Keep Your Child in an infant car seat rear facing (view publisher site)

Keeping your child in a car seat for infants rear facing is the safest option. Children should only be moved to a forward-facing car seat once they reach the weight and height limits of their current car seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines aren't yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force of the crash away from their heads and necks. In a frontal collision, the head of a child would strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash effects that can be fatal or severe. In the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorption by the seat and then dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. The legs of a child can be secured into the car seat to keep them from being thrown against the back of the front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with their bodies, causing internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents avoid ERF because they think their child is bored or uncomfortable. Neither has been true for my son, Lukas. He prefers to sit rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read or watch TV while doing it.

If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or other reasons, convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that your child can remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat as long as the height or weight limits aren't exceeded.

Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing car seat with the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats as they could be swollen in the event of a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose, putting your child at risk for injuries. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can, because they are easier to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they may need to be put in a bassinet or crib at nap or bedtime. This could mean waking the baby who is sleeping, which is never the best car seat infant option. However, the security advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants, so the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps reduce the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness's chest clip is located below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is especially crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones, and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure they are comfortable and happy. Most infant car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to see your child from nearly any angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or attains the weight or height limit suggested by the manufacturer of their seat, you can switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only car seats, allowing them to be used for a longer period of time.

Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are well-known for their flexibility. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easier to set up and take down due to their large base that is located at the rear of your car. These seats are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used only once, but they'll last longer and save money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat before they turn two years old. However, it's better to hold off until they reach the age of two.

Weight Limits

All baby car seats have weight and height limits that you have to be aware of. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of around 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you can move to the next level of security. You can choose an adjustable seat that allows your child to be rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

In addition to the weight and height limit, there are also other indicators that indicate your child is prepared for the next stage of a car seat, such as their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can find these indicators in your child's behavior and compare it with other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also ask for help from a certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station which are often operated by local government agencies or community organizations.

It's recommended to keep your child rear-facing as long as you can. This is why a lot of parents wait until their children are completely mature before allowing them to turn around. You can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is properly installed and don't change them to a front-facing car seat before they are ready, even if their weight or height is within the limits of their existing seat.

You can reach a certified child passenger technician if you have concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready for the next stage of car seats or if you're concerned that you may not be installing the car seat correctly. These specialists can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you, or contact your local public health or safety department. There are also mobile car seat check events which can come to your home or workplace to help ensure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

A car seat needs to be properly installed to be effective. The NHTSA states, with regret, that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best car seat infant way to be sure that your travel infant car seat car seats are correctly installed is to go through the manual, after that, have them checked by an accredited car safety technician.

The angle check is the first step in installing a rear-facing infant car seat. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

Also, make sure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle when in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks and a forward-facing position can cause pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. In a rear-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the collision force. This helps protect the baby's neck and spinal cord.

When your child is at the limit of weight or height of the infant car seat newborn car seat it's time to move to a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat. They can be used in a rear-facing position up to the front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with a higher rear-facing limit if you switch to this type of car seat, because older models have lower limits.

Parents who frequently transport their infants by car will find it convenient to choose an infant car-seat that is removable and attached to a stroller. The only drawback is that it can be tricky and time consuming to move the car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle every time, especially for a newborn car seat. If you're willing to invest the extra time each time to do it right, this could be a great option for a lot of families. Make a plan and pick the day you will have plenty of time.