Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year should NOT ride facing in the direction of forward. In a crash their neck muscles that are weak could stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead switch to FF when your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of their current seat (or the minimums for a new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

In the event of a crash infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position can also help prevent your baby from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant car seats with a forward-facing view come with five-point harnesses that secure the child with one pull tightening, and the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides enhanced protection from impact. Some have an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant newborn car seat seats include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head in order to prevent them from flopping over in the event of a collision. The top tether strap is attached to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top. It is important to keep in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). When children younger than 1 year are riding in a rear-facing car seat their head is cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.

When kids move to a forward-facing car seat, they should use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. The child should not be moved into the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is typically around the age of 4 or 5 years old. You can see the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, but keep in mind that the video is slowed down. If a child moves too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to ride in comfort and remain safe during an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a cushion for body support, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will protect your child from a collision. The seat also has five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your child from the sun. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt to ensure security. It also comes with an locking clip that keeps the buckle in place when the seat is not in use.

If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to be slouching forward during sleep, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can correct this by putting tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this does not work, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.

It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't yet ready to face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand the force applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest taking longer to wait since the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat for newborn seat that allows their children to move rearwards until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This lets them benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer, and also makes it easier for parents as 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 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for a period of 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lbs), to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). It's easy and simple to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is a fantastic option for traveling with a young child. It lets you see your child while driving and allows all of your family members to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to carry your little one into and out of the car for trips to the store for groceries or other tasks.

Even when your child is at the age that they are able to change to a car seat that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position as long as you are able to. From the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is better protected in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head, neck, and torso is supported by the seat's back when they are facing in this direction.

You should check the manufacturer's instructions for when you can change the car seat of your child around. They will often have an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over and also specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These rules are designed to protect your child as they grow.

You should also think about whether your vehicle is equipped with tether anchors. If yes, ensure that the tether is connected to your vehicle's anchor points according to the directions in the manual. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the harness shoulder straps are just above your child's shoulders and not too high or low in order to impact how well they're secured in the event of the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents with multiple children or who plan to have more. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then moved to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.

Style

The baby car seat was a must for your baby and you've spent a lot of time choosing the best car seat infant one. As your child gets older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.

While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limits.

Keep in mind that children vary in both size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum legroom. A child might appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.

Some infant car seats come with an alarm that reminds you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one don't have enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats come with useful features that make them easy to use. They include bases that are in the car and snap out and in to let you carry your baby from car to stroller or back again and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of an overall travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby to a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do so correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and examining the car seat for tightness. When installed properly, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch side to side or front to back, and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any concerns or questions ask a certified safety technician in your region or contact the manufacturer of your car seat.