Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be moved to an forward-facing car seat when they have reached the weight and height limits of their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. "Since their spines aren't been ossified yet, it's vital to keep the impact of a crash away from their heads and necks," says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head can strike the seat in front of them. This can result in a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing car seat, however, the impact is absorbed and dissipated in the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be placed into the car seat to protect them from being thrown into the back of front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This keeps them from colliding with the inside of their own bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they are afraid that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing because the seat's recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.
However, if you have an older child who isn't keen on being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other factors, try to convince them that it's the safest option for them to travel. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats provided they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.
Be sure to lock your child in a rear-facing car seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They could compress in the event of a crash, making the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a crib or a bassinet at nap or time to sleep. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping, which is never ideal. However, the safety benefits of rear facing outweigh any inconvenience.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term babies. This helps to reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants whose bones are still weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.
The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This lets you easily observe their behavior and ensure they are content and happy. Most infant car seats come with a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually any angle.
When your baby is outgrowing their car seat for infants, or attains the weight or height limit suggested by the manufacturer of their seat you can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used for longer.
All-in-one or convertible car seats are renowned for their flexibility. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a belt positioning booster. They are also simpler to remove and install due to their large base at the back of your car. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however, they last longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limits allowed by the car seat manufacturer or until they reach at least two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat when they reach age two. But, it's always better to wait.
Weight Limits
It is important to know that all infant car seats come with height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's the time to move on to the next stage of safety: either a convertible car seat that allows you to change between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in-one seat that allows your child to ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
There are other aspects apart from the weight and height limit, which can help you determine if your child is ready to make the next step in a car seat. One of them is their comfort level riding rear-facing. You can look for these indicators in your child's behavior and compare it with other children similar to yours in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is often operated by local government or community groups.
Remaining rear-facing for your infant as long as possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to see why parents are hesitant to move their kids around until they're fully grown. You can ward off this temptation by making sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and don't switch them to a front-facing seat before they're ready, even the weight or height is within the limits of their current seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next car seat stage or you're worried you might not be installing the car seat correctly Contact a certified child passenger safety technician. They are available through community groups and hospitals local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you, or contact your local public health or safety department. There are also car seat check events that are mobile that can visit your workplace or home to make sure you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
A car seat needs to be installed correctly to be efficient. Unfortunately, the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear-facing). The best method to make sure that your infant car seats are properly installed is to read through the manual, and then have them professionally checked by an accredited car safety technician.
Checking the angle is the first step towards installing the rear-facing infant car seat. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.
You should also make sure that your baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and the forward-facing position could put pressure on their neck and spine during a crash. In a rear-facing crash the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.
When best car seat infant has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. They can be used in a rear-facing configuration up until the front-facing limit. Make sure to purchase an infant car seat that has a higher rear-facing limit if you choose to change to this type of car seat, because older models have lower limits.
Parents who often transport their children in cars will be able to select an infant car seat that is able to be removed and attached to strollers. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller in and out of the vehicle each time, particularly when you have a baby. This is a great option for a lot of families, who are willing to spend the time to do it right each time. Make sure to plan ahead, and choose a day when you will have plenty of time to spare.