10 Signs To Watch For To Get A New Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year are NOT supposed 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 at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for a new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could also help prevent your baby from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to determine the right angle for your child's neck in order to avoid it falling over during an accident. The seat also comes with an upper tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual of the seat you're using.
When your child is 20 lbs and one year is the right time to change. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats safeguard the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their head.
When kids move to a forward-facing car seat they should use a convertible or all-in-one seat with a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. The child shouldn't be able to move into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between the carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed. 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 a crash. The seat has a comfortable headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing cover to protect your child from collision. The seat also comes with five-point harnesses with simple one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is correctly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your baby from the sunlight. The seat can be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure safety. It also has a clip to lock the buckle in place when the seat isn't in use.
If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when sleeping, the angle of the seat may be too low for your child. You can fix this by putting tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this still doesn't help, you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force of a crash should they fall to their front on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, since the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents opt to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for them because they can easily change their child's position from forward-facing to rear-facing when the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use in only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without having to re-thread.
Convenience
When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat can be an excellent choice. It allows you to watch your child as you drive and the other members of your family can enter 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 toddler in and out of your car to go to the grocery store or other errands.
But remember, even the time your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat it's better to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. From the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in the event of a crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- head neck, torso, and head is held by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.
Review the directions of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll see that they have an upper and lower limit, as well as specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's location. These rules are designed to protect your child as they develop.
You should also think about whether your vehicle comes with anchors for tethers. If yes, you must ensure that the strap is properly fitted and tied to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual for your seat. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This will affect how they are restrained during the event of a crash.
infant car seats best for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more is a convertible car seat. It is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.
Style
You spent a lot time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants, you may be wondering if it's time to switch them around.
While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are several important safety considerations to keep in mind. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their particular car seat.
Be aware that children are very different in terms of size and age therefore you shouldn't base on when you should switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their limit of legroom. A child may appear bigger in a rear-facing car seat, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.
It is recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they reach one year old. some infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. 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 could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with convenient features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay connected to the car and snap in and out to let you carry your baby from car to stroller or back, and they often pair with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.
If you're ready to move your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat make sure you do so correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and then 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 must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, call an accredited safety technician in your area or the car seat manufacturer.