Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Insuring that your child is in an infant car seat rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be transferred to the car seat facing forward when they reach the limit of their weight and height in their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for newborns and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that since their spines aren't formed, it is vital to keep the force from the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal collision, the baby's head is likely to hit the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat, the impact is absorbed and dissipated in the back of the car. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of the child can be secured into the car seat to prevent them from being thrown into the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This keeps them from hitting their own body, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they fear their child is bored or uncomfortable. Neither has been true for my son, Lukas. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading an article or watch TV.
However, if you have an older child who is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing seat because of leg length or any other reason Try to convince them that it's the safest method of travel for them. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they don't exceed the height or weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Also, be sure to buckle your child in the rear-facing car seat securely with the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats, as these can be compressed in the event of a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen, putting your child at risk of injury. Always perform the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as is possible, as they are easy to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a crib or bassinet for nap or bedtime. This could mean waking the child who is sleeping which isn't ideal. The security advantages of rear-facing overshadow this inconvenience, however.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants, whose bones are still weak and have not ossified after birth or pregnancy.
The rear-facing position also lets you see your baby much better than a forward-facing position. This allows you to monitor their behavior, and ensure they are happy and comfortable. Many baby car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to view your child from virtually every angle.
Once your baby outgrows their infant car seat or is at the weight or height limit recommended by the seat manufacturer you can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. best car seats for infants have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars that means they can be used for longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as flexible. They can be used backward facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They usually also come with a large base at the back of your car making them easier to set up and remove. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats but they last much longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits established by the manufacturer of their car seat or at least 2 years old. old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat when they turn two years old. But, it's always better to wait.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all car seats for infants come with height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of about 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you can move to the next level of safety. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to ride rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in one car seat.
Aside from a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that indicate your child is ready to move on to the next phase of a car seat, such as their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can check for these signs by watching your child's behavior, and then looking at other children their age in their car seats. You can also ask for assistance from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car seat inspection station that are usually run by local government agencies or community groups.
Keeping your infant rear facing as long as possible is safest for them, and it's easy to understand why parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're mature. You can ward off this temptation by making sure that your child's car seats is installed correctly and don't switch them to a front-facing seat before they're ready even if their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
If you're unsure whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're worried you might not have installed the car seat correctly, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. These experts are available through community organizations, local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can locate one close to you by searching online or contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your office or home to ensure that you have the right equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
The correct installation of a car seat is essential for its effectiveness. The NHTSA has found that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your child's car seat is installed correctly is to study the manual and have it professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.
The angle check is the first step towards installing a rear-facing infant car seat. Check that the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child, which you can find on the the side of the base or in its user's manual.
Also, make sure that your baby's head is in the right angle in the seat. Forward-facing positions can put pressure on the neck and spine of babies with their heavy heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.
When your baby is at the weight or height limit of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to transition to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, make sure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
If you choose an infant car seat that is able to be detached from the car and re-attached to a stroller, this is a great option for parents who need to get their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only drawback is that it could be time-consuming and difficult to get the stroller and car seat in and out of your vehicle every time, especially for infants. If you're willing to invest the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a great alternative for many families. Plan ahead and pick a day that you have plenty of time.