Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat

A newborn car seat is also referred to as an infant safety seat or baby car seat, protects babies from injury and death in vehicle accidents. They come with harnesses that distribute the restraint forces across the child's body and head instead of the neck and spinal cord.

These seats are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and come with an array of weight and height limits. They can also be part of a set for travel that can be converted into the base of a stroller.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats for newborns offer unbeatable protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to support and cradle children, protecting their neck, head, and spine. They also help reduce injuries by keeping the impact of an accident from striking your child. This is because your child's body is not hitting the car seat or the front passenger seat, but rather a soft, padded surface inside their car seat.

Parents should keep their child facing rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of their car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around the age of one, most children will outgrow the infant car seats cheap car seat and transition to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. However, many parents will want to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat until their 2nd birthday.

There are two main types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats and convertible car seats. Both are safe, however they offer distinct advantages. For instance, infant-only chairs are lighter, smaller, and come with a quick release base that can be easily detached from the car and then reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seat are heavier and more spacious. They also do not come with a stroller base.

Regardless of which type of seat you choose it is essential to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines and to always place the seat in the back seat of your vehicle. You can also put a blanket that is tightly rolled or washcloth between the crotch straps and your child's harness to ensure the harness is tight. Also, ensure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of the lower anchor bars of your vehicle and that the car seat is correctly fitted and buckled.

Research shows that babies who face the rear of the car are less likely to get injured in a car accident. Car seats that are rear-facing allow infants to be less impacted when they hit the car's front as opposed the the back, which can lead to serious injuries.

Forward-facing

Most parents have given lots of thought to their infant's car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry, and how you got your little one home from the hospital. Now that your child is older, you might be thinking about changing the car seat facing forward. But, it's important to be aware that children aren't quite ready for this until they reach the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.

Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at minimum 20 pounds and reaches the age of one year. This is because kids under one year old don't have neck muscles that can withstand the whiplash caused by being forced forward in an accident. Moreover they are at a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.

You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat that lets you keep the child rear-facing up until the child is at the weight and height limits of the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant seats that come with an installation base that can be inserted into your vehicle. They are also separated from the base and attached to strollers to create travel systems. However, they typically have smaller maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seat.

Alternatively, you can get a booster seat. They are typically equipped with a harness for younger kids and convert into a belt-positioning booster seat once your child is ready. This kind of car seat has the main advantage that it can be used in your car for the duration of your child's childhood, making it easier to transport the child from one vehicle to another.

It doesn't matter which car seat you choose, read the instructions and adhere to the guidelines. Consult a certified car safety technician to ensure that your child's car seat is installed and is used in a safe manner. Incorrect use of a car seat is common, and even well-meaning parents could cause harm to their children if they don't know what they're doing. It is recommended to read the instructions on the car seat and follow the advice of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents choose a convertible newborn car seat because they develop with your baby and allow them to safely travel from infancy to toddlerhood. They are cheaper than car seats for infants and have longevity for a long time. It is essential to select a model that fits your car and is easy to install. Also, make sure you buckle up your baby properly every time.

Snug straps keep the head from shifting to the dangerous chest-to-chin position that could lead to strangulation or even asphyxiation. A lot of infant carseats come with straps that are loose or not buckled, and this is a serious safety risk. Straps that aren't buckled can cause an unbalanced neck which has been the cause of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle can also be a danger in the event that it is not secure enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch strap is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn from sliding in the seat and causing them to be trapped or cut.

Some convertible newborn car seats include an adjustable torso that allows you to adjust the height limit to suit your child's development. The minimum torso height should be equal to the height of the shoulders of your infant, or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert to help raise your child to the correct height for the seat.

The best car seat for newborn convertible car seat for babies should be snug, have cushioning that is comfortable and a small base so that you can fit it into your vehicle. It should also include an incredibly snug, secure harness that is able to pass the pinch test as well as a short, tightly rolled blanket or towel in case there is an accident. It should also include an anchor tether that connects to the anchor points of your vehicle, which will reduce injuries in an accident by reducing the impact force. In addition it should be equipped with a travel system, which includes a car seat that pairs with a stroller, and comes with an attachment that allows you to transport your lightweight baby car seat from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

Parents must take into consideration when selecting the right car seat for their babies. Car seats are a must-have for families with young children because using them reduces the chance of fatal collisions in motor vehicles by 71 . The decision between a baby car seat and a convertible seat is based on a few key factors such as safety features and compatibility with your vehicle, and ease of use.

Infant car seats are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. They usually come with the base that is able to stay in the vehicle, and a carrier that snaps into place, making it easy to transfer your baby from the car to stroller, and then back without causing any disturbance to them. They also come with harnesses built-in and a crotch strap to ensure your baby's safety.

Some infant cars are equipped with side-impact protection that distributes the crash force away from the baby's neck and head. Plastic, metal and foam absorb energy and shield the baby's face from direct contact with a vehicle frame or any other object involved in an accident. Some come with a special pod that extends from the door to shield the child's head.

Another safety feature that's becoming more common in infant car seat in front seat car seats is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps flat across the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from pinching or twisting around the shoulders, which could expose your baby to greater risk of injury. If you choose a car seat with this feature, ensure that the chest clip is positioned at armpit level. Avoid dressing your baby in bulky outerwear as this could interfere with the harness.

Check that the car seat is fitted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, regardless of what type you select. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. The system is comprised of an attachment that clips onto the lower anchor points of your car and the tether which is attached to an anchor inside the vehicle. If your best car seats for newborns does not have LATCH, a belt can be used to secure car seats.