Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
The safest way to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be able to switch to an forward-facing car seat when they have reached the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for newborns and young babies. This is because they provide support and support to their neck and head. "Since their spines aren't been ossified, it's crucial to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads," says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, causing a whiplash effect that can be severe or fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. The legs of a child can be secured into the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This stops them from crashing into their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child will be bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact Lukas prefers riding rear-facing since the recline feature lets him cross his legs and read a book or watch tv.
If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or other reasons you can convince them that this is the best option. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat as long as the weight or height limits are not exceeded.
Be best infant car seat to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They could compress in the event of a crash, making the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can because they are more user-friendly and more mobile than convertible seats. However placing your child in a rear-facing vehicle could mean that they need to be put in an infant crib or bassinet during times of nap or at time of bed. This could mean waking the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. However, the benefits of rear facing outweigh any discomfort.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term babies. This helps reduce the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants, who have bones that are weak and have not ossified after birth or pregnancy.
The rear-facing position also allows you to observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This allows you to monitor their behavior and make sure they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted so that you can observe your child from any angle.
You can utilize a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their recommended weight or height limit. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only car seats, allowing them to be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known for being versatile. They can be used forward-facing or rear-facing positions, or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easy to set up and take down due to their large base in the back of your car. These seats are more expensive than the infant car seats that can be used once, but they will last longer and will save you money over the course of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer or are at least 2 years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat by the time they reach age two. However, it's better to hold off until they reach the age of two.
Weight Limits
It is important to know that all car seats for infants come with weight and height restrictions. The majority of infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child has reached these limits, it's the time to move to the next level of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that allows you to be switched between forward and rear facing, or an all-in one car seat that lets your child ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight that is recommended by the manufacturer.
There are other factors aside from the weight and height limit, that can tell you whether your child is ready to make the next step in the car seat. One of them is their comfort level riding in a rear-facing. You can observe these signs in your child's behavior and compare it with other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is often operated by local governments or community organizations.
It is best to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are fully mature before they switch them over. It's possible to avoid this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seats is installed correctly and doesn't change them to a front-facing seat before they're ready, even the weight or height is within the limits of their existing seat.
You can contact a certified child passenger technician if you have questions about your child's readiness to move on to the next level of car seats or if you are concerned that you may not installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community organizations, hospitals local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you, or contact your local public health department or safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that can visit your workplace or home to make sure you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
The correct installation of a car seat is vital to ensure its safety. Sadly, the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to ensure that your infant car seat is installed correctly is to study the 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 examine the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.
You should also be sure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle when in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing position can cause pressure on their neck and spine in the event of a collision. In a rear-facing collision, a car seat's back absorbs the majority of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and the spinal cord.
When your child is at the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible seat or an all-in-one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing position up until the front-facing limit. If you decide to change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, ensure that the new model has a higher rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
If you opt for an infant car seat that is able to be detached from the car and re-attached to strollers, this is a great choice for parents who want to take their infants into and out of the car often. The only drawback is that it could be tricky and time consuming to move the stroller and car seat into and out of your car every time, particularly with infants. If you're willing to take the extra time each time to get it right, this can be a good option for many families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.