Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat

A car seat for newborns is also known as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It helps protect babies against injury and death during vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraint force to the child's body and head, rather than the neck or spinal cord.

These seats are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and with the option of varying weights and height limits. They can also be part of a set for travel that can be converted into a stroller base.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing cheap infant car seats car seats provide the best protection for infants in crashes. They are designed to hold and support children, protecting their spine, neck and head. Additionally, they assist to reduce the force of a crash from hitting your child's body, reducing injuries. This is because the body of your child is not hitting the car seat or front passenger seat, but rather the soft, cushioned surface inside of their car seat.

Parents should ensure that their child is rear-facing until they reach maximum height or weight limit of the car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The majority of children outgrow their infant car seat around age 1 and can move to an convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. However, many parents will want to keep their child in a rear-facing seat until they turn 2.

There are two types: infant-only car seats and convertible car seats. Both are equally safe however, each has its own conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats, are smaller and lighter. They also have a quick-release base that can be easily removed from the vehicle and attached to a stroller. Convertible car seats are heavier and larger. They also don't include a stroller base.

Regardless of which type of seat you choose, it is important to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines and to always place the seat in the back of your vehicle. It is also recommended that you place washcloths that are tightly rolled or blankets between the crotch straps and your child to ensure that there is no slack in the harness. Also, ensure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is correctly fitted and secured.

There is a lot of disagreement about how long a child should be rear-facing, research has shown that infants up to 12 months old are less likely to suffer injuries in car accidents if they're facing the back of the car. Baby car seats that face rear also experience a lesser impact when they crash into the front of the car, as opposed to the rear of the car seat, which can cause serious injuries.

Forward-facing

Most parents have given a lot of attention to their baby's car seat. It was an important item on your baby registry and the way you brought your child home from the hospital. You might think about changing the car seat to face forward as your child grows older. It's important to keep in mind that your child isn't yet ready until they've reached the weight and height limits that are set by the car seat manufacturer.

Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at minimum 20 pounds and reaches the age of one year. This is because babies younger than one year don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash that results from being caught in a crash and thrown forward. They are also at a higher risk of spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions.

You can buy a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, which will allow you to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the height and weight limit for the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant seats that have the base that you can install in your vehicle. They are also detached from the base and attached to strollers to form travel systems. However, they typically have lower maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seats.

You can also get a booster. These seats come with a harness and can be transformed into a booster which allows your child to wear a seat belt once they are ready. This kind of car seat has the primary benefit of being used in your car for the duration of your child's growing years, making it easier to transport them from one vehicle into another.

No matter which car seat you pick, read the instructions and follow them. Contact a certified car safety technician to ensure that your child's car seat is properly installed and is used in a safe manner. The misuse of car seats is common, and even well-meaning parents could injure their children if they aren't aware of what they're doing. It is best to study the instructions on the car seat and follow the recommendations of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents opt for convertible car seats for newborns because they grow with your child, allowing them to travel safely from the time of infancy until toddlerhood. These seats are also less expensive than infant car seats and offer an extended lifespan. It's important to select a model that fits your vehicle and is simple to install. Also, ensure that you buckle up your baby in the correct way each time.

Snug straps prevent the head from slipping into a dangerous chin-to-chest position that could result in asphyxiation or strangulation. Many infant car seats come with unbuckled or loose straps. This is a serious security issue. Straps that aren't buckled could cause necks to hang, which is the cause of a lot of accidents. The crotch buckle can also pose a risk in the event that it is not secure enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch buckle fits enough to prevent a baby's legs from sliding down the seat, causing them to be cut or trapped.

Some convertible newborn car seats have adjustable torso height that lets you alter the height limit to suit your child's growth. The minimum torso height should be equal to the height of the shoulders of your infant, or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that can help raise your child to the appropriate height for the seat.

The ideal convertible car seat for babies should be snug, have soft padding and a slim base that allows you to fit it into your vehicle. It should also come with a snug, tight harness that passes the pinch-test and a small and tightly-rolled blanket or towel to use in an emergency. It should also have a tether that attaches to the anchor points of your vehicle, which will reduce injuries in a crash by reducing force of impact. Additionally it should include an infant car seat travel travel system that includes a car seat that pairs with a stroller and an handle that you can use to move the infant from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

Parents must consider when they're choosing the best car seat for their babies. Car seats are an important purchase for families who are starting a new life and their use reduces the risk that your child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle accident injury by 71. The decision between a child's car seat and a convertible one comes down to several aspects, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and the ease of use.

Car seats for infants are created with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The seat's base is usually in the car, and the seat snaps into its place. This makes it simple to move your baby from stroller to car, and back without causing any disturbance. They have a crotch and harness that are built-in to keep your child safe.

Some infant cars are equipped with side-impact protection that distributes the force of a crash away from a newborn's neck and head. They come with metal, plastic, and foam that absorbs energy and protects the baby's head from direct contact with the frame or other objects in a collision. Some include a specially designed pod on the side of the door that extends to protect the baby car seat's head.

A chest clip is another safety feature that is becoming more popular on infant car seats. It keeps the straps of the harness flat against the chest of your baby. This prevents the straps pinching or twisting around shoulders which can expose your child to the risk of injury. If you decide to purchase a car seat with this feature, make sure the chest clip is set at armpit level. Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothing as it can interfere with the harness.

Whatever kind of car seat you select ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle according to the manufacturer's instructions. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. The system is comprised of a connector which clips into the lower anchor points of your car and an tether that is attached to an anchor on the vehicle. If your vehicle isn't equipped with LATCH, you can use the seat belt to secure the car seat.