Where Do You Think Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Be One Year From Today?
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year should not ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF when your child is at the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Car seats for infants are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which can cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some models have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The most suitable infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in collisions. The top tether strap is attached to the tether anchor on the vehicle and is positioned from the top. Be aware that you may not need to move your child from a forward-facing car seat until he / is at the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual for the seat.
It's time to switch when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Babies and toddlers under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year are riding rear-facing their head is protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could strain their necks.
When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight and a height limit. The child shouldn't be able to move into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between the carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed. Children can be injured if they move too quickly.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to enjoy a comfortable ride and stay secure during the event of a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with one pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle to ensure security. It also comes with a clip to lock the latch buckle fastened even when the seat isn't being used.
If newborn car seat is complaining of discomfort during a journey or appears to slouch forward when they sleep the seat's angle could be too low for them. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels under the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this isn't working, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash should they fall forward on their own. Some experts suggest taking longer to wait because the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.
Many parents opt to buy a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel backwards until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets parents benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It also makes it easier for them as they can easily change their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.
The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lb), to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option if you're traveling with a child who is young. This allows you to see your child as you drive and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers, making it much easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle while you are at the grocery store or doing other errands.
But remember that even when your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. When you consider it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more protected 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, is cradled in the car seat's rear.
You'll want to check the manufacturer's instructions for when you can change the car seat of your child around. They will often have an upper weight and height limit that you should not go over, as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckles. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they grow.
Another thing to consider is whether you own a vehicle with tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether strap is properly installed and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the manual of the seat. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and are not too low or high. This can affect how they're restrained during an accident.
A great option for parents who have multiple children or are planning to have more is convertible car seats. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat, and then changed to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
You've spent a lot of time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. As your child grows and outgrows their infant car seat you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around.
Although the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limits.
Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. You shouldn't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum legroom. It may seem that a child is larger in a rear-facing car seat, but this doesn't mean that it is safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
It's recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats have a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a collision with a car in front, which could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure, many infant car seats are equipped with useful features that make them simple to use. Some of them have bases that snap in and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller, and back. They are usually part of an overall travel system.
If you're about to transition your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of the car seat. When properly installed the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back, and the harness straps should be at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any concerns or questions, talk to a certified safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of your car seat.