Why You Should Consider a forward facing infant car seat (read the full info here)

Children younger than one year should not ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Instead change to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position can also prevent your child from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five point harnesses that hold the child in place with just one pull, tightening the strap. the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide improved impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The best car seat infant car seats will have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you determine the ideal angle for your child's head to stop them from flopping over in the event of a collision. The car seat also comes with the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It is important to keep in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

When your child is 20 pounds and one year old, it's time to change. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in 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 protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their heads.

When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all in-one that has a large rearward weight limit and a high. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they reach the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements which is usually at around the age of 4 or 5. These crash videos will show you the differences between the two carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed. If a kid moves too fast, they may be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your infant to enjoy a comfortable ride and remain safe during the event of a crash. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from any impact. The seat also has five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be locked to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure security. It also includes a clip to lock the buckle in place even when the seat isn't being used.

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 remedy this by placing tightly folded towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't work then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their carseat.

Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash, if they were to fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest taking longer to wait as the muscles and bones of young children are more flexible.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to be rear-facing 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 amount of time. It is also easier for them as they can easily switch their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant car seats that swivel (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It's easy and simple to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option when you're traveling with a young child. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the other members of your family can enter the car without disturbing your baby 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 supermarket or other chores.

However, even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat it's better to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. If you view it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso is held in the rear of the car seat.

Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate the seat of your child. They will often have the weight and height limit you should not go over and also specific rules for things like crotch buckles. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they develop.

Another thing to think about is if you have a vehicle that has tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, you must make sure that the tether strap is properly installed and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are placed at or just above your child's shoulders and not too low or high because this can impact how well they're secured in an accident.

An excellent option for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more, is a convertible car seat. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts off being used as a rear-facing infant car seat, then move 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 in the car seat.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must for your baby and you've spent a lot of time choosing the right one. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their infant car seat, you may be wondering if it's time to switch them around.

While the idea of letting your baby face forward could be exciting, there are important safety considerations that you should be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat.

You should also be aware that children differ in terms of size and age therefore you shouldn't base the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat newborn insert seat on an exact date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. A child may appear bigger in a rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.

Some infant car seats have an alarm that reminds 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 year old do not have the strength of their neck muscles to withstand the whiplash of a frontal collision, which can result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe in addition to being safe, many infant car seats come with convenient features that make them simple to use. Some of them have bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your baby from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part an overall travel infant car seat system.

If you're ready to transition your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, make sure you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and verify the fit of the car seat. When properly installed the car seat should not move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of your car seat.