Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and snap into a stroller frame to make it easy to transport. This makes them popular with parents who are planning to travel frequently out of the city.

Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps can comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips regardless of the car seat you select. Bulky clothing or blankets can hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats with rear-facing positions) are designed to hold newborns and children as high as the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert that makes sure the head of a newborn is comfortably placed inside the seat shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Some convertible or all in one car seats allow your baby to ride rear facing even longer, right up to 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

Most manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from sliding backward when the vehicle is stopped. It is necessary to read 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 learn how to do it. Do not place your baby in heavy clothing, such as coats or blankets. They can prevent an appropriate fit of the harness and block airflow around their chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash could throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during an impact from the side. It's important to remember that rear-facing offers a better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video by an influencer of car seats shows a child sitting in a forward-facing car seat being violently tossed around in a crash simulation. The head injury that results is horrendous. The video of the same incident from the rear seat isn't as horrific because the child's head is being held by the shell.

If your state requires you to put your child forward, don't do it. This is not in line with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should be rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made for newborns and infants. Harnesses are used to secure them in the seat. Parents can adjust the recline angle, headrest and stroller attachments, based on the model of car seat. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most kids will outgrow them long before they're able to transition to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's understandable that parents are eager to change their child's behavior as soon as they can however, the current norm states that children who are less than one year old of age must be rear-facing in car seats until they're 20 pounds and one year old. The reason is that the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from an accident that rears them, which is caused when a child moves forward in the event of an accident.

If a child's neck is thrust forward during a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards while driving the neck bones are held together and protected by the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.

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

With these risks in mind In light of these risks, it is essential for parents to adhere to car seat safety rules and ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for their height. Always consult the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the vehicle owner's manual before making an important decision. It's also a good idea to visit a certified car seat technician in your area for expert assistance and advice.

If an infant is out of their car seat, he or she can change to a convertible car seat. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing mode and then shift to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age they can upgrade to a booster with lap-sash belts.

Convertible

Many new parents are split between a baby car seat newborn seat or a convertible one. Both have their advantages, but which one is the best choice for your family? An infant car seat is perfect for infants, but if you want something that will last several years, a convertible is probably a better option.

Convertible infant car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. Based on the model, they can accommodate children from infanthood to late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats come with higher weight and size limits than infant car seat, allowing for longer use.

Check if the convertible infant car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a secure fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's body so that they can get to the smallest slots on the straps, and then pushes them forward slightly to prevent their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk for positional asphyxia).

Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle that parents use to move them between vehicles, and some of them can be connected to 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 supermarket, mall, or doctor visits.

In the end, however your child will outgrow their car seat for infants or reach their weight limit or their height limit. Most experts agree that it's the right time to transition to a convertible seat once their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to refer to your seat's manual to ensure that your child is ready.

Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially however they can turn out to be cheaper over time because you can use them for many years. Additionally, certain models come with lower anchors that permit you to install them with less force than traditional seats, which could reduce injuries in the event of a crash.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the primary factor to consider when shopping for car seats for infants. All infant car seats have to meet the safety standards set by the federal government. However some seats go above and beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra security.

Premium features, like adjustable no-rethread harnesses and anti-rebound bars, will aid in ensuring that your child is secured correctly and securely. Load legs, which support the seat's base and reduce the force during a crash are also available.

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of an infant car seat will help you determine the safety of the product before purchasing. It is important to remember that the use of an infant car seat will determine how safe it is. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of accidents that involve infant car seats stem from improper use -- or in the case of an improper installation or improper restraint of a childand not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

If you'd like to be certain that you're using the correct car seat for your infant, then look for one with a simple guide, lots of indicators that the seat is level and secure and bubbles at the bottom that show you EXACTLY the best car seats infant way to place it. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. One good sign of this is the ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten.

Even if you're just running to the grocery store or making a quick visit into the park, it's not a good idea to leave your infant unattended in a car. In addition to being an extremely dangerous idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat swivel car seat or carrier on a hard surface outside of the vehicle is a risky practice that can lead to falls and injuries. Car seats and carriers that are prone to tipping over or roll could also hit and injure babies or, worse yet and even cause them to suffocate.

While the decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it comes down to cost at this point be aware that you will require a booster seat at some point. Select a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money in the long term. These seats will provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.