The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under the age of one year should not ride facing towards the forward. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries.

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

Safety

In the event of a crash infant car seat in front seat car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which can cause serious injuries.

All infant car seat rear facing seats that face forward have five-point harnesses. They secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to provide better protection against impact. Some also have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The most suitable infant car seats have an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to prevent it from flopping over in the event of collisions. The top tether strap connects to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. Be aware that you might not have to move your child from a forward facing car seat until he or attains the maximum weight and height specified in the manual for the seat.

When your child is 20 lbs and a year old is over, it's time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. rear facing infant car seat-facing car seats protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their head.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they should use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat which is usually at around the age of 4 or 5. You can see the difference in these seats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the footage is reduced in speed. A child could be injured in the event that they move too fast.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to enjoy a comfortable ride and be secure in a crash. The seat features a soft headrest, a body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from impact. The seat has a five-point safety harness which can be tightened with one pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy will shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for safety. It also comes with a locking clip which keeps the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't being used.

If your infant complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward when they sleep the angle of the seat might be too low for them. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded underneath the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their car seat.

It is crucial to remember that children are not ready to stand up and face forward until they are at least 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand a force that is applied to them by a collision should they fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend taking longer to wait because the muscles and bones of children are more flexible.

Many parents decide to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It can also make it easier for parents as they can easily change their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.

The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for a period of 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lb) as well as a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, without re-threading.

Convenience

If you are traveling with a small baby, a forward-facing car seat can be a great choice. It allows you to see your child's face while driving and allows all of your family members to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier to carry your child into and out of the car to go to the supermarket or other chores.

But remember, even when your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is safer in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body, including the neck, head and torso, is cradled in the rear of the car seat.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate your child's seat. They will often have a maximum weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckles. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they develop.

You should also consider whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, make sure that the tether is fitted and connected to your vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the manual. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or below their shoulders, and are not too high or low. This can affect how they're restrained during an accident.

A great option for parents with more than one child or plan to have more is a convertible car seat. This is a complete car seat that can start with a rear-facing infant car seat, then move your child to a forward-facing seat when they're old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position in the car seat.

Style

The infant car seat was a must-have for your child and you've spent many hours deciding the right one. As they grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's time to switch them around.

While the idea of having your child face 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 so you should never base on when you should switch to forward-facing on an exact date on the calendar or when they've reached their maximum legroom. It might appear that a child is taller in a rear-facing car seat, but this doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.

It's recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old. some infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one year old do not have the strength of their neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which could cause serious spinal injuries.

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

If you're ready to move your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do it correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side or front to rear, when it is installed correctly. The harness straps should also be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns ask a certified car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of the car seat.