Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in a car seat that is facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be switched to a forward-facing car seat once they have reached the height and weight limits of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Using an infant car seat rear facing is safest for babies and infants due to the way it cradles and supports their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren't yet formed, it is vital to keep the force of a crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal collision the baby's head can hit the seat infront of them. This can cause whiplash that can be severe or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be placed into 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 bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact, he prefers to ride backwards because the recline feature allows him to stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.
However, if you have an older child who is resistant to being in a rear-facing seat due to of leg length or other factors try convincing them that it's the most secure way for them to travel. Explain that your child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat so long as the height or weight limits aren't exceeded.
Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats. These can compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear facing for as long as they can because they are easy to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. However placing your child in a rear-facing seat may mean they have to be put in a crib or bassinet at times of nap or at time of bed. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which is not the best option. The security advantages of rear-facing overshadow this inconvenience, but.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term infants. This helps to reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.
The position that faces the rear allows you to observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This lets you monitor their behavior, and ensure they are comfortable and content. The majority of infant car seats come with a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so that you can see your child at any angle.
When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants or reaches the height or weight limit set by their seat manufacturer you can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as multi-functional. They can be used in forward-facing or rear-facing positions, or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also easier to remove and install because they are built with a large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used only once, but they'll last longer and save you money over time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach maximum weight and height limits established by the manufacturer of their car seat or at least 2 years old. It is common for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat when they reach age two. However, it's best to wait.
Weight Limits
You should be aware that all car seats for infants come with height and weight restrictions. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and an upper height limit of about 30 inches or so, depending on the model. If your child is reaching these limits, it's the time to move on to the next level of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that can change between forward and rear facing, or an all-in-one seat that allows your child to ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight that is recommended by the manufacturer.
Aside from the weight and height limit, there are other factors that indicate your child is ready for the next step in a car seat, such as their level of comfort when sitting rear facing. You can identify these indicators by observing your child's behavior and looking at other children in their car seats. best car seats newborn can also seek help from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is typically operated by local governments or community groups.
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 completely mature before they switch them over. You can avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and don't switch to a front-facing seat before they're ready, even if their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
Contact a certified child passenger technician if there are any concerns about your child's readiness for the next stage of car seats or if you're worried that you might not install the car seat correctly. These specialists are available through community groups, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can find one near you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile that will visit your workplace or home to help ensure you have the proper equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
A car seat has to be installed correctly in order to be efficient. Sadly the NHTSA estimates that more than 50% of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best method to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read through the manual, then have them checked by an accredited car safety technician.
The first step to install an infant rear facing car seat is to test the angle. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.
Also, ensure that your baby's head is properly positioned in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing position can cause pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. In a rear-facing crash, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.
Once your child has reached the weight or height limit of their car seat for infants and is now weighing more than a pound, it's time to switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, which can be used in the rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase an infant car seat that has more rear-facing capacity if you switch to this type of seat, as older models have lower limits.
If you opt for an infant car seat that is able to be detached from the car and then reattached to the stroller, it is an ideal option for parents who wish to get their infants in and out of the car frequently. The only downside to this is that it can be time-consuming and difficult to get the stroller and car seat in and out of your vehicle every time, particularly with infants. However, if you are willing to invest the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a viable alternative for many families. Be sure to think ahead and pick a date when you have plenty of time to spare.