Bell Macintyre

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year should not ride facing forward. In a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injury.

Instead, switch to FF at the time your child reaches the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Make sure you read the instructions for the car seat.

Safety

Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses. They ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best infant car seats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster which allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent them from falling over in the event of a collision. The seat also comes with an upper tether strap that connects to the top rated infant car seats of the car seat. It then hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It is important to remember that you may not need to switch your child to a forward-facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual of the seat.

When your child reaches 20 lbs and one year is over, it's time to change. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash in a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. If children under the age of 1 are backwards their heads are cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can strain their necks.

If children are moving to a forward facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a high rearward weight limit and a high. The child shouldn't be moved into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. You can notice the differences in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, but keep in mind that the footage is reduced in speed. A child can be injured if they move too quickly.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant carrier seat car seat allows your infant to ride in comfort and stay secure during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest and body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing cover to shield your child from the impact. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness which can be adjusted with a single pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. To ensure safety the seat is designed to lock to the seat belt of your vehicle and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.

If your child complains of discomfort or appears to be slouching forward when sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. You can remedy this by placing tightly folded towels on the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this still doesn't help then you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their car seat.

It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't ready to face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough yet to withstand a force applied to them by a collision should they fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest waiting longer, as the muscles and bones of young children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for them because they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lb) and then to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the harness and headrest together without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option when you're traveling with a child who is young. This allows you to see your child as you drive and the rest of your family can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used with strollers which makes it much easier to get your child into and out of the vehicle when going to the shop or running chores.

However, even when your child is old enough to move to an forward-facing car seat, it's best to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. If you view it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the car seat's rear.

You'll want to check the instructions provided by the manufacturer on how to turn your child's car seat around. There will be an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are meant to protect your child's safety as they develop.

You should also think about whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, make sure that the tether is fitted and connected to your vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the manual. Additionally, you'll need to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low, as this will impact how well they're secured in an accident.

A good choice for parents who have more than one child or plan to have more, is a convertible car seat. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts by being an infant car seat facing rear before moving your child to a forward-facing seat when they're old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing car seat.

Style

You've spent a lot of time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. As they grow older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering when it's time to flip them around.

While the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are important safety considerations that you must keep in mind. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their particular car seat.

Be aware that children are different in terms of size and age, so you should never base on when you should switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar or if they've reached their legroom limit. It may appear that a child is larger in a rear facing car seat, but that does not mean that it is safe to turn the child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats are equipped with practical features that make them easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car, allowing you to carry your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are usually part of a travel system.

If you're about to transition your baby into a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do so correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and examining the car seat for tightness. When installed properly, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, you can contact an approved safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of your car seat.