Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Keeping your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be moved to an forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limitations of their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Using an infant car seat rear facing - click the following webpage, is the safest option for babies and infants due to the way it supports and cradles their head and neck. "Since their spines aren't been ossified, it's crucial to keep the impact of a collision off their necks and heads" explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head will hit the seat infront of them. This can result in a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat the impact is taken up by the seat and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. The child's legs can also be placed in the car seat to protect them from being thrown into the back of the front seat or any other vehicle surface. "This keeps them from colliding with their own bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child will be bored or uncomfortable. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. In fact Lukas prefers riding rear-facing because the seat's recline feature allows him to cross his legs and read a book or watch TV.

If you have children who are reluctant to face the rear due to their leg length or for other reasons convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats as long as they don't exceed the height or weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.

Be certain to strap your child into a rear-facing car seat tightly by using the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats, as these could be swollen in the event of a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen and place your child at risk of injuries. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they might need to be put in a bassinet or crib for nap or time to sleep. This may require waking up the sleeping baby, which is never the best car seat newborn option. However, the safety advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps reduce the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is located below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is particularly important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

In addition, the rear-facing position provides the best car seat newborn view of your baby than the forward-facing position. This allows you to monitor their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. Most infant car seats have a built-in mirror that can be adjusted to ensure that you can see your child at any angle.

When your child is no longer in their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit set by their seat manufacturer, you can switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only seats, allowing them to be used for longer.

Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are known for being flexible. They can be used forward-facing, rear-facing or as belt positioning boosters. They usually also have a large base in the back of your vehicle making them easier to set up and remove. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, but they last much longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limits allowed by the car seat manufacturer or until they reach at minimum two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before the age of two However, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier. It's safer to be patient.

Weight Limits

You must be aware that all infant car seats have height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and the height limit is around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child has reached these limits, it's time to move to the next stage of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that can change between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in-one seat that lets your child ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.

There are other aspects apart from the weight and height limits, that can indicate if your child is ready to move up a stage in the car seat. One of these is their comfort level when riding rear-facing. You can check for these signs by observing your child's behavior and comparing them to other children in their car seats. You can also ask for help from certified child passenger safety technicians at a car seat inspection station, which are often run by local government agencies or community-based organizations.

It is best to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is why a lot of parents wait until their children are mature before they switch them over. You can avoid this temptation if you make sure your child's car seat is properly installed and don't change to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even if their weight or height is close to the limits of their current seat.

If you're uncertain whether your child is ready to move on to the next stage of car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing the car seat correctly, reach out to an accredited child safety technician. They are available through community organizations and hospitals, local government offices, and child safety programs. You are able to locate one close to you by searching online or contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your workplace or at home to ensure you have the right equipment and are using them correctly.

Installation

Installing a car seat correctly is essential for its effectiveness. Unfortunately, the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best infant car seat way to ensure that your infant car seat is correctly installed is to read the instruction manual and have it verified by a certified vehicle safety technician.

The first step when installing a rear facing infant car seat is to test the angle. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

You should also be sure that your baby's head is in the right angle when in the seat. Forward-facing positions can create pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rearward-facing collision, a car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force. This helps protect the baby's neck and the spinal cord.

When your baby is at the weight limit or height of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, which can be used in the rear position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. Be sure to get a new infant car seat that has an increased rear-facing limit when you choose to change to this type of car seat, as older models have lower limits.

Parents who frequently transport their children by car will be able to choose an infant car-seat that is able to be removed and attached to a stroller. It can be challenging and time-consuming to maneuver your car seat and stroller into and out of the vehicle every time, especially in the case of a newborn. If you're willing to take the extra time each time to do it right, this can be a viable option for a lot of families. Make sure you plan ahead and select a day when you will have plenty of time spare.