Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year shouldn't ride facing towards the forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injury.

Instead switch to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.

Safety

In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses, which ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the car seat is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you choose the ideal angle for your child's neck to prevent it from flopping over in collisions. The seat also has the top tether strap, which connects to the top rated infant car seats of the newborn car seat insert seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

It's time to change when your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal crash (the most frequent and severe type). When kids under 1 year are rear-facing, their head is protected by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.

When children transition to a forward facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a high rearward weight limit and a high. The child shouldn't be able to move into the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is typically between 4 and 5 years old. You can see the difference in these car seats when you watch these crash videos, however, remember that the video is slow-motion. If a child is moving too quickly, they can be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to enjoy a comfortable ride and remain safe during the event of a crash. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from any impact. The seat also comes with five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening and an adjustable front center adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy will shield your baby from the sun. For your safety, the seat is designed to lock by the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.

If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to slump forward while sleeping it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can remedy this by putting tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this isn't working, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat.

It is important to remember that children aren't ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force that would be applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest taking longer to wait as the muscles and bones of children are more flexible.

Many parents choose to purchase convertible car seats that lets their infants be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer, and makes it more convenient for parents because they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child is no longer in the position.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat gives your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is a great option for traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to see your child's face while driving and allows everyone else in the family to enter the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. The type of car seat newborn seat can be used with strollers, making it easier to get your child in and out of the car when going to the shop or running tasks.

Even if your child has reached the age where they can switch to a car seat that is facing forward it is best car seats for infants to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child’s head is more secure in a crash if they face backwards. This is because the whole body -- head, neck, and torso is held by the seat's back when they're facing in this direction.

Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate your child's seat. There will be the weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed and also specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they grow.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether you have a vehicle that has an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether strap is properly installed and tied to the vehicle's anchor points as instructed in the seat's manual. Also, make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, and are not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured during a crash.

A convertible car seat is a smart choice for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

You've spent a lot of time and effort deciding on the perfect baby car seat for your child. But as they get older and start outgrowing their infant car seat, you might be wondering if it's time to flip them around.

While the idea of letting your child face forward can be exciting, there are important safety considerations you must keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limits.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision on a certain date on the calendar or if you think they have reached their maximum length. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed.

It is recommended to keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and certain infant car seats have an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is because children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats are not only safe, but also easy to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap out and in to allow you to carry your child from car to stroller or back to the car and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.

If you're about to transition your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you follow the manufacturer's guidelines and then examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps should be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.