can easily change their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a four-in-one convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lb), to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing car seat is an excellent choice. It lets you view your child's view while driving, and allows the rest of the family to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller making it much easier to carry your child in and out of the car to go to the store for groceries or other chores.

But remember that even the time your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat it's best to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. From the point of view of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a crash when they face backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body, including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the rear of the car seat.

Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to determine the time you can rotate the seat of your child. There will be the weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed, as well as specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are meant to protect your child's safety as they grow.

It is also important to consider whether your vehicle is equipped with tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the manual of the seat. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, but not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured during the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have multiple children or who plan to have more children. This is an all-in-one car seat that can start by being an infant car seat best car seat that faces rearwards and then transition your child to a forward-facing seat when they're old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must-have for your baby and you spent a lot of time choosing the right one. But as they get older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's the right time to flip them around.

While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety factors to consider. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.

Be aware that children differ in both size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think that they have reached their maximum legroom. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.

Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one don't have enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats aren't just safe, but also easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car and allow you to transport your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are typically part of an overall travel system.

If you're about to transition your baby into forward-facing convertible car seats, be sure to do it correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side, or front to rear when installed correctly. The harness straps must also be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions ask an accredited car seat safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.