Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Keep your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be able to switch to a forward-facing car seat once they reach the weight and height limitations of their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the best infant seat option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren't formed, it is vital to keep the force from a crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal collision, the baby's head can hit the seat in front of them. This can cause a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be tucked in the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the rear of the seat or any other vehicle surface. "This prevents a collision with the inside of their bodies, causing internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are opposed to ERF because they are afraid that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. In fact Lukas prefers riding rear-facing because the seat's recline feature allows him to cross his legs and read a book or watch TV.

However, if you have a child that is resistant to being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other reasons, try to convince them that it's the best method of travel for them. Explain that the child is able to remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the weight or height limits are not exceeded.

Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit.

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 seats. However having your child in a rear-facing seat may mean they have to be moved into an infant car seat newborn crib or bassinet during time of nap or time of bed. This could result in waking the child who is sleeping and this isn't a good idea. However, the advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is essential for premature infants with bones that aren't strong enough 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 monitor their behavior and ensure that they are happy and comfortable. The majority of infant car seats come with a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so that you can view your child from any angle.

You can use convertible car seats or an all-in-one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the recommended weight or height limit. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used longer.

Convertible car seat newborn insert seats or all-in-ones are renowned for their versatility. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They usually also come with a large base at the back of your vehicle, making them easier to set up and remove. They are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used once, but they'll last longer and save you money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer or are at least 2 years older. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat by the time they reach age two. However, it's better to wait.

Weight Limits

You should be aware that all infant car seats have weight and height limits. The majority of infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of about 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child is at the limit, you are able to move up to the next level of safety. You can either choose a convertible seat that allows your child to sit rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in one car seat.

In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that show your child is ready to move on to the next step in car seats, such as their level of comfort when sitting rear facing. You can identify these signs by observing your child's behavior, and then comparing them to other children in their carseats. You can also seek advice from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is often operated by local governments or community groups.

Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as is possible is safest for them, and it's easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're completely grown. But you can still avoid this temptation by ensuring your child's seat is properly installed and that you do not rush to change them to a forward-facing seat too soon even if they're close to the limit of weight or height of their current car seat.

Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have any questions about your child's readiness to move on to the next level of car seats or if you're worried that you might not be installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community organizations such as hospitals and local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your home or office to ensure you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is vital to ensure its safety. Sadly it is the case that the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are correctly installed is to go through the manual, then have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.

The first step when installing a rear-facing infant car seat is to check the angle. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

It is also important to ensure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle when in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing position can cause pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.

Once your child has reached the weight or height limit of their infant car seat and is now weighing more than a pound, it's time to move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, which can be used in the rear-facing position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, be sure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you select an cheap infant car seats car seat that can be removed from the car, and then re-attached to strollers, this is a great choice for parents who wish to take their infants into and out of the car often. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller in and out of the vehicle on a regular basis, especially when you have a baby. However, if you are willing to invest the extra time each time to get it right, this can be a good alternative for many families. Make sure to plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time spare.