Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride facing in the direction of forward. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of their current seat (or the minimums required for the new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position can also prevent your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant car seats come with five-point harnesses that secure the child with one pull, tightening the strap. the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for better impact protection. Some also have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you choose the right angle for your child's head to prevent them from flopping over in the event of a collision. The seat also comes with a top tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It's important to keep in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual of the seat you're using.
It's the time to switch to a different model when your child is 20 pounds and one year. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. If children under the age of 1 are backwards their head is protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could strain their necks.
When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a high rearward weight and a height limit. The child should not be placed in a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between the two carseats. However, keep in mind that the footage has been slowed down. Children can be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
best car seat infant www.pushchairsandprams.uk -facing infant car seat keeps your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat has a soft headrest, body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to keep your child safe from impact. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with a single pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy can shield your child from the sun. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle to ensure security. It also comes with a locking clip which keeps the latch buckle fastened when the seat is not being used.
If your child complains of discomfort or appears to slump forward when sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this doesn't help then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to take the force of a crash in the event that they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, since the bones and muscles of young children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer and is more convenient for parents because they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lbs) and then to an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). It's 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
When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing car seat is an excellent choice. This lets you see your child while driving and the rest of your family can get into the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. The car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle when you go to the store or running other errands.
However, even when your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat it's best to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is because 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 an upper 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 ensure the safety of your child as they grow.
You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If yes, you must ensure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the harness shoulder straps are just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high in order to impact how well they're restrained in the event of a crash.
A good choice for parents who have several children or are planning to have more, is convertible car seats. This is a complete car seat that can start by being an infant car seat facing rear and then transition your child to a forward-facing position when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing car seat.
Style
The baby car seat was a must-have for your little one and you've spent many hours deciding the right one. As they grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you may be wondering when it's time to flip them around.
While the idea of letting your child face forward can be exciting, there are important safety considerations that you must keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limitations.
Remember that children vary in both size and age. Don't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. It might appear that a child is larger in a rear-facing car seat, but this does not mean that it's safe to turn them around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they reach one year old, and some infant car seats have an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one don't have enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only safe, but they are also simple to use. Some include bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are often part a travel system.
If you're about to switch your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the tightness of your car seat. When properly installed the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, you can contact an accredited safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.