Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Car seats for infants are designed to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could also prevent your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have an umbrella that protects from the sun.
The most effective 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 stop it from slipping over in the event of collisions. The top tether strap is connected to the tether anchor of the vehicle and is positioned from the top. Be aware that you may not need to switch your child to a forward-facing car seat until is at the maximum weight and height listed in the manual for the seat.
When your child is 20 lbs and one year, it's time to make the switch. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in a crash. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). Rear-facing car seats shield the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their heads.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should still use a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be moved to a booster seat until they reach the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement, which usually means about age 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between carseats. But keep in infant car seat for travel Pushchairs And Prams that the footage is slowed down. A child could be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your infant to ride comfortably and be secure in an accident. The seat has a comfortable cushion for the headrest and body and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any collision. The seat has five points of safety harness that 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 sun canopy can shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt for security. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle secure even when the seat isn't in use.
If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to slump forward during sleep it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing tightly rolled towel underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.
Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 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 be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, because the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that lets their infants be rear-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for them as they can easily change their child's position from forward-facing to rear-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 in just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the harness and headrest together without re-threading.
Convenience
If you are traveling with a small baby, a forward-facing infant car seat can be the best option. It lets you view your child's face while driving and allows the rest of the family to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. The car seat can be used with strollers, making it easier to get your child into and out of the car when going to the store or doing other errands.
But, even if your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat, it's best to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. When you look at it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body, including the neck, head and torso, are cradled in the rear of the car seat.
Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate your child's seat. There will be an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over, as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These limits are meant 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 ensure that the tether strap is properly installed and tied to the vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or just below their shoulders, and are not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured during the event of a crash.
A convertible car seat is a good choice for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more. It is a one-stop car seat that can start with an infant car seat facing rear and then transition your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing position in the car seat.
Style
You've spent a lot of time and effort in choosing the perfect baby car seat for your child. But as they get older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you might be wondering when it's time to switch them around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
It is important to remember that children differ in terms of size and age therefore you shouldn't base when to switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar or if they've reached their legroom limit. It might appear that a child is taller in a rear facing car seat, but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn your 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 rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to take a direct hit that could cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only safe, but also easy to use. These include bases that stay in the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your baby from car to stroller or back to the car and are often paired with a frame stroller as part of an overall travel system.
If you are ready to transition your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. The car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side, or front to rear when properly installed. The harness straps should also be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns ask a certified car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of your car seat.