Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

The majority of infant car seats detach from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This makes them very popular with parents who intend to frequently travel out of town.

Regardless of which type of car seat you pick make sure your child is dressed in clothes that allow the harness straps to fit comfortably over their hips and shoulders. Large blankets or clothing can interfere with a snug harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also known as convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position) are designed to hold newborns and children as high as the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They are typically equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a newborn is comfortable placed inside the seat shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing for longer until around age 4 or 5.

Most manufacturers have their car seats designed with the ability to adjust the reclining angle. be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling backwards when the car is stopped. You'll need to study the manual for your car seat to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle, or find a video from a car seat influencer to learn how to do it. It's also important to avoid placing your baby in bulky clothes, like blankets and coats, because they can prevent a snug harness fit and block airflow around the infant's chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the force of the crash could throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward in a side-impact. It's crucial to remember that the rear-facing position provides much greater protection than forward-facing.

A video by a car seat influencer shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed about in a crash simulation. The head injury that follows is horrifying. However, the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as horrific, because a child's head is within the shell of the car seat.

If your state law requires you to move your child to forward-facing, ignore it! This is not in line with best infant car seat practices, which is the reason why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever is first.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants with harnesses that secure them in the seat. Parents may be able adjust the headrest, recline angle, and stroller attachments depending on the model of car seat. Most infant car seats come with the capacity to hold a maximum weight and height, and most children will outgrow them before they're ready to transition to a forward facing car seat.

It's natural parents' desire to change their baby's position as soon as they can however, the current law requires that children under one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason is that the neck muscles of infants are not strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. This happens when a child turns into the opposite direction in an accident.

If a child's neck is moved forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which can lead to paralysis or death. If a child is facing backward in the car the neck bones stay together and are protected by the harness straps, which prevents this type of injury.

Rear-facing babies are less likely to end up in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They're also less likely be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests, as opposed to their necks, in the event of a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat for her size. Refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and your vehicle's owner's manual before making a choice. It's recommended to visit a certified car seat technician in your area for professional help and advice.

When an infant carrier seat grows out of their car seat, they can upgrade to convertible car seats. The seats start in the rear-facing direction and then switch to forward-facing once they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat that has lap-sash seatbelts for adults after they've reached their recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn in deciding between an infant car seat and a convertible one. Both have their advantages however which one is the best choice for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable infant car seat.

As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be changed from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they can accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Some rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than the infant car seat which allows for more time of use.

Find out if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. These pads are firm and lift the infant's body so that they can reach the lowest slots for straps, and then push them forward slightly so that they can prevent their heads from slapping against the straps of their harness.

Some infant car seats come with handles to make it easier to move between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature makes it simple to go from your car to your stroller, without disturbing your baby for trips to the supermarket mall, the doctor's office, or visits.

At some point your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat or reach their weight limit or their height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to convertible car seats when your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to make sure your child is ready.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than baby car seats at first, but they can be more affordable over time since you can use them for many years. Some models also have lower anchors, which allows for a simpler installation. This could help reduce the chance of injury in the event of a crash.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the most important factor to think about when buying an infant car seats. All baby car seats must meet federal safety standards, but some exceed the norm to provide extra peace of mind for parents.

Premium features, such as adjustable harnesses with no-rethread straps and bars that prevent rebounding, can aid in ensuring that your child is secured properly and securely. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat and help reduce the impact force in a crash are available as well.

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of a baby car seat will aid in determining its safety before purchasing. It is important to remember that the use of a car seat for infants will determine how secure it is. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats stem from improper use -- or in the case of an incorrect installation or inadequate restraint of the child- and not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

To ensure you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, choose one with a easy-to-read instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it's safe and level, such as bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY which position to put the seat. Make sure you be sure to secure the straps the chest and abdomen of your child when you install it. One good sign of this is the ratcheting sound it produces when you tighten.

Even if you're merely going to the market or making a quick trip to the park, you shouldn't leave your infant in a car. It's not just dangerous in the event of a car crash and leaving your infant car seat or infant carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that tip over or roll can cause injuries or even death to babies.

While the choice between an infant car seat uk car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it's all about cost at this point be aware that you'll need an additional booster seat at some point. To save money over the long term consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that gives you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.