Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year should NOT ride facing towards the forward. In a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead change to FF at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of their current seat (or the minimums required for a new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat which can cause serious injuries.
All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to ensure the child's safety with just one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for enhanced impact protection. Some also have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The most suitable infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to avoid it falling over during a collision. The top tether strap connects to the vehicle's tether anchor and comes from the top. It's important to keep in mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual of the seat you're using.
It's time to change when your child reaches 20 pounds and a year. Babies and toddlers under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most frequent and serious type). When children younger than 1 year are in a rear-facing car seat their heads are cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can stress their necks.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should remain in a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They should not be moved to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement which is usually about age 4 or 5. You can see the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, however, remember that the video is slowed down. If a child moves too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your baby safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat features a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing cover to protect your child from impacts. The seat has a five-point safety harness that can be tightened by one pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy can protect your child from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for security. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle in place when the seat isn't being used.
If your cheap infant car seats complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward when they sleep, the angle of the seat could be too low for the child. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
It is crucial to remember that children aren't ready to take on the world until they weigh at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, since the muscles and bones of children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents choose to buy convertible car seats that allows their babies to travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat longer, and makes it more convenient for parents since 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 lets your child use the seat for 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to forward-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lbs) as well as an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lb). It's easy and simple to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness in tandem, without having to re-thread.
Convenience
A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option for traveling with a young child. It lets you see your child's view while driving, and allows everyone else in the family to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seats can be used in conjunction with strollers, making it easier for you to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or running other chores.
But that even when your child is old enough to move to an forward-facing car seat, it's safer to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. If you view it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the car seat's rear.
Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate the seat of your child. They will often have the weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed and also specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These limits are intended to protect your child's safety as they grow.
Another thing to think about is if you have a vehicle that has tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, you must make sure that the tether strap is properly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the seat's manual. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above your child's shoulders and not too high or low in order to affect the way they are secured in a crash.
A great option for parents with several children or are planning to have more, is convertible car seats. It's a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat and then converted to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The baby car seat was a must for your child, and you spent many hours deciding the best one. However, as they age and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you may be wondering if it's time to switch them around.
While the idea of letting your baby face forward could be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
Keep in mind that children vary in both size and age. Don't base your decision on a certain date on the calendar or if you believe they have reached their maximum legroom. It may appear that a child is larger in a rear-facing car seat, however this doesn't mean it is safe to turn them around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
It is recommended to keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and certain infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only secure, but also simple to use. They include bases that are connected to the car and snap out and in to allow you to transport your baby from car to stroller or back to the car and often with a frame stroller to form part of an overall travel system.
If you're about to move your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of the car seat. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions you should talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.