Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
Most infant car seats can be detached from their base, and then reassembled into a stroller compatible with them to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who plan to make frequent trips out of town.
Dress your
baby seat in clothes so that the harness straps comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips regardless of the car seat type you choose. Large blankets and clothes can make it difficult to achieve a snug fit.
Rear-Facing
infant car seat swivel car seats (also known as convertible car seats that have rear-facing positions) are designed to support newborns and children up to the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant insert that ensures the head of a
newborn car seat insert is securely inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children ride rear-facing until they attain their weight or height limits for the car seat or until they reach their weight limits, whichever comes first. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child ride rear-facing for longer up to age 4 or 5.
Most car seat manufacturers include a reclining angle which can be adjusted in order to stop the baby's back from falling forward when the vehicle slows down. You can read the manual for your car seat to discover how to adjust the angle or view a YouTube video of an influencer for your car seat. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothes, like blankets and coats because they can hinder a snug harness fit and cut off airflow around your
infant car seat newborn's chest and neck.
Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the impact force could throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during an accident that is side-to-side. It's crucial to remember that the rear-facing position offers more protection than the forward-facing one.
A video made by an influencer of car seats shows an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being thrown around violently in a crash simulator. The head injury that occurs is awe-inspiring. But the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat is not nearly as bad because the head of the child is in the shell of the car seat.
If your state law requires you to move your child to forward-facing do not follow it! This is not in line with best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.
Forward-Facing
Infant car seats are designed specifically for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them to the seat. Depending on the car seat model parents will be in a position to adjust the headrest and recline angle to suit their child's needs, as well as select several attachments for the baby's stroller. The majority of infant car seats have an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to be switched to a forward-facing car seat.
It's normal for parents to want to change their baby's position as soon as they can, but the current standard requires that children less than one year old stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is due to the fact that infants' neck muscles aren't strong enough to withstand the whiplash of an rear-end collision which happens when a baby is pushed forward in the event of a crash.
If a baby is being thrown forward during a collision with a car the spinal cord could be stretched and strained which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards while driving the neck bones are kept together and secured by the harness, preventing this type of injury.
Rear-facing infants are also less likely to be in the back of the car during 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.
Considering these risks, it's vital parents adhere to car seat safety rules and ensure their child is in the right car seat for their size. Always refer to the manufacturer's car seat instructions and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making the decision. It's also a good idea to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.
When an infant outgrows their car seat, they can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that is designed to start in the rear-facing location and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster using a lap-sash seatbelt.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between a baby car seat or a convertible one. Both have advantages, but which one is best for your family? An infant car seat is great for newborns, but if you want something that will last many years it is likely that a convertible would be the better choice.
As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be moved from front-facing to rear-facing. This allows them to fit children from infancy until the end of elementary school, based on the model you select. Certain rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than infant car seat which allows for more time of use.
Make sure that the convertible infant car seat comes with removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's body so that they can get to the smallest strap slots, and pushes them forward slightly to stop their head from slipping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle for the crotch (which puts the child at risk of asphyxia).
Infant car seats are also likely to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles and can be inserted into strollers to create a transport system. This feature makes it easy to transfer your car to your stroller, without waking your baby, for trips to the store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.
Your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat. This can occur when they reach their weight or height limit. Most experts agree that it's time to move to a convertible seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be sure to consult your seat's manual to make sure your child is ready.
While convertible car seats might seem more expensive upfront than infant car seats but they can be more affordable in the long run since you'll be able to use them for several years. Some models also have lower anchors which allows for a simpler installation. This could help reduce the chance of injury in the event of a crash.
Safety Ratings
Safety is the first thing to think about when purchasing infant car seats. All infant car seats are required to conform to federal safety standards. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents additional security.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread harnesses can ensure that your child's safety is kept in mind. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force in the event of a crash, are also available.
An effective method to determine how secure an infant car seat is before purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It is essential to keep in mind that the usage of an infant car seat will determine how secure it is. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats result from improper use -- or in the case of an inadequate installation or inadequate restraint of the child- and not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.
To ensure that you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, choose one that has a clear instructions manual and lots of indicators that it is solid and level, with bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY which position to put the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten it is a good indicator.
When you're out and about with your child in a car seat, never leave the car seat unattended, even if you're just going to the store or making a quick trip to the park. In addition to being a terrible idea in the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or carrier on a rough surface outside the vehicle is a risky practice that could result in injuries and falls. Car seats that tip or roll can cause injury or death to babies.
While the decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat may feel like it comes down to price at this point but keep in mind that you'll need a booster seat at some time. To save money in the future, choose a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.