Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Insuring that your child is in a car seat that is facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be transferred to the car seat facing forward when they reach the weight and height limits of their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is the safest option for infants and newborns due to the way it cradles and supports their head and neck. "Since their spines aren't fully been ossified, it's crucial to keep the impact of a collision off their heads and necks," explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash that could be fatal or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat, the impact is absorbed and dissipated in the back of the car. "It's like hugging," says Adele. In addition, the child's legs are put into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This helps to prevent collisions with their bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents avoid ERF because they fear their child will be uncomfortable or bored. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. He prefers to sit rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read or watch TV while doing so.

If you have children who are reluctant to face the rear due to their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in-one best car seats for newborns seat so long as the height or weight limits are not exceeded.

Also, be certain to strap your child in the rear-facing car seat securely with the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats. They can expand during a crash, causing the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are simple to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they may require being placed in a crib or bassinet during nap time or bedtime. This could mean waking the baby who is sleeping which isn't ideal. However, the advantages of rear facing far outweigh any discomfort.

The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term babies. This reduces the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants whose bones are still weak and have not ossified after birth or pregnancy.

The position that faces the rear allows you to see your baby better than a forward-facing position. This lets you easily observe their behavior and ensure that they are happy and comfortable. Many infant best car seats for infants seats have a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so that you can view your child from any angle.

When your child is no longer in their car seat as infants or is at the weight or height limit recommended by the seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used for longer.

All-in-one or convertible car seats are known for their versatility. They can be used forward-facing, rear-facing or as a belt-positioning booster. They also usually come with a large base at the back of your car which makes them easy to set up and remove. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however, they last longer than a standard infant seat and can save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limits allowed by their car seat manufacturer and up to at minimum two years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat by the time they turn two years old. But, it's always better to wait.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you have to keep in mind. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limits, it's time to move to the next level of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that allows you to be switched between forward and rear facing, or an all-in one car seat that allows your child to ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.

There are other factors aside from the weight and height limits, that can indicate whether your child is able to go up a level in a car seat. One of these is their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can look for these signs by observing your child's behavior and looking at other children in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is typically run by local government or community groups.

Remaining rear-facing for your infant car seat swivel for as long as is possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why parents are hesitant to move their children back until they're fully grown. You can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is installed correctly and doesn't change them to a front-facing seat before they're ready even if their weight or height is within the limits of their current seat.

If you're uncertain whether your child is ready to move on to the next car seat stage or you're concerned that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly contact a certified child safety technician. These specialists can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or call your local public health or safety department. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your office or home to ensure you have the right equipment and are using them correctly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is vital to ensure its safety. Unfortunately, the NHTSA estimates that more than 50% of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best infant car seat way to make sure that your child's car seat is correctly installed is to study the manual and have it checked by a certified car safety technician.

Verifying the angle is the first step to installing the rear-facing infant car seat. Check that the car seat base is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child, which you can find on the the base of the car seat base or in its user's manual.

It is also important to ensure that the baby's head is correctly positioned in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks and a forward-facing posture could cause pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. If a rear-facing collision occurs, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.

When your baby is at the weight or height limit of their infant car seat, it is time to switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that can be used in the rear position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, be sure that the new model has a greater rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you opt for an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is a great option for parents who need to take their infants into and out of the car frequently. The only downside to this is that it could be a hassle and time-consuming to move the stroller and car seat into and out of your car each time, especially with a newborn. However, if you are willing to take the extra time each time to do it right, this can be a good option for many families. Plan ahead and pick a day that you have plenty of spare time.