Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can detach from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame to make it easy to transport. This makes them very popular with parents who plan to take frequent trips out of town.

Dress your baby in clothing that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders, regardless of which car seat you select. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to get an appropriate fit.

Rear-Facing

infant car seat best car seats, referred to as convertible car seats that have a rearward-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and children of a smaller size up to a certain weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert that makes sure the head of a baby is securely placed inside the shell of the seat.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that infants ride rear-facing until they reach their weight or height limits for the car seat, whichever comes first. Some convertible or all-in-one car seats allow your child to sit rear facing longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

The majority of car seat manufacturers offer a reclining angle which can be adjusted in order to stop the baby's back from sliding forward when the vehicle stops. You can read the instruction manual for your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle, or watch a video by an influencer for your car seat. Do not place your baby in bulky clothing such as coats or blankets. They could hinder an appropriate fit of the harness and block airflow around their neck and chest.

Many parents are hesitant to change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing as they are concerned that the force of a crash will eject the baby's legs and feet, or that their neck and head might be thrown violently forward in a side impact. It's important to keep in mind that rear-facing provides a better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant in a forward facing car seat being thrown around violently in a crash simulator. The head injury that results is horrifying. But the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat is not nearly as horrific, because a child's head is within the shell of the car seat.

So, if your state law requires you to move your child's face forward, ignore it! This is not in accordance with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants, with harnesses that help to secure them in the seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle of the headrest and stroller attachments, based on the type of car seat. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

It's natural for parents to want to turn their baby around as soon as they can but the current standard requires that children less than one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 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 into the opposite direction in an accident.

If a child is being thrown forward in a frontal crash the spinal cord could be stretched and torn and cause paralysis or even death. If a child is looking backwards in the car their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, which prevents this type of injury.

Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the rear of the car in an accident. In the event of a collision they're less likely to be injured by a seatbelt that runs across their chests rather than their necks.

With these risks in mind It is crucial for parents to adhere to car seat safety rules and ensure that their child is in the right car seat for their size. Always refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making the decision. It's recommended to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.

If an infant is out of their car seat, they can change to convertible car seats. 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 move to a booster using lap-sash belts.

Convertible

Many new parents are confused when it comes to deciding between a car seat for infants and convertible ones. Both have advantages but which one is best car seats for your family? A car seat for infants is great for newborns however if you are looking for something that will last several years then a convertible may be the better choice.

As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be repositioned from rear-facing to front-facing. Based on the model, they are able to fit children from infancy to late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats have larger weight and size restrictions than the infant car seats, allowing for longer use.

Find out if the convertible infant car seat comes with removable infant inserts that will ensure a secure fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the baby's body so they can fit into the smallest slots for straps, and then push them forward slightly so that they can prevent their heads from colliding with the straps on their harness.

Infant car seats are also likely to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles and can be connected to strollers to form a travel system. This feature allows you to move from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby, for trips to the supermarket mall, the doctor's office, or visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat best car seat. This can happen when they reach their weight or height limit. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your child's head is within 1 inch of the top rated infant car seats edge of the seat. Consult your seat's instruction manual to ensure your child is ready.

Convertible car seats may seem more expensive than infant car seats at first however they can turn out to be less expensive over time due to the fact that they can be used for a number of years. Additionally, certain models have lower anchors which permit you to install them using less force than traditional seats, which can lessen the risk of injuries in an accident.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the most important factor to consider when shopping for car seats for infants. All car seats for infants are required to meet federal safety standards. However some go above the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra peace of mind.

Premium features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can ensure your child's safety ensured. Load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the force of a crash are also available.

One way to find out how secure an infant car seat is before buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. However it's important to keep in mind that the most important factor in determining the safety of an infant car seat is the way it is used. According to our discussions most accidents that occur in infant car seats are caused by misuse -- either incorrect installations or improper restraints on the child.

To be sure you're using an infant car seat correctly, look for one that has a clear instruction manual and plenty of indicators to show it's safe and level, such as bubbles at the base which tell you EXACTLY where to position the seat. Additionally, make sure to securely secure the straps to the chest and abdomen of your child when you install it. The ratcheting sound that it makes when you tighten it is a good indication.

Even if you're just going to the market or taking a short trip into the park, it's not a good idea to leave your child unattended in the car. Apart from being a terrible idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat newborn car seat or a carrier on a hard surface outside the vehicle is a risky practice that can result in falls and injuries. Seats and carriers that are prone to tipping over or roll could also hit and injure infants or, even more dangerously, suffocate them.

You will need a booster car seat at some time. To save money in the long run, choose an all-in-one or convertible car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.