Rear Facing Infant Car Seat 10 Things I'd Love To Have Known Sooner
Rear Facing Infant Car Seat A rear-facing infant seat absorbs the force of a collision in a crash and shields your child's neck and head. In a crash they also prevent your child's legs hitting the front of the car seat. This can cause serious injuries or even death. All toddlers and infants must ride rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit set by their car seat's manufacturer. This applies to infant car seats and convertible seats. Rear-facing infant car seat is specifically designed for newborns and smaller infants. A rear facing infant car seat is a kind of child car seat that is only available in a rear-facing position. These seats are specifically designed specifically for infants and small babies generally up to 35 pounds. The seat's base is narrower than other car seats. They are ideal for cars with small spaces and can allow for more space on the back of the car. The majority of infant car seats can also be transformed into strollers, making traveling with a child much more convenient. Rear-facing infant car seats are also recommended for babies and infants born before 37 weeks gestation. They are bigger and better fitted than standard car seats, which are difficult to get into and out of for small babies. The infant car seat gives more head and cervical support than a rear-facing car seat. This can protect babies and preemies in the event of a collision. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children should remain rear-facing until they attain their maximum weight and height for the car seat, or when they reach the age of two years old. This is due to the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to strengthen in this position, which can protect against spinal injuries. It is also important to note that children and infants are more prone to suffer serious injuries when they are facing forward. In the case of an accident, the rear-facing seat will absorb the majority of the impact, shielding the baby's head, neck, and spine. However, when children are in a forward-facing seat, their disproportionately large heads can be thrown at the vehicle's dashboard or console, causing serious injuries. Many parents think that their child is ready to get an adult booster seat or a forward-facing one at around the age of two. This is a big mistake. It is better for children to remain rear-facing in their car seat until they reach three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the more their cervical vertebrae will grow and ossify. They are easy to set up and take down. Most rear facing infant car seat s have an easy-to-install base that can be fitted into your car and can be removed when not needed. This feature is practical and lets parents secure their child in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially in bad weather or at nights when it may be more difficult. It also makes it easy to switch between vehicles and allows grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat. Once your child has outgrown their infant car seat, in terms of weight or height it's time to upgrade to a convertible or booster. It's important to keep in mind that children are safer if they ride rear-facing as long as they can. In fact, it's highly recommended by safety experts that children use rear-facing car seats until their second birthday or when they reach the weight and height limit of the manufacturer of the car seat. In a frontal collision infants in a rear-facing car seat absorbs most of the force from the collision by taking it in at the neck, head and the spine. When a child is facing rear in a car seat the force of crashing may cause their head to be thrown forward which can cause serious injury or death. If you're concerned about your child's comfort while facing backwards, try keeping them warm in a blanket and avoid placing loose ones behind or underneath them. Be careful not to dress them in bulky clothes as this could interfere with the snugness and fit of the harness. Lastly, make sure that the chest clip lies flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are tight with no looseness. Many experts in child safety believe that if children sit in rear-facing car seats longer they'll be five times more protected in the event of a crash. This is due to the fact that in a crash, kids' heads are large for their bodies – could be thrown forward by force that could otherwise be absorbent by their torsos as well as necks. With rear-facing seats children's heads are supported by the seat's headrest and cradled by their back in an accident, shielding them from the most significant injuries. They are designed to protect your child's neck and head. If a child is in a rear-facing car seat their neck and spinal cord is cradled against the back of the child's safety seat in the event of a crash. This is vital since in a frontal crash (the most frequent type of car accident) infants in forward-facing cars are forcefully thrown into the dashboard, which could cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the rear of their car seat, and their heads are padded and supported by the headrest. Infants also breathe more easily when they're in a rear-facing car seat, as their chins are pressed against their chest. When kids are in car seats that are forward-facing, their chins are frequently downwards, which can block their airway and make it difficult for them to breathe. In fact, kids who lie down in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely to suffer head injuries than those who sleep in a rear-facing car seat. Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's spine and brain are developing, making them more vulnerable in the case of an accident. In the event of a crash that involves an infant facing forward, the head of the child may hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to become stretched and can lead to serious injury or even death. It's important to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. Some infant car seats come with a special insert that helps in supporting the head of a child. This can be removed after a child outgrows it. A majority of car seats have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the energy from a crash. This is important as it helps reduce the impact on your child and could even keep him from being thrown out. NHTSA recommends that you keep your child in the rear-facing infant seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat. Then, they can transition to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used rear-facing and then changed to forward-facing when they grow. They are easy to clean. All car seats, regardless of whether they are convertibles or all-in-one car seats are able to be removed quickly and easily. They are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems or strollers for errands on the go. These seats are easy to clean. Many of them have covers that are removable and parts that are removable, which can be cleaned and dried in the washing machine. This is especially important as children are messy! The position of the rear can protect a child's head and neck in the event of a collision, which is critical for children who are just starting out. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they have lots of cartilage. When they collide the head could move backwards, stretching their spinal cords and causing serious injuries. This is one reason why many auto safety experts recommend keeping kids rear-facing as long as possible. It's tempting to switch your child's front-facing seat to a booster when they are ready, but every switch lowers their protection in a crash. In a front-facing crash, their heads would be thrown forward and struck by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, increasing the chance of injury. Ideally, children should ride rearwards until they reach the maximum weight of their rear-facing car seat or maximum height, or until two years old. If you're unsure if your child is ready to transition from their rear-facing car seat, consult a certified CPST in your area who can assist. They can help you determine the time when your child is ready to turn around and ensure that they are riding safely in their car seat. Many parents mistakenly assume they have outgrown their infant car seat once they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. However, there are a number of things to take into consideration, including the size of your car and child's unique body shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in recline indicators which tell you when your child's head is no longer extending past the top of their seat. For more information about safe recline, consult the manual for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle.