Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

Keeping your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be moved to an portable infant car seat car seat that faces forward once they have reached the weight and height limits of their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for infants and young babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that since their spines aren't yet formed, it is vital to keep the force from an accident away from their necks and head. In a frontal collision, the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash that could be fatal or severe. In a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorption by the seat and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." In addition, the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, preventing them from being thrown forward by the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This keeps them from colliding with the inside of their bodies, causing internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are against ERF because they are afraid that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting in the rear as the seat reclines and allows him to read a book, or watch TV while he does so.

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

Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats. They could compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as is possible, as they are easy to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they might have to be placed in a bassinet or crib at nap or time to sleep. This could wake the child who is sleeping which isn't ideal. However, the security advantages of rear facing far outweigh any inconvenience.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term newborns and therefore the headrest of their car seats is lower. This reduces the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders, not at their necks. This is essential for premature infants, who have bones that are weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy.

In addition the rear-facing position offers a much better view of your baby than the forward-facing position. This allows you to observe their behavior and make sure they are comfortable and content. Many infant car seat swivel car seats have a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so you can see your child at any angle.

Once your baby outgrows their infant car seat or reaches the height or weight limit suggested by the seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats which means they can be used longer.

Convertible or all-in-one car seats are known for their flexibility. They can be used rear facing or forward facing and as a belt-positioning booster. They are also easier to install and remove because they are built with a large base at the back of your vehicle. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however they last longer than an infant car seat newborn insert seat and will save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limits that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat or until they reach at least two years old. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before age two, but don't be tempted to change them earlier -- it's safer to be patient.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits you need to keep in mind. The majority of infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and the height limit is around 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child has reached these limits, it's the time to move on to the next stage of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that can change between forward and rear facing or an all-in-one car seat that lets your child ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.

There are other factors, besides the weight and height limit which can help you determine whether your child is able to move up a stage in a car seat. One of them is their comfort level when riding rear-facing. You can observe these signs in your child's behavior and compare it to other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also ask for help from certified child safety experts at an inspection station for car seats which are often operated by local government agencies or community organizations.

It is best infant seat to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is why many parents wait until their children are mature before they switch them over. It's possible to avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's car seat is installed correctly and don't change them to a front-facing car seat before they're ready even when their weight or height is close to the limits of their current seat.

If you have questions about whether your child is prepared for the next stage in their car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly Contact a certified child safety technician. They are available through community organizations, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you, or contact your local public safety agency or health department. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your office or home to ensure you have the right equipment and that you are using them correctly.

Installation

A car seat must be installed correctly in order to be effective. Sadly the NHTSA estimates that more than 50% of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear-facing). The best car seat for newborn way to make sure that your infant car seats are correctly installed is to read the manual, and then have them examined by a certified car safety technician.

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

You should also make sure that the baby's head is properly positioned in the seat. Forward-facing positions can put pressure on the neck and spine of babies with their heavy heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of a car seat absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and the spinal cord.

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

If you select an infant car seat that can be removed from the car and then reattached to the stroller, it is a great option for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only drawback is that it can be time-consuming and difficult to maneuver the stroller and car seat into and out of your vehicle each time, especially with a newborn. This is a great option for a lot of families, when they are willing to spend the time to do it right each time. Make sure you plan ahead, and choose the day that you have plenty of time to spare.