Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead of FF when your child is at their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum for the new car seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position will also 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 to hold the child in place with just one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide better impact protection. Some models also come with an umbrella to protect from the sun.
The best infant car seats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head in order to prevent them from falling over in the event of a collision. The seat also comes with the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It is important to keep in mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual of the seat you are using.
It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and a year. Babies and toddlers under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). Rear-facing car seats safeguard the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their heads.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a high rearward weight and height limit. The child should not be placed in an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is typically between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the two carseats. However, keep in mind that the footage has been slowed down. If a kid moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to ride comfortably and remain safe during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from impact. The seat is equipped with five points of safety harness that can be tightened by one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. For safety, the seat is designed to be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle and has an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when they sleep, the seat's angle might be too low for them. This can be fixed by placing tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this doesn't help, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their carseat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to stand up to the force of a collision should they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer since the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel 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 also makes it easier for them as 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 is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for a period of 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lbs), to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the headrest and harness together without having to re-thread.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option when you're traveling with a young child. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the rest of your family can get into the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers, making it easier to take your child in and out of the car to go to the supermarket or other errands.
But, even if your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. If you view it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso is held in the rear of the car seat.
It is important to read the manufacturer's instructions for when you can change your child's car seat around. They usually have the weight and height limit that you should not go over and also specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These rules are designed to protect your child's health as they develop.
Another thing to consider is if you have an automobile with Tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, ensure that the tether is connected to the anchor points on your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. The last thing to do is make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or below their shoulders, but not too low or high. This will affect how they are secured in the event of the event of a crash.
A convertible car seat is a smart choice for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward facing seat once your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The infant car seat was a must-have for your little one, and you spent much time deciding the right one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat, you might wonder if it's time to turn the seat around.
While infant car seat cheap of facing your child forward is exciting, there are several important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limits.
It is important to remember 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 a specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their limit of legroom. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.
It is recommended to keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old. some infant car seats have an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is due to the fact that children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only safe, but also easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your baby from the car to a stroller, and back. They are usually part of an overall travel system.
If you're about to move your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the tightness of your car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to rear when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed over 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.