Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year are NOT supposed to ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for a new seat). Please review your instructions for the car seat.

Safety

Infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position can assist in preventing your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses, which ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to provide better protection against impact. Some come with an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant car seat infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to determine the right angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over during collisions. The seat also comes with a top tether strap that is attached to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you're using.

It's time to switch when your child reaches 20 pounds and one year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most frequent and severe type). When children younger than 1 year ride rear-facing, their head is cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can cause neck strain.

When children move to a forward facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means around age 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between carseats. But keep in mind that the video has been slowed. If a kid moves too quickly, they can be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat keeps your baby safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a cushion for body support, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from any impact. The seat also features a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your child from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for security. It also has a locking clip which keeps the latch buckle fastened even when the seat isn't in use.

If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when they sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle may be too low for them. You can correct this by putting tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this isn't working, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat.

Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to take the force of a collision, if they were to be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the muscles and bones of children are more malleable than those of adults.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible seat that allows their children to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear facing infant car seat-facing car seat for much longer, and also makes it easier for parents as they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child has outgrown it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the harness and headrest together without re-threading.

Convenience

If you are traveling with a small baby, a forward-facing car seat is an excellent choice. It lets you see your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with strollers making it much easier to take your toddler in and out of your car for trips to the store for groceries or other tasks.

But, even if your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it's best infant carrier car seat to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso, are cradled in the rear of the car seat.

You'll want to check the manufacturer's instructions for how to change your child's car seat around. They will often have a maximum weight and height limit that you should not go over and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These rules are designed to protect your child as they develop.

It is also important to consider whether your vehicle is equipped with anchors for tethers. If so, ensure that the tether strap is properly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the instruction in the manual for your seat. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the shoulder straps of your harness are at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low in order to impact how well they're secured in the event of an accident.

A great option for parents with more than one child or plan to have more is convertible car seats. It is a one-stop car seat that starts with an infant car seat that faces rearwards before moving your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position in the car seat.

Style

The baby car seat was a must for your baby, and you spent many hours deciding the right one. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's the right time to change them.

Although the idea of having your baby face forward may be exciting, there are important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their particular car seat.

Be aware that children differ in both size and age. Don't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean it's safe to turn around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.

It's recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they reach one year old, and certain infant car seats have a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children younger than one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force that could cause serious spinal injuries.

Many infant carrier seat car seats aren't just secure, but also simple to use. They include bases that are connected to the car and snap in and out to allow you to transport your child from stroller to car and back and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of an overall travel system.

If you're about to transition your child to forward-facing convertible car seats ensure that you follow the manufacturer's guidelines and checking the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side or front to rear when it is installed correctly. The harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, call an accredited safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.