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 weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.

Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the height or weight maximums of their current seat (or the minimums for a new seat). Please review your instructions for the car seat.

Safety

In the case of a collision, infant car seat best car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some also have an umbrella to protect from the sun.

The best infant car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which lets you set the correct angle of your child's head to stop them from flopping over in the event of a collision. The top tether strap is attached to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. It is important to remember that you may not need to change your child's seat to a forward facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height listed in the instruction manual for the seat.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their head.

When kids move to an forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be moved to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements, which usually means 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. A child could be injured when they move too fast.

Comfort

A forward facing infant car seat allows your child to ride in comfort and be secure in a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any collision. The seat has a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with only one pull, and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your baby from the sunlight. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt for safety. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle in place when the seat isn't being used.

If your child complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward when sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels under the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this does not work, take your baby 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 a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to take the force of a collision in the event that they fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, since the muscles and bones of children are more malleable than those of adults.

Many parents opt to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to be 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 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 Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that lets your child use the seat for a period of 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lb), to an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is a great option when you're traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to see your child's view while driving, and allows the rest of the family to enter the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with strollers making it much easier to get your child in and out of your car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.

But remember that even if your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat it's best car seats for newborns to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. When you look at it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- including the head neck, torso, and head is supported by the back of the car seat when they're facing in this direction.

Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll find that they have the maximum height and weight limit, and also specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child's health as they develop.

Another thing to think about is if you have a vehicle with an anchor for tethering your car seat. If you do, ensure that the strap is correctly installed and connected to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the seat's manual. 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 low or high because this can affect the way they are secured in a crash.

A convertible car seat is a great option for parents with several children or who are planning to have more. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then moved to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

The infant car seat was a must-have for your little one and you've spent a lot of time choosing the best one. As your child grows older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around.

While the idea of letting your child face forward can be exciting, there are important safety considerations you should be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their particular car seat.

Remember that children vary in both size and age. You shouldn't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you believe they have reached their maximum length. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.

Some infant car seat newborn insert seats come with a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats aren't just safe, but also easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car, allowing you to carry your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are usually part of the travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, be sure to adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of your car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to rear facing infant car seat, when installed correctly. The harness straps should be placed over the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, you can contact an approved safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.