Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transportation. This feature makes them very popular with parents planning to travel frequently out of the city.

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 pick. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to find an ideal fit.

Rear-Facing

portable infant car seat car seats (also called convertible car seats with an open rear position) are designed to hold infants and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a baby is securely in the seat shell.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that babies ride rear-facing until they reach their weight or height limits for car seats, whichever comes first. Some convertible and all in one car seats allow your child to be rear facing for longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

Most manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's head from falling backwards when the car is stopped. You'll need to study your car seat's manual to determine how to adjust the reclining angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat to learn how to do it. It's also important not to placing your baby in bulky clothing, like blankets and coats as they could hinder the snug fit of the harness and cut off airflow around your infant's neck and chest.

Many parents aren't comfortable changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the impact force could throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck and head may be violently thrown forward during a side-impact. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing offers a better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video by an influencer for car seats shows a child sitting in the forward-facing car seat being violently tossed in an accident simulation. The head injury that occurs is horrifying. But the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as bad as the head of a child is held in the car seat's shell.

So, if your state law requires you to move your child to forward-facing do not follow it! This does not line up with best car seat infant practices, which is why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever is first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed to cradle newborns and infants with harnesses to help to secure them in the seat. Depending on the car seat newborn seat model parents might be in a position to adjust the angle of recline and headrest to ensure their child's comfort and also select from a variety of attachments for the stroller of their baby. Most infant car seats are designed to accommodate an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow them before they are ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's understandable for parents to are eager to change their child's behavior as soon as possible The current law requires that kids under one year of age must remain rear-facing in car seats until they're 20 pounds and 1 year of age. The reason is that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. This happens when a child turns into the opposite direction in an accident.

If a baby is being thrown forward during a collision with a car the spinal cord can be stretched and torn, resulting in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in the car their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, preventing this kind of injury.

Additionally, infants who are rear-facing are less likely to be thrown into the back seat of the vehicle in an accident. In the event of a collision they're less likely to be injured by a seatbelt that is positioned across their chests, instead of their necks.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the right car seat for his or their size. Refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle prior to making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a certified car seat technician who is certified in your area.

If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing position and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash adult seatbelts when they've reached the recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn between a baby car seat or a convertible one. Both have their benefits, but which is the right choice for your family? A car seat for infants is ideal for infants however if you are looking for something that lasts for many years then a convertible may be the better choice.

Convertible infant car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. Depending on the model, they are able to accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats come with higher weight and size limits than infant car seat that allow for more use.

Find out if the convertible infant car seats best car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. The firm padding raises the infant's torso so they can reach the lowest strap slots, and pushes them forward slightly to stop their head from flopping back against the harness straps or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles and can be connected to strollers to create a travel infant car seat system. This feature lets you effortlessly transfer from your car to a stroller without waking your baby.

Eventually, though your child will outgrow their car seat for infants, either by reaching their weight limit or their height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat's manual to ensure that your child is prepared.

Convertible best car seat for newborn seats may seem more expensive than baby car seats at first, but they can be more affordable over time since they can be used for a long time. Additionally, some models have lower anchors which allow the installation of these seats with less force than traditional car seats, which can reduce injuries in an accident.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the primary factor to think about when buying infant car seats. All baby car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some go above and beyond to provide additional peace of mind for parents.

Premium features such as anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure that your child's safety is kept in mind. Load legs, which brace the base of the seat and reduce the force in an accident, are also available.

A good way to determine how secure an infant car seat is prior to buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. However, it's important to remember that the most important factor in determining how safe an infant car seat is actually how it is used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, most accidents that involve infant car seats stem from misuse -- either incorrect installation or inadequate restraint of the childand not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

To be sure you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, choose one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction manual and plenty of indicators that show it's solid and level, with bubbles on the base that inform you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Additionally, make sure to securely secure the straps to the chest and abdomen of your child when you install it. A good indicator of this is the sound that it makes when you tighten.

Even if you're just running to the grocery store or making a quick visit to the park, you shouldn't leave your infant in a car. It's not only an extremely dangerous idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or a carrier on a hard surface outside of the vehicle is a risky option that can result in injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that tip or roll can cause injury or death to babies.

You will require a booster car seat at some time. To save money in the long run consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.