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 neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead when your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum requirement for the new car seat). Please read your instructions for your car seat inserts for newborns seat.

Safety

In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position also stops your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best infant car seats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head to prevent the car seat from slipping over in the event of a collision. The top tether strap connects to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top. It is important to keep in 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 are using.

It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and a year. Infants and toddlers younger that one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are backwards their heads are protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can cause neck strain.

When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all in-one that has a high rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means around age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the footage is reduced in speed. If a kid moves too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward facing infant car seat allows your infant to enjoy a comfortable ride and stay secure during a crash. The seat features a soft headrest and body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing cover to shield your child from the impacts. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be tightened by one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy protects your child from sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt for safety. It also has 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 while sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. You can fix this by putting tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this still doesn't help you can take your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.

It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't yet ready to stand up and face forward until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't strong enough yet to withstand a force that is applied to them by a collision if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, because the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents choose to buy convertible car seats that lets their infants be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It also makes it easier for parents as they can easily change their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.

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

Convenience

If you're traveling with a young infant, a forward-facing infant car seat can be a great choice. It lets you see your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to enter the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers, making it much easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle when going to the store or doing other tasks.

Even when your child is at the age at which they can change their car seat to one that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position as long as you can. When you consider it from the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- including the head as well as neck and torso is supported by the back of the car seat when they face in this direction.

It is important to read the instructions provided by the manufacturer on when you can change your child's car seat around. You will find that they have an upper and lower limit, as well as specific rules about things like the crotch strap's location. These guidelines are designed to protect your child as they grow.

You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If so, ensure that the tether is installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Also, you should make sure that the harness shoulder straps are just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high because this can impact how well they're secured in the event of an accident.

A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing car seat once your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

You spent a lot time and effort choosing the best baby car seat for your child. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat, you might be wondering if it's time to flip the seat around.

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

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum legroom. It might appear that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, however this doesn't mean that it is safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

It is recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they reach one year old. some infant car seats have a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles to withstand a frontal impact, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats come with useful features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay connected to the car and snap in and out to let you carry your child from stroller to car and back to the car and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system.

If you're about to move your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. When installed properly the car seat should not move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps should be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.