The 10 Most Scariest Things About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year are NOT supposed to ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak could be stretched and cause serious injuries. Instead change to FF when your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Make sure you read the car seat instructions. Safety Infant car seats are made to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat which can cause serious injuries. All infant car seats with a forward-facing view come with five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening, and the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for enhanced protection from impact. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun. The most effective infant car seats have an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to prevent it from flopping over during collisions. The car seat also comes with an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat. It then hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. Be aware that you might not have to move your child from an forward-facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual for the seat. When your child reaches 20 lbs and a year old is over, it's time to make the switch. infant car seat swivel and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and severe type). If children under the age of 1 are rear-facing their head is cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks. When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a heavy rearward weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements, which usually means around age 4 or 5. These crash videos will show you the differences between the carseats. However, keep in mind that the video has been slowed. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured. Comfort A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride in comfort and stay secure during a crash. The seat features a soft headrest and a body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell to shield your child from the impacts. 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 correctly positioned. A retractable sun canopy can shield your baby from the sun. For your safety the seat is designed to be locked by the vehicle's seat belt and comes with an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use. If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to slump forward during sleep It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. You can correct this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't work then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat. Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash in the event that they fall to their front on their own. Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, because the muscles and bones of young children are more flexible. Many parents choose to purchase convertible car seats that lets their infants move rearwards until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer, and makes it more convenient for parents because they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child outgrows it. The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lb) as well as an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, without re-threading. Convenience A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option if you're traveling with a toddler. 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. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller 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. However, even when your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat it's safer to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. When you consider it from the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is safer in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when 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 determine how you can rotate your child's seat. They will often have an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckles. These rules are designed to protect your child's health as they develop. It is also important to consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If so, make sure that the tether is correctly fitted and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Last but not least, make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, but not too high or low. This will affect how they are restrained during an accident. A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts off being used as an infant car seat facing rear, then move your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat. Style The infant car seat was a must-have item for your little one, and you spent a lot of time choosing the best one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat, you may wonder if it is time to turn the seat around. While the idea of facing your child forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat. Remember that children vary in size and age. You shouldn't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum length. It might appear that a child is taller in a rear-facing car seat, however this does not mean that it's safe to turn the child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed. Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children younger than one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which can cause serious spinal injuries. Many infant car seats are not only safe, but also easy to use. These include bases that stay connected to the car and snap out and in to allow you to carry your baby from car to stroller or back again and often with a frame stroller as part of an overall travel system. If you're ready to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, ensure that you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the tightness of your car seat. The car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side, or front to rear when it is installed correctly. The harness straps should be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, call a certified safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of your car seat.