Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

The majority of infant car seats be removed from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who plan to take frequent trips out of town.

Dress your baby in clothes so that the harness straps can comfortably be positioned over their hips and shoulders regardless of the car seat type you choose. The bulky clothing or blankets could hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and small children up to a certain weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant car seat newborn insert that ensures the head of a newborn is securely in the seat's shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that babies remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child remain rear-facing for longer, until around age 4 or 5.

Most manufacturers design their car seats with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from sliding backwards when the car is stopped. You'll need to study the manual of your car seat to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle, or find a video from an influencer for your car seat to discover how to do it. It's also important not to putting your baby in bulky clothing like blankets and coats, because they can prevent an ideal fit for the harness and cut off airflow around the infant's neck and chest.

Many parents are reluctant in changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash may throw their child's legs or feet, or their neck and head could be violently thrown forward during a side-impact. However, it's important to remember that the rear-facing position provides more protection than the forward-facing position.

A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward facing car seat being thrown around violently in an accident simulator. The head injury that occurs is horrifying. The video of the same crash from the rear-facing seat isn't as severe because the child's head is held by the shell.

If your state law requires you to turn your child to forward-facing do not follow it! This does not line up with best car seat infant practices. That is why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever comes first.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants, with harnesses that help keep them in the car seat. Parents can adjust the headrest, recline angle and stroller attachments based on the car seat. Most infant car seats come with a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to transition to a forward facing car seat.

While it's understandable for parents to want to get their child back as soon as they can, the current standard mandates that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they're 20 pounds and 1 year of age. The reason for this is that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision. This is caused when a child moves forward in the event of an accident.

If a baby is being thrown forward in a frontal collision the spinal cord could be stretched and torn which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in the car the neck bones are held together and protected by the harness, preventing this kind of injury.

Rear-facing babies are less likely to be in the rear of the car in an accident. In the event of a collision, they're less likely to get injured by a seatbelt that is positioned across their chests instead of their necks.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat for the size. Always refer to the manufacturer's car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual before making an important decision. It's also a good idea to visit a reputable car seat technician in your local area for expert assistance and advice.

When an infant grows out of their car seat, he or she can upgrade to convertible car seats. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing direction and then switch to forward-facing when they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with a lap-sash adult seatbelt when they've reached the recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have their benefits however, which is the right choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a durable car seat for infants.

As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be changed from rear-facing to front-facing. They can accommodate children from the age of infancy to late elementary school, based on the model you select. Certain rear-facing car seat for newborn seats come with higher weight and size limits than the infant car seat that allow for more use.

If you opt for convertible infant car seats, be sure to check whether it comes with removable newborn inserts that help to ensure a snug and secure fit for your baby. These firm padding lifts the infant's torso, so they can reach the lowest slots on the straps, and then it pushes them forward a bit to prevent their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle on the crotch of the seat (which puts the child at risk of asphyxia).

Infant car seats also tend to have a handle parents use to move them between vehicles and can be inserted into strollers to create a travel system. This feature makes it easy to move from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby for trips to the store, mall, or doctor visits.

At some point your child will outgrow their car seat for infants or reach their weight limit or height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to make sure your child is ready.

Although convertible car seats may seem more expensive upfront than infant car seats but they can be more affordable in the long run because you'll be capable of using them for a long time. Additionally, certain models have lower anchors which permit the installation of these seats with less force than traditional seats, which could reduce injuries in an accident.

Safety Ratings

When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be the top priority. All infant car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some go above and beyond to offer extra security for parents.

Premium features such as anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses are a great way to ensure that your child's safety is kept in mind. Other helpful tools, like load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the force of a crash, are available as well.

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of an best infant car seat car seat can help you determine its safety prior to purchasing. However it's important to keep in mind that the most crucial factor in determining how safe an infant car seat is how it's used. Based on our conversations the majority of accidents involving infant car seats result from misuse -- either improper installation or inadequate restraints of the child.

To ensure you're using a car seat for your infant properly, search for one that has a clear instruction manual and plenty of indicators to show it's solid and level, with bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY where to position the seat. Additionally, make sure to firmly tighten the straps to the abdomen and chest of your baby when you install it. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten it is an excellent indication.

Also, when you're out and about with your baby in car seats, don't leave it unattended, even if you're just going to the shop or taking a short visit to the park. It's not just risky in a car crash, but leaving an infant carrier or car seat on a hard surface could cause injuries and falls. Car seats that tip over or roll can cause injuries to babies, or worse and even cause them to suffocate.

You will require an additional car seat at some point. Consider a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money in the long term. These seats provide more options and last longer than infant carrier seat car seats.