A Look At The Good And Bad About Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The safest way to ensure your child remains in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there.  newborn car seat pushchairsandprams  should only be moved to a forward-facing car seat when they have reached the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.

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Safety Benefits

The use of a car seat for infants rear facing is the most secure option for infants and newborns due to the way it cradles and supports their head and neck. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines aren't ossified, it's crucial to keep the force from an accident away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash, the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash effects that can be fatal or severe. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated by the back of the vehicle. "It's like a hug," says Adele. The legs of a child can be placed into the car seat to prevent them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other vehicle surface. "This stops them from crashing into their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents avoid ERF because they think their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact Lukas prefers riding rear-facing since the recline feature lets him sit on his legs and read a book or watch tv.

However, if you have an older child who isn't keen on being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other reasons try convincing them that it's the best method of travel for them. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats provided they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.

Also, make sure to buckle 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, since they can compress in a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen, putting your child at risk for injuries. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear facing as long as possible because they are simple to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they might require being placed in a crib or bassinet at nap or time to sleep. This may require waking up the baby who was sleeping which is not ideal. However, the safety 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 seats is lower. This helps reduce the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is located below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is essential for premature infants, whose bones are still weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.

The position that faces the rear lets you see your baby much better than the forward-facing position. This allows you to observe their behavior, and ensure they are happy and comfortable. Most baby car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to see your child from nearly any angle.

You can use a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limit. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only seats that allow them to be used for a longer period of time.

Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are renowned for being multi-functional. 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 remove and install. These seats are more expensive than infant car seats that can be used once, but they'll last longer and will save you money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat and up to at least two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat by the time they reach the age of two. However, it's better to hold off until they reach the age of two.

Weight Limits

You should be aware that all car seats for infants come with height and weight restrictions. The majority have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of about 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child reaches the limits, it's time to move to the next stage of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that can change between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in one car seat that lets your child ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended 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 comfort level when riding backwards. You can look for these signs in your child's behaviour, and compare it to other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from a certified child passenger safety experts at an inspection station for car seats which are often operated by local government agencies or community groups.

Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can is the best option for them, and it's easy to understand why parents are hesitant to move their children around until they're fully grown. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure that your child's seat is properly installed and don't rush to transition to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're close to the limit of weight or height of their current car seat.

You can contact a certified child passenger technician if you have any concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready for the next stage of car seats or if you are worried that you might not installing the car seat correctly. They can be found through community organizations, local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or contact your local public health or safety department. There are also mobile car seat check events that can visit your workplace or home to help ensure you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

Installing a car seat correctly is essential for its effectiveness. The NHTSA states, with regret, that nearly half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are properly installed is to read through the manual, and 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. Make sure the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child and height. You can check this on the the back of the car seat base or in the user's manual.

You should also be sure that your baby's head is in the right angle when in the seat. Forward-facing positions can put pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing collision the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.

Once your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible seat or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing configuration until the front-facing limit. Be sure to get a new infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you decide to switch to this type of car seat, since older models have lower limits.

If you opt for an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and then reattached to strollers, this is a great choice for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car often. It can be challenging and time-consuming to maneuver your stroller and car seat into and out of your vehicle every time, especially in the case of a newborn. If you're willing to spend the extra time each time to do it right, this could be a viable alternative for many families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.