Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under the age of one year should not ride facing towards the forward. In a crash their weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead when your child reaches the maximum weight of their current seat or height (or the minimum requirement for a new car seat). Please review your instructions for the car seat.
Safety
In the event of a crash infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries.
All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head to stop them from flopping over in a collision. The seat also has an upper tether strap that is attached to the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you might not have to move your child from a forward-facing car seat until he / attains the maximum weight and height listed in the manual of the seat.
It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and one year. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year are riding backwards their head is protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight limit and a high. They shouldn't be pushed to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat which is usually around age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the video is reduced in speed. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride comfortably and stay secure during the event of a crash. The seat features a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps shield your child from the impact. The seat also comes with a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is correctly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. For your safety, the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle's seat belt and comes with an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle secure when not in use.
If your baby complains of discomfort or appears to slump forward when sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel underneath the front of your car seat. If this isn't working, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.
It is crucial to remember that children are not ready to take on the world until they are at least 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't strong enough yet to withstand a force applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, since the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.
Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that allows their children to be rear-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for parents as they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.
The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lbs) as well as a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the harness and headrest together without having to re-thread.
top rated baby car seats -facing infant car seat is a great option if you're traveling with a child who is young. This allows you to see your child while driving and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seats can be used with strollers, making it much easier to get your child in and out of the car when going to the shop or running chores.
Even even if your child is the age at which they can change to a car seat that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. When you look at it from the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear.
It is important to read the manufacturer's instructions for when you can turn your child's car seat around. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over as well as specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they grow.
Another thing to consider is whether you have a vehicle that has an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is connected to the anchor points on your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Also, ensure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This can affect how they're secured in the event of an accident.
A convertible car seat is a great option for parents who have more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat and then converted to a forward facing seat once your child has reached the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.
Style
The infant car seat was a must for your little one, and you spent much time deciding the best one. 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 child face forward is exciting, there are some important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their particular car seat.
It is important to remember that children differ in size and age, so you should never base when to switch to forward-facing on some specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their legroom limit. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, since their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.
It's recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is due to the fact that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which can cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only secure, but also simple to use. Some include bases that snap in and out of the car and allow you to transport your baby from the car to a stroller and back. They are typically part of the travel system.
If you're about to transition your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, make sure you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. When installed properly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns ask an accredited car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of your car seat.