 Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most infant car seats can disengage from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This makes them very popular with parents who plan to take frequent trips out of town.
 Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips, regardless of which car seat type you choose. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to find an ideal fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, referred to as convertible car seat with a rearward-facing position designed to accommodate infants and children of a smaller size as long as they meet the weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. They usually include an infant insert that ensures a newborn's head is comfortably inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that babies remain rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to remain rear-facing for longer, up to about age 4 or 5.
The majority of car seats have an adjustable reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's back from falling forward when the car stops. You'll need to study the manual for your car seat to determine how to adjust the reclining angle, or find a video from an influencer of your car seat to discover how to do it. It's also important not to placing your baby in bulky clothing, such as coats or blankets, because they can prevent a snug harness fit and block airflow around the baby's chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing because they are concerned that the force of a crash could cause the baby to lose their legs and feet, or that their head and neck could be thrown forward violently in a collision with a side. However, it's important to keep in mind that the rear-facing position offers much greater protection than the forward-facing position.
A video from an influencer of car seats shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed in the crash simulation. The resultant head injury is a gruesome injury to the head. But the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as bad because the head of the child is in the car seat's shell.
So, if your state law requires you to move your child's face forward avoid it! This is not in line with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants, with harnesses that help keep them in the car seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents will be capable of adjusting the headrest and recline angle to suit their child's needs, as well as select a variety of attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.
It's normal for parents to want to change their baby's position as soon as they can however the current norm requires that children less than one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision, which is caused when a child moves forward in an accident.
If a baby is caught in a frontal crash, the spinal chord can be stretched and torn and cause paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards in the car, their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, which prevents this type of injury.
Rear-facing babies are less likely to be in the back of the car during an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by the seat belts that stretch 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. Always refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making an important decision. It's also a good idea to visit an accredited car seat technician in your area for expert assistance and advice.
If an infant car seats on sale is outgrowing their car seat, they can move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that starts in the rear-facing location and then transitions to forward-facing once they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a lap-sash seatbelts for adults after they've reached their recommended weight and age.
Convertible
Many new parents are torn between a baby car seat or a convertible one. Both have their benefits however which one is the best for your family? A convertible car seat is a great option for a durable infant car seat.
Convertible infant car seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. They are able to accommodate kids from infancy through late elementary school, based on the model you select. Some rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than the infant car seat, allowing for longer use.
Make sure that the convertible Infant car Seat newborn car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a comfortable fit for your child. These firm pads lift the baby's body so they can get to the lowest slots for straps and push them slightly forward so that they can prevent their heads from slapping against the straps on their harness.
Infant car seats are also likely to have a handle parents use to transfer between cars and can be inserted into strollers to form a travel system. This feature allows you to easily transfer your car to a stroller without waking your baby.
At some point, your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants, either by reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Many experts agree that it's the right time to transition to a convertible seat when the head is within one inch of the top of the seat, but make certain to read the instruction manual to ensure your child is in the right place.
While convertible car seats can appear to be more expensive in the beginning than infant car seats, they may be cheaper in the long term because you'll be able to use them for several years. Certain models also have lower anchors which allow for easier installation. This can reduce the risk of injuries in an accident.
Safety Ratings
When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety is foremost in your mind. All baby car seats must meet federal safety standards, but some surpass the minimum requirements to provide additional assurance for parents.
High-end features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure your child's safety maintained. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force during an accident, are also available.
Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of a car seat for infants will help you determine the safety of the product prior to purchasing. It is important to remember that the usage of an infant car seat will determine how safe it is. According to our discussions most accidents involving infant car seats are the result of improper use, either through improper installation or inadequate restraints for the child.
If you want to make sure that you are using the correct car seat for your infant, then look for one with a simple manual, plenty of indicators that the seat is level and secure and bubbles at the bottom that will show you EXACTLY the best way to place it. Also, ensure that you securely secure the straps to the chest and abdomen of your baby when you install it. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten it is an excellent indication.
Finally, when you're out and about with your baby in a car seat, never leave the car seat unattended, even if you are just running into the store or a quick trip to the park. Apart from being a terrible idea in the event of a crash, leaving your infant car seat or a carrier on a hard surface outside of the vehicle is a dangerous practice that could result in injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tilt or roll over can cause injuries to babies, or worse, suffocate them.
While the choice between an infant car seat and convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seats may seem like it's all about cost at this point but keep in mind that you will require a booster seat at some point. To save money in the long run, choose a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.
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