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

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year shouldn't ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak could be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead when your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for a new car seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position could assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five point harnesses that hold the child in place with just one pull tightening, and the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide enhanced impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The best infant carseats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head in order to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The top tether strap is connected to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. You should keep in mind that you might not have to move your child from an forward-facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.

It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and a year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent type), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year are riding in a rear-facing car seat their heads are protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can stress their necks.

If children are moving to an forward-facing car seat they should use a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they meet the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means around age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the footage is reduced in speed. If a kid moves too fast, they may be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat has a soft headrest, a cushion for body support, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be adjusted with a single pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy protects your child from direct sunlight. To ensure safety the seat is designed to be secured by the vehicle's seat belt and comes with an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your infant car seat uk complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to lean forward during sleep the seat's angle may be too low for your child. You can remedy this by placing tightly folded towels under the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this isn't working, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a collision in the event that they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer since the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible seat which allows their infants to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It can also make it easier for them because they can easily switch their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with only one seat, from rear-facing infant car seat uk (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It's easy and simple to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness in tandem, without having to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is a fantastic option when you're traveling with a toddler. It lets you view your child while driving and allows all of your family members to enter the car without disturbing your infant car seats best or toddler. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or running other chores.

Even if your child has reached the age where they can change to a car seat that is forward-facing it is better to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. From the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in the event of a crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- including the head, neck, and torso is held by the car seat's back when they face in this direction.

You'll want to check the manufacturer's instructions for how to change your child's car seat around. They usually have an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't go over, as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These rules are designed to protect your child as they develop.

Another thing to consider is whether you own an automobile with an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is installed and tied to the anchor points on your vehicle according to the instructions in the manual. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high, as this will affect how well they are secured in a crash.

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 by being an infant car seat that faces rearwards, then move your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must for your baby, and you spent a lot of time choosing the best one. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat you may wonder if it is time to turn the seat around.

While the idea of facing your child forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety considerations to keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limitations.

It is important to remember that children differ in terms of size and age therefore, you shouldn't decide the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on an exact date on the calendar or when they've reached their legroom limit. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed.

Some infant car seats come with a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're one year old. This is because children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles to withstand a frontal impact, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats aren't just safe, but also easy to use. These include bases that remain attached to the car and snap in and out to let you carry your baby from stroller to car and back to the car and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.

If you're about to transition your baby to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you do so correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and then examining the car seat for tightness. 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 must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, call an approved safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.