Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in a car seat for infants rear facing is the safest option. Children should only be transferred to an infant car seat that faces forward once they have reached the maximum weight and height of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their neck and head. "Since their spines aren't ossified yet, it's important to keep the impact of a collision off their heads and necks," says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash effects that can be fatal or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated to the rear of the car. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of a child can be secured into the car seat to keep them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other vehicle surface. "This keeps them from colliding with their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they believe their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers sitting rear-facing, because the seat reclines and allows him to read, or watch TV while doing so.
If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Also, be sure to secure your child into a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing like winter coats, since they could be swollen in a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose, putting your child at risk of injuries. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats facing rear for as long as they can because they are easy to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may need to be put in a crib or a bassinet at nap or at bedtime. This could result in waking the child who is sleeping which isn't ideal. The benefits of rear-facing outweigh this inconvenience, however.
Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term newborns and therefore the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants who have bones that are weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.
The rear-facing position lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure they are happy and comfortable. Many infant car seats come with built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to see your child from nearly any angle.
Once your baby outgrows their car seat for infants, or reaches the height or weight limit suggested by the seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they are at least two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only car seats which allows them to be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known for being flexible. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a belt-positioning booster. They typically also come with a large base at the back of your car which makes them easy to remove and install. These seats are more expensive than infant car seats that can be used once, but they will last longer and save money over time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer or are at least 2 years older. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two, but don't be tempted to switch them around earlier -- it's safer to keep it in the rear for a while.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all infant car seats have height and weight restrictions. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, and an upper height limit of about 30 inches or so, based on the model. If your child is reaching these limits, it's time to move to the next stage of safety: either a convertible car seat that can change between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in one car seat that lets your child ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
Apart from a height and weight limit, there are also other indicators that indicate your child is prepared for the next stage of a car seat, such as their level of comfort while sitting rear facing. You can find these signs in your child's behavior, and compare it to other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety technicians at an inspection station for car seats that are usually run by local government agencies or community-based organizations.
It is ideal to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are completely mature before allowing them to turn around. But you can still avoid this temptation by making sure your child's seat is properly installed and that you do not rush to change them to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're close to the weight or height limits of their current car seat.
Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have questions about your child's readiness for the next phase of car seats or if you are worried that you might not install the car seat correctly. These experts can be found through community organizations, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You are able to locate one close to you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your office or home to ensure you have the correct equipment and that you are using them correctly.
Installation
Installing a car seat correctly is crucial to its effectiveness. Sadly the NHTSA states that nearly 50% of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best way to ensure that your child's car seat is properly installed is to read the manual and have it professionally checked by a certified car safety technician.
The first step in installing a rear-facing infant car seat is to determine the angle. Make sure the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child that is visible on the the base of the car seat base or in the user's manual.
It is also important to ensure that the head of your baby is positioned correctly in the seat. The forward-facing position could put pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rearward-facing collision the Adventure Flamingo High Back Booster Seat for Groupe 2/3 - Pushchair Accessories of a car seat absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the Kinderkraft I-Spark Baby Car Seat - Green's neck and spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat it's time to change to a convertible seat or all-in one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing configuration up to the front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase an infant car seat with a higher rear-facing limit if you switch to this type of car seat, as older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their infants by car will find it convenient to pick an infant car seat that can be detached and attached to a stroller. The only downside to this is that it could be a hassle and time-consuming to get the car seat and stroller into and out of your car each time, especially with a newborn. If you're willing to take the extra time each time to do it right, this could be a good option for Pushchairsandprams many families. Be sure to plan ahead and select a date when you have plenty of time to spare.