Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year old should not ride forward-facing. In a crash their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF when your child reaches the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum required for the new car seat). Make sure you read the instructions for your car seat.

Safety

infant car seat travel car seats are made to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position also helps prevent your child from hitting their head against the back of the seat which can cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five point harnesses that ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for better protection from impact. Some models also come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best infant car seats have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, that allows you to choose the right angle for your child's head in order to prevent them from falling over in a collision. The top tether strap is connected to the tether anchor of the vehicle and extends from the top. It's important to keep it in mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual of the seat you are using.

When your child is 20 lbs and one year, it's time to make the switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash if they are 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 backwards their head is cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks.

If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit. The child should not be able to move into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is typically around age 4 or 5 years old. It is evident the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the video is slowed down. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seats cheap car seat will keep your child safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will ensure your child's safety from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be adjusted with a single pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from sun. For your safety the seat is designed to lock with the vehicle's seat belt and includes a locking clip that keeps the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your baby complains about discomfort or seems to slump forward while sleeping it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this does not work, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.

It is crucial to remember that children are not ready to face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough to withstand a force that would be applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, since the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat that lets their infants move rearwards until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets them enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for much longer and is more convenient for parents since they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child outgrows it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gives your child 10 years of car seat usage with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lb). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option for traveling with a child who is young. It lets you see your child's face while driving and allows all of your family members to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. The type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle while you are at the grocery store or doing other errands.

Even when your child is at the age that they are able to change to a car seat that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position as long as you are able to. If you view it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more protected 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.

You'll want to check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine the best time to change the car seat of your child around. They will often have an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to ensure your child's safety as they develop.

You should also consider whether your vehicle is equipped with Tether anchors. If so, make sure that the tether is correctly fitted and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Also, make sure 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 an accident.

A good choice for parents who have several children or are planning to have more, is a convertible car seat. This is a complete car seat that starts by being an infant car seat that faces rearwards before moving your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing car seat.

Style

You've put in a lot of time and effort in choosing the best car seat infant baby car seat for your child. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.

While the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should be aware of. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.

Remember that children vary in terms of size and age. You shouldn't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you think that they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. A child may appear bigger in a rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe in addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with practical features that make them easy to use. Some include bases that snap in and out of the car and allow you to transport your child from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part the travel system.

If you're ready to switch your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, make sure you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than one 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 any questions or concerns you should talk to an accredited car seat safety technician in your region or contact the car seat manufacturer.