Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year should NOT ride facing towards the forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead when your child is at their current seat’s maximum weight or height (or the minimum required for a new car seat). Make sure you read the car seat instructions.
Safety
In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position could also prevent your child from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which ensure the child’s safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to provide better protection against impact. Some models also come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The most effective infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child’s neck in order to prevent it from flopping over in the event of collisions. The car seat also comes with a top tether strap that connects to the top rated baby car seats of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It’s important to keep it in the mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you’re using.
It’s the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and a year. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type), they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their heads.
When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a heavy rearward weight limit and a high. They shouldn’t be pushed to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements typically around age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these carseats when you look at these crash videos, but remember that the footage is slowed down. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride comfortably and remain safe during the event of a crash. The seat has a comfortable cushion for the headrest and body and an EPS energy-absorbing cover to protect your child from impacts. The seat also features five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening and a movable front center adjuster to ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy protects your child from sun. For safety, the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle’s seat belt and includes a locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.
If your infant complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward during sleep, the angle of the seat might be too low for the child. This can be corrected by placing tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this doesn’t help you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn’t face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to stand up to the force of a collision in the event that they fall forward on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, because the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents opt to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This lets parents benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for them as they can easily switch their child’s position from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It’s simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest in tandem, without having to re-thread.
Convenience
If you’re traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing car seat is the best option. This lets you see your child while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers which makes it easier for you to get your child into and out of the vehicle while you are at the grocery shop or running chores.
Even if your child has reached the age at which they can change their car seat to one that faces forward it is best car seat newborn uk to keep them in a rear-facing position as long as you can. From the perspective of crash tests, a child’s head is better protected in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, is cradled in the car seat’s rear.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate the seat of your child. You’ll find that they have an upper and lower limit, as well specific rules about things like the crotch strap position. These restrictions are designed to protect your child’s safety as they develop.
Another thing to consider is whether you own a vehicle with an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the strap is correctly installed and connected to the vehicle’s anchor points as instructed in the seat’s manual. Last but not least, make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or just below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured during a crash.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents with several children or who are planning to have more. It’s a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat and then moved to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The car seat for your baby was a must for your child and you spent many hours deciding the right one. As they grow older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants, you may be wondering if it’s time to switch them around.
While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are some important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat.
Remember that children vary in both size and age. Don’t base your decision on a certain date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. It may appear that a child is bigger in a rear facing car seat, but that doesn’t mean that it is safe to turn them around. Their spine and bones haven’t yet fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child rear-facing until they reach one year old. some infant car seats come with an integrated reminder to keep them there. This is due to the fact that children younger than one don’t have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a collision with a car in front, which could cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only safe, but they are also simple to use. Some of them have bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are typically part of a travel system.
If you’re about to transition your baby to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you follow all the instructions of the manufacturer and examining the car seat for tightness. 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 positioned at or over your child’s shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns ask a certified car seat newborn seat safety technician in your area or call the car seat manufacturer.