The Biggest Issue With Forward Facing Infant Car Seat And What You Can Do To Fix It
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year should not ride facing towards the forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries. Switch to FF instead of FF when your child is at their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum required for the new car seat). Please review www.pushchairsandprams.uk . Safety In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat which could result in serious injuries. All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the car seat 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 best infant car seats have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent them from falling over in a crash. The seat also comes with the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It is important to remember that you might not have to switch your child to an forward-facing car seat until he or she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual of the seat. It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and a year. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent kind) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats safeguard the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their heads. When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all in-one that has a large rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement typically at around the age of 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these seats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the video is slow-motion. If a child is moving too quickly, they can be injured. Comfort A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and secure in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to keep your child safe from a collision. The seat also features five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy protects your child from sun. For safety the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use. If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward during sleep the seat's angle might be too low for the child. You can fix this by placing tightly folded towels under the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this does not work, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat. Remember that children should not 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, if they were to be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts suggest taking longer to wait as the bones and muscles of young children are more malleable. Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel rearward-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It also makes it easier for them because they can easily change 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 with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). It's easy and simple to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest in tandem, without having to re-thread. Convenience If you are traveling with a small infant, a forward-facing infant car seat is a great choice. This allows you to see your child while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller, making it easier to take your little one in and out of the car to go to the supermarket or other chores. However that even if your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat, it's safer to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. From the point of view of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is because the entire body — head, neck, and torso is supported by the car seat's back when they're facing in this direction. Review the directions of the manufacturer to see the time you can rotate the seat of your child. They will often have an upper weight and height limit you should not go over as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they grow. You should also think about whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If you do, make sure the strap is properly fitted and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or below their shoulders, and not too low or high. This will affect how they are secured in the event of the event of a crash. A convertible car seat is a good option for parents who have several children or who are planning to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts with an infant car seat facing rear and then transition your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat. Style You've put in a lot of time and effort choosing the right car seat for your child. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat, you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around. While the idea of letting your baby face forward could be thrilling, there are important safety considerations you should keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limits. Be aware that children differ in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think that they have reached their maximum legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet. Some infant car seats have an alarm that reminds you to keep your child facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is because kids under one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash of a collision with a car in front, which can cause serious spinal injuries. Many infant car seats are not just safe, but they are also simple to use. Some include bases that snap into and out of the car, allowing you to carry your baby from the car to a stroller and then back. They are often part an overall travel system. If you're about to transition your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines and checking the car seat for tightness. When properly installed the car seat shouldn't move more than one 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 questions or concerns, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your region or contact the car seat manufacturer.