Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can detach from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame for easy transportation. This feature makes them very popular with parents planning to take frequent trips outside of the city.

Regardless of which type of car seat you choose, dress your baby in clothes that allow the harness straps to fit comfortably over their hips and shoulders. The bulky clothing or blankets could interfere with a snug harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats that have an open rear position) are designed to hold newborns and children up to the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant insert that ensures a newborn's head is comfortably inside the shell of the seat.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Some convertible or all-in-one car seats allow your baby to be rear facing for longer, until about age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

Most manufacturers create car seats with an angle of reclining that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from sliding backward when the vehicle is stopped. You can either read the instruction manual for your car seat to discover how to adjust the angle or watch a video by a car seat influencer. Avoid putting your infant in bulky clothing such as blankets or coats. They could hinder an ideal fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their neck and chest.

Many parents are reluctant in switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They fear that the impact force could eject their baby's legs or feet, or their neck and head could be violently thrown forward during a side-impact. It's crucial to remember that the rear-facing position provides much greater protection than the forward-facing one.

A video from an influencer for car seats shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed in an accident simulation. The head injury that results is awe-inspiring. However, the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as bad as the head of a child is within the shell of the car seat.

If your state requires you to face your child forward, don't do it. This isn't in line with best practices. That is the reason why the AAP and NHTSA are now in agreement that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever comes first.

Forward-Facing

infant car seats on sale car seats are designed to protect infants and newborns, with harnesses that help secure them in the seat. Parents can adjust the recline angle of the headrest, and stroller attachments depending on the model of car seat. The majority of infant Car seat newborn car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

It's natural for parents to want to change their baby's position as quickly as they can, but the current standard requires that children under one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is because the neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand the force of the rear-end crash which happens when a baby is pushed forward in an accident.

If a child is caught in a frontal collision, the spinal chord can be stretched and torn which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in the car, their neck bones are held together and protected by the harness, preventing this kind of injury.

Rear-facing infants are also less likely to be in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They're also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests rather than their necks, in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the right car seat for his or the size. Always refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making a decision. You can also seek professional advice from a certified car seat technician who is certified in your area.

If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that begins in the rear-facing location and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash adult seatbelts once they've reached their recommended age and weight.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between an infant car seat and convertible seats. Both have advantages, but which is the best choice for your family? An infant car seat is ideal for infants however if you are looking for something that will last several years it is likely that a convertible would be the better choice.

Convertible infant car seats convert from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. Depending on the model, they are able to be used for children as young as late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats come with higher weight and size limits than the infant car seat that allow for more use.

If you opt for convertible infant car seats, be sure to check whether it comes with removable infant inserts that help ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your baby. These paddings raise the infant's body so that they can reach the lowest strap slots, and it pushes them forward a bit to stop their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the seat's crotch buckle (which puts the child at risk of asphyxia).

Some infant car seats by age seats have a handle that makes it easier to move between vehicles. Others can be clicked into strollers, creating a travel system. This feature makes it simple to go from your car to your stroller without disturbing your baby for trips to the store, mall, or doctor visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This could happen when they reach their weight limit or height. Many experts agree that it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to ensure your child is prepared.

Convertible car seats may seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially however, they could be cheaper over time because they can be used for a long time. Additionally, certain models come with lower anchors that permit you to install them with less force than traditional car seats, which can reduce injuries in a crash.

Safety Ratings

When shopping for an infant car seat, safety should be foremost in your mind. All infant car seats must meet federal safety standards, however some exceed the norm to provide additional assurance for parents.

Premium features, like adjustable no-rethread harnesses and anti-rebound bars, can help ensure that your child is secured properly and securely. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force in a crash are also available.

Examining the crash test ratings and reviews of an infant car seat can help you determine its safety before you purchase. However it is important to remember that the most important factor in determining the safety of an infant car seat is actually how it's used. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, most accidents that involve infant car seats are caused by misuse -- either inadequate installation or improper restraint of the childbut not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

To ensure that you're using a car seat for your infant properly, search for one with a easy-to-read instructions manual and lots of indicators that it is safe and level, such as bubbles on the base that tell you EXACTLY which position to put the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. A good indication of this is the ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten.

Even if you're just running to the market or taking a short trip to the park, you should never leave your infant in the car. It is not only dangerous in a car crash and leaving your infant car seat or infant carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that are prone to tipping over or roll could also hit and injure babies, or worse, suffocate them.

You will need a booster car seat at some time. To save money in the future consider a convertible or all-in-one car seat that offers you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.