Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
The most secure way to keep your child in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be able to switch to a forward-facing car seat once they reach the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.
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Safety Benefits
Using an infant car seat rear facing is the safest option for babies and infants because it holds and supports their head and neck. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines aren't yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force of the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash, a baby's head would hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash that could be severe or fatal. In a rear-facing seat however, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated at the back of the car. "It's like a hug," says Adele. In addition, the child's legs are put into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This keeps them from colliding with their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear that their child may become bored or uneasy. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting in the rear since the seat reclines and allows him to read a book, or watch TV while doing so.
If you do have a child that is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing seat due to of leg length or any other reason try convincing them that it's the most secure option for them to travel. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in one car seats as long as they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Be sure to lock your child in a rear-facing seat with the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible car seats. However, placing your child in a rear-facing car seat may mean they have to be put in the bassinet or crib at time of nap or bedtimes. This could wake the child who is sleeping which isn't ideal. The security advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, however.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is particularly important for premature babies who have weaker bones, and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.
The position that faces the rear allows you to 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 infant car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually every angle.
You can utilize convertible car seats or an all-in one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their recommended weight or height limit. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars which means they can be used longer.
Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are known for being multi-functional. They can be used backward facing, forward facing, and as belt-positioning boosters. They also usually have a larger base in the back of your vehicle making them easier to set up and remove. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats however, they last longer than a standard infant seat and will save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat or at least 2 years older. car seat newborn Push Chairs And Prams is normal for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat by the time they reach the age of two. However, it's better to wait.
Weight Limits
All baby car seats have weight and height limits that you need to keep in mind. The majority have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds and an upper height limit of 30 inches or so, depending on the model. If your child is reaching these limits, it's time to move on to the next stage of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that allows you to switch between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in-one seat that lets your kiddo ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.
There are other factors, besides the weight and height limit which can help you determine whether your child is able to make the next step in a car seat. One of these is their comfort level riding rear-facing. You can look for these indicators in your child's behavior, and compare it to other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also ask for assistance from a certified child passenger safety experts at an inspection station for car seats which are often operated by local government agencies or community groups.
It's recommended to keep your child rear-facing as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are fully grown before turning them around. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seats is installed correctly and don't switch to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even if their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.
Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have any concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready for the next stage of car seats or if you are worried that you might not installing the car seat correctly. These experts can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child safety programs. You can find one close to you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events which can come to your workplace or at home to make sure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
A car seat must be properly installed to be effective. Unfortunately it is the case that the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to be sure that your child's car seats are correctly installed is to read the instructions, and after that, have them examined by a certified car safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step in installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.
You should also make sure that the head of your baby is properly positioned in the seat. The forward-facing position could put pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing crash, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it's time to change to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing configuration up to the front-facing limit. If you decide to change to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, be sure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.
If you choose an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is a great choice for parents who want to get their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only downside to this is that it can be tricky and time consuming to move the car seat and stroller in and out of your car every time, especially for a newborn. This can be a good choice for many families when they are willing to spend the time to get it right every time. Make a plan and pick a day that you have plenty of time.