Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure method to ensure your child is in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to the car seat facing forward once they have reached the maximum weight and height of their existing seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the best infant seat option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines aren't yet formed, it is vital to keep the force of the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash that could be fatal or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." Additionally the child's legs are secured into their car seat, preventing them from being thrown forward by the back of the front seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This prevents a collision 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 as the seat reclines and allows him to read a book or watch TV while doing it.

If you have children who are hesitant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the best option. Explain that the child is able to remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the height or weight limits aren't exceeded.

Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat with the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothes like winter coats, since they can be compressed in the event of a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose and put your child at risk for injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing as long as possible because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a bassinet or crib for nap or bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who was sleeping which is not the best option. However, the security advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience.

The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This reduces the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is crucial for premature infants with bones that aren't strong enough and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.

The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than when they are facing forward. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure that they are content and happy. The majority of baby car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from almost every angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their infant car seat, or attains the weight or height limit set by the seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only car seats that allow them to be used for longer.

Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are renowned for being versatile. They can be used forward-facing or rear-facing positions or as a belt positioning booster. They usually also come with a large base at the back of your car which makes them easy to set up and remove. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however they last longer than a standard infant seat and will save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limits that are set by their car seats newborn seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat by the time they turn two years old. But, it's always better to hold off until they reach the age of two.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats come with weight and height limits that you need to be aware of. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and an upper height limit of around 30 inches or so, based on the model. If your child is reaching the limits, it's time to move on to the next level of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that allows you to be switched between forward and rear facing or an all-in-one car seat that lets your child ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.

There are other aspects apart from the weight and height limits, that can indicate whether your child is ready to go up a level in the car seat. One of them is their level of comfort when riding in a rear-facing. You can look for these signs by watching your child's behavior and looking at other children of similar age in their carseats. You can also seek assistance from a certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station which are often operated by local government agencies or community groups.

Keeping your infant car seat that swivels rear facing for as long as is possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to understand why so many parents are reluctant to turn their children back until they're completely grown. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seats is installed correctly and don't change them to a front-facing seat before they're ready even when their weight or height is near the limits of their current seat.

If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage in their car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. They can be found through local community organizations, government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can find one near you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that will visit your home or workplace to help ensure you have the proper equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is essential for its effectiveness. The NHTSA states, with regret, that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to go through the instructions, and then have them professionally checked by an accredited car safety technician.

The first step to install a rear facing infant car seat is to check the angle. You can examine the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

It is also important to ensure that the baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. The forward-facing position can cause pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force. This protects the baby's neck and spinal cord.

When your baby is at the weight or height limit of their car seat for infants, it is time to transition to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that can be used in the rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, be sure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

Parents who frequently transport their infants by car will be able to select an infant car seat that can be detached and connected to the stroller. The only downside to this is that it can be a hassle and time-consuming to maneuver the car seat and stroller into and out of your car each time, especially with infants. This is a great choice for many families when they are willing to spend the time to do it right every time. Plan ahead and pick the day when you have plenty of time.