Are Infant Car Seat Newborn The Best There Ever Was?
Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know
The majority of infant car seats can be dismantled from their base, and snapped into a stroller that is compatible for easy transportation. This feature makes them popular with parents who intend to frequently travel out of town.
Whatever type of car seat you choose make sure your child is dressed in clothes that allow the harness straps to fit comfortably over their hips and shoulders. The bulky clothing or blankets could interfere with a snug harness fit.
Rear-Facing
Infant car seats, referred to as convertible car seat with a rearward-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and small children as long as they meet the weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant insert that ensures the head of a baby is securely positioned inside the shell of the seat.
The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. 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 manufacturers design their car seats with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling forward when the vehicle is stopped. You can refer to the instruction manual for your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle or watch a video by a car seat influencer. It is also important to avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing like blankets and coats because they can hinder an ideal fit for the harness and block airflow around the baby's chest and neck.
Many parents aren't comfortable switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They fear that the force of the crash may eject their baby's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during an impact from the side. However, it's important to keep in mind that the rear-facing position provides much greater protection than the forward-facing position.
A video by a car seat influencer shows a child in the forward-facing car seat being violently tossed about in an accident simulation. The resulting head injury is horrific. But the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat is not nearly as bad because the head of the child is cradled within the shell of the car seat.
If your state requires you to put your child forward, don't do it. This is not in accordance 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 for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them in the seat. Depending on newborn car seat of the car seat parents will be in a position to adjust the headrest and recline angle to suit their child's needs, and also select from several attachments for their stroller. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow them before they're ready to be switched to a forward-facing car seat.
It's understandable parents' desire to change their baby's position as quickly as they can, however the current norm stipulates that children younger than one year old stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is because the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough for the force of an rear-end collision which happens when a baby is pushed forward in an accident.
If a child's neck is thrust forward during a frontal accident the spinal cord could stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. However, if a kid is facing backward in the car the neck bones remain together and are protected by harness straps, which prevents this kind of injury.
In addition, infants facing the rear are less likely to be placed in the back seat of the car in an accident. In a collision, they are less likely to be injured by a seat belt that runs across their chests instead of their necks.
With these risks in mind It is crucial for parents to adhere to the safety guidelines for car seats and ensure their child is using the correct car seat for their size. Check the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle before making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a certified car seat technician who is accredited in your area.
If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they may move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing position and then transitions to forward-facing once they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a lap-sash adult seatbelts when they've reached the recommended weight and age.
Convertible
Many new parents are split between a baby car seat or a convertible. Both have advantages but which is the best choice for your family? A car seat for infants is perfect for infants, but if you want something that lasts for several years then a convertible may be a better option.
As your child grows and becomes a convertible infant car seat, they can be changed from front-facing to rear-facing. This allows them to fit kids from infancy through late elementary school, based on the model you choose. Some have higher weight and height limits in the rear position than infant car seats, allowing them to be used for longer.
Make sure that the convertible car seat is equipped with removable inserts for newborns to ensure a comfortable fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's torso, so they can get to the smallest slots in the straps, and it pushes them forward a bit to prevent their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).
Some infant car seats come with a handle to make it easier to move between vehicles. Other car seats can be plugged into strollers, forming a travel system. This feature makes it simple to move from your car to your stroller without disturbing your baby for trips to the store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.
In the end, however your child will eventually outgrow the car seat they were in as infants in the event of reaching their weight limit or their height limit. Many experts agree that it's time to move to a convertible car seat when their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to refer to your seat's manual to ensure that your child is in the right place.
Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than baby 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 many years. Some models also have lower anchors, which make it easier to install. This could help reduce injuries during a crash.
Safety Ratings
Safety is the first thing to consider when shopping for infant car seats. All infant car seats have to meet federal safety standards. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents additional peace of mind.
Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses are a great way to ensure your child's safety kept in mind. Other helpful tools, like load legs that brace the base of the seat and help reduce the impact force in a crash are available as well.
Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of a baby car seat will help you determine its safety before you purchase. It is important to remember that the usage of a car seat for infants will determine how secure it is. According to our discussions the majority of accidents involving infant car seats are the result of improper use, either through incorrect installations or improper restraints for the child.
If you want to be sure that you are using your infant car seat correctly make sure you choose one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction guide, lots of indicators that the seat is secure and level and bubbles on the bottom that show you EXACTLY where to place it. Additionally, make sure to be sure to secure the straps the abdomen and chest of your child when you install it. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten is an excellent indication.
When you're out and about with your child in a car seat, never leave it unattended, even when you are just running into the shop or taking a short excursion to the park. Apart from being an unwise decision in the event of the event of a crash, leaving an infant car seat or carrier on a rough surface outside of the vehicle is a dangerous practice that can lead to falls and injuries. Seats and carriers that tip or roll can cause injury or death to babies.
You will need a booster car seat at some point. To save money in the long run consider a convertible or all-in one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.