11 Ways To Completely Redesign Your Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year are not allowed to ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries. Instead change to FF when your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for a new seat). Please review your instructions for your car seat. lightweight baby car seat In the event of a crash infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward-facing position could also prevent your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat, which could result in serious injuries. All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to hold the child in place with just one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides improved protection against impact. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun. The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in a collision. The seat also comes with a top tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat. It then hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It's important to keep it in the mind that your child may not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you're using. It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and one year old. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in the event of a crash. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). When children younger than 1 year are rear-facing, their head is protected by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that could cause neck strain. If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should remain in a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they reach the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement typically around age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these carseats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the video is reduced in speed. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured. Comfort A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat has a comfortable headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell to shield your child from the collision. The seat also features a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy can shield your baby from the sun. To ensure safety, the seat is designed to be locked with the vehicle's seat belt and includes an adjustable clip that holds the buckle securely fastened when not in use. If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward when sleeping or sleeping, the angle of the seat may be too low for your child. This can be corrected by placing tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this does not work, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat. Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to take the force of a crash, if they were to fall to their front on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, since the muscles and bones of children are more flexible than those of adults. Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that allows their children to move rearwards until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer and is more convenient for parents because they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position. The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for a period of 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lb) and then to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading. Convenience A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option for traveling with a young child. It lets you view your child's view while driving, and allows all of your family members to enter the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. The car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier for you to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or running other tasks. But remember, even when your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat it's best to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body — head neck, torso, and head — is cradled by the seat's back when they're facing in this direction. It is important to read the manufacturer's instructions for how to change the car seat of your child around. You will find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific rules about things like the crotch strap position. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they develop. You should also think about whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, ensure that the strap is properly fitted and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the instruction in the seat's manual. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, but not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured in the event of an accident. A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents with several children or who are planning to have more children. This is an all-in-one car seat that can start with an infant car seat that faces rearwards and then transition your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit of the rear-facing car seat. Style The car seat for your baby was a must-have for your baby and you've spent many hours deciding the best one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat you may wonder if it is time to flip the seat around. While the idea of letting your child face forward can be thrilling, there are important safety considerations you must keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limitations. Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. Don't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you believe they have reached their maximum legroom. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe to turn around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed. It is recommended to keep your child rear facing until they reach one year old. some infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries. Many infant car seats are not just secure, but also simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car and allow you to transport your baby from the car to a stroller and back. They are often part a travel system. If you're about to transition your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of the car seat. If it's installed correctly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, you can contact a certified safety technician in your area or the car seat manufacturer.