9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year old are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead, switch to FF when your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position can also prevent your child from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The best cheap infant car seats car seats have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which lets you determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent them from flopping over in a crash. The car seat also comes with a top tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and hooks to the tether anchor within your vehicle. Be aware that you might not have to switch your child to an forward-facing car seat until is at the maximum weight and height specified in the manual for the seat.

When your child is 20 lbs and one year, it's time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year ride rear-facing their heads are cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that could strain their necks.

When kids move to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit. The child should not be moved 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. You can notice the differences in these seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the video is slow-motion. Children can be injured when they move too fast.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and secure in the event of an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will protect your child from any impact. The seat also has five-point harnesses with simple one-pull tightening and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is correctly positioned. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be locked to the seat belt of your vehicle for security. It also comes with a locking clip which keeps the latch buckle fastened even when the seat isn't being used.

If your child complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward while sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. You can correct this by placing tightly folded towels under the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this doesn't work, you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.

It is important to remember that children aren't yet ready to face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force that is applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts suggest taking longer to wait since the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.

Many parents decide to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to be backwards until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It can also make it easier for parents as they can easily switch their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that lets your child use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant car seats that swivel (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lb), to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the headrest and harness together without the need to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is a fantastic option for traveling with a young child. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to carry your toddler into and out of the car to go to the store for groceries or other errands.

Even if your child has reached the age where they can change to a car seat that is facing forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing seat for the duration you can. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- including the head, neck, and torso is held by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.

It is important to read the instructions provided by the manufacturer on the best car seats for infants time to change your child's car seat around. They usually have an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed, as well as specific rules for things like the crotch buckle's position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child's health as they grow.

You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure the strap is correctly installed and connected to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual of the seat. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low because this can affect the way they are secured in an accident.

An excellent option for parents who have more than one child or plan to have more, is a convertible car seat. It is a one-stop car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat and then transition your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat.

Style

The infant car seat was a must-have for your child and you've spent a lot of time choosing the best infant carrier car seat one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering when it's time to switch them around.

While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.

You should also be aware that children are different in size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide on when you should switch to forward-facing on an exact date on the calendar or when they've reached their limit of legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seats newborn seat, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe for turning around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed.

It's recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old. certain infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is due to the fact that children under one don't have enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many infant car seats come with useful features that make them easy to use. Some include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part a travel system.

If you're about to move your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of the car seat. When installed properly, the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps should be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, you can contact a certified safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of the car seat.