10 Facts About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat That Will Instantly Put You In The Best Mood
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for a new car seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also stops your child from hitting their head against the back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.
All infant car seats with a forward-facing view have five-point harnesses to hold the child in place with just one pull tightening, and the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved protection against impact. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
best car seat for newborn Push Chairs & Prams will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head to stop the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The top tether strap is connected to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. It is important to remember that you might not have to change your child's seat to a forward-facing car seat until he or she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual for the seat.
It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles which can result in whiplash during a crash. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal crash (the most common and severe type). When kids under 1 year are in a rear-facing car seat their heads are cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.
When children move to a forward facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight and height limit. They should not be moved to an adult car seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements which is usually around age 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between carseats. But remember, the video is slowed down. A child can be injured in the event that they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat keeps your child safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing cover to shield your child from the impacts. The seat has a five-point safety harness that can be tightened by one pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy can protect your child from the sun. For safety, the seat is designed to lock with the vehicle's seat belt and comes with an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to be slouching forward when sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can correct this by putting tightly rolled towels under the front of the car seat to lift it higher. If this doesn't work then you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their car seat.
It is crucial to remember that children aren't ready to take on the world until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough yet to withstand a force that is applied to them by a collision if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer because the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.
Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for them because they can easily switch their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, without re-threading.
Convenience
When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing car seat is a great choice. This allows you to see your child as you drive and the other members of your family can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers which makes it much easier to get your child into and out of the car when you go to the shop or running errands.
Even when your child is at the age at which they can change to a car seat that faces forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position as long as you can. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards, the entire body, including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the car seat's rear.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine the time you can rotate your child's seat. There will be an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are designed to protect your child's health as they develop.
It is also important to consider whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, make sure that the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the vehicle's anchor points as instructed in the manual of the seat. Also, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This can affect how they're restrained during the event of a crash.
A good choice for parents with more than one child or plan to have more, is convertible car seats. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then moved to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.
Style
The car seat for your baby was a must-have for your child and you spent many hours deciding the best one. As your child grows older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you may wonder if it is time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of letting your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations you must keep in mind. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
It is important to remember that children are different in size and age, therefore you shouldn't base the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on a specific date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. It might appear that a child is taller in a rear facing car seat, however this doesn't mean that it is safe to turn the child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.
Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact, which could result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe in addition to being safe, many infant car seats come with practical features that make them easy to use. Some include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your baby from the car to a stroller and back. They are typically part of an overall travel system.
If you're about to transition your baby into a forward-facing convertible car seat make sure you do it correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and then examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly, the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns ask an accredited car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of your car seat.