Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure way to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be moved to a forward-facing car seat once they have reached the weight and height limitations of their current car seat.

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Safety Benefits

Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is safest for babies and infants due to the way it holds and supports their head and neck. "Since their spines aren't fully ossified yet, it's important to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads" says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head could hit the seat in front of them, creating a whiplash effect that can be fatal or severe. In a rear-facing seat however, the impact is absorbed and dissipated at the back of the car. "It's like a hug," says Adele. The legs of the child can be placed in the car seat to protect them from being thrown into the back of front seat or any other vehicle surface. "This stops them from crashing into their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents resist ERF because they believe their child is bored or uncomfortable. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. In fact, he prefers to ride backwards because the recline feature allows him to stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.

However, if you have a child that isn't keen on being in a rear-facing seat because of leg length or any other reason try convincing them that it's the most secure way for them to travel. Explain that they can remain in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.

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

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats facing rear for as long as is possible, as they are easy to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. However keeping your child in a rear-facing vehicle might mean they have to be moved into a crib or bassinet at time of nap or time of bed. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping, which is never optimal. However, the security advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience.

newborn car seat babies and preemies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps to reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is particularly important for premature babies, who have weaker bones, and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

The rear-facing position lets you see your baby better than the forward-facing position. This allows you to easily monitor their behavior and make sure they are content and happy. The majority of baby car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually any angle.

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

Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are known for being multi-functional. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing or as a belt positioning booster. They are also easier to set up and take down because they have a large base at the back of your car. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, but they last much longer than an infant car seat cheap car seat and will save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limits that are set by the car seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two however, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier. It's safer to be patient.

Weight Limits

All baby car seats have weight and height limits that you need to be aware of. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's the time to move to the next level of safety: either a convertible car seat that allows you to change between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in-one seat that allows your child to ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.

In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that show your child is ready to move on to the next step in a car seat, including their comfort level while sitting rear facing. You can look for these indicators in your child's behavior and compare it to other children similar to yours in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is typically operated by local government or community-based organizations.

Keeping your infant rear facing for as long as you can is safest for them, and it's easy to see why so many parents are reluctant to turn their children around until they're fully grown. However, you can avoid this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is correctly installed and that you don't rush to transition to a forward-facing seat too soon even if they're not close to the limit of weight or height of their current car seat.

If you're unsure whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're concerned that you may not have installed their current car seat in a correct manner, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. These experts can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can find one near you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check-in events that can visit your workplace or at home to help ensure you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

A car seat needs to be installed correctly in order to be effective. The NHTSA states, with regret, that more than half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best car seats for newborns way to ensure that your child's car seat is properly installed is to read the manual and have it professionally verified by a certified vehicle safety technician.

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

You should also be sure that your baby car seat's head is in the right angle when in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks and a forward-facing posture could cause pressure on their necks and spine in a crash. In a rearward-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.

Once your child has reached the limit of weight or height of the infant car seat it is time to switch to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing position up to the front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, make sure that the new model has a higher rearward facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you select an infant car seat that can be detached from the car, and then re-attached to strollers, this is a great option for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car frequently. It can be a challenge and time-consuming to maneuver your stroller and car seat into and out of the vehicle each time, particularly when you have a baby. This can be a good option for a lot of families, if they are willing to spend the time to get it right each time. Plan ahead and choose the day when you have plenty of spare time.