Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

The majority of baby car seats can be removed from their base, and snapped into a compatible stroller for easy transport. This feature makes them popular with parents planning to take frequent trips out of the city.

Dress your baby in clothing that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips, regardless of which car seat type you choose. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to find a snug fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats newborn seats (also known as convertible car seats with rear-facing positions) are designed to accommodate newborns and children as high as the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats typically include an infant insert to ensure that the baby's head is comfortable inside the shell of the seat.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until either they reach the weight or height limits of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in one car seats let your child ride rear-facing even longer, up to about age 4 or 5.

The majority of car seat manufacturers offer an adjustable reclining angle that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's back from falling forward when the vehicle slows down. You'll need to read the manual for your car seat to determine how to adjust the reclining angle or watch a video by an influencer for your car seat to learn how. Avoid putting your infant in bulky clothing like coats or blankets. They can prevent a snug fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their necks and chests.

Many parents aren't comfortable changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They fear that the force of the crash may cause the baby's legs to be ejected from their feet, or their neck and head may be hurled forward violently in an accident that is side-to-side. It is important to remember that rear-facing provides a much better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant in a forward facing car seat being tossed around violently in the crash simulator. The head injury that results is horrendous. The video of the same accident from the rear seat is not as bad because the child's head is held by the shell.

If your state law requires you to turn your child's back, ignore it! This is not in accordance with the best car seat for newborn practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.

Forward-Facing

best infant seat car seats are made to cradle newborns and infants with harnesses that to secure them in the seat. Depending on the model of car seat, parents may be in a position to adjust the headrest and recline angle to ensure their child's comfort and also select from several attachments for the stroller of their baby. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of kids will outgrow them long before they're ready to switch to a forward-facing car seat.

It's normal for parents to want to turn their baby around as soon as they can however, the current law requires that children under one year old remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is because infants' neck muscles aren't strong enough for the whiplash that comes with an rear-end collision that occurs when a child turns to the side in an accident.

If a baby is thrown forward in a frontal collision the spinal cord can be stretched and strained, resulting in paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car the neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.

Rear-facing infants are also less likely to end up in the rear of the car in an accident. In a collision, they are less likely to be injured by a seat belt that runs across their chests, instead of their necks.

Considering these risks In light of these risks, it is essential parents adhere to the safety guidelines for car seats and ensure that their child is in the right car seat for their size. Always consult the instructions of the manufacturer's car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making an important decision. You can also seek expert advice from a car seat technician who is accredited in your area.

If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can change to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that is designed to start in the rear-facing position, and then transitions to forward-facing once they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster with lap-sash seatbelts.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to deciding between an Infant Car seat newborn car seat and convertible ones. Both have advantages however which one is the best car seats for infants choice for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable car seat for infants.

Convertible infant car seats convert from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child grows. This allows them to fit kids from infancy through late elementary school, depending on the model you select. Some have higher weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, which allows them to be used longer.

Make sure that the convertible infant car seat has removable infant inserts that will ensure a secure fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the infant's body so that they can reach the lowest slots for straps and move them forward a bit to stop their heads from colliding with the straps of their harness.

Some infant car seats come with a handle that makes it easier to move between vehicles. Other car seats can be plugged into strollers, creating a travel system. This feature makes it easy to transfer your car to your stroller, without waking your baby for trips to the grocery store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This can happen when they reach their weight or height limit. Most experts agree that it's time to transition to a convertible car seat when their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but make sure to refer to your seat's instruction manual to ensure your child is in the right place.

Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than baby car seats at first however they can turn out to be less expensive over time due to the fact that you can use them for many years. Certain models also have lower anchors, which make it easier to install. This could help reduce injuries during an accident.

Safety Ratings

When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety is top of mind. All infant car seats are required to comply with the safety standards set by the federal government. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with extra peace of mind.

Premium features, such as adjustable no-rethread harnesses and bars that prevent rebounding, can help ensure that your child is secured correctly and securely. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and help reduce the force in the event of a crash, are also available.

Examining the crash test ratings and reviews of a baby car seat can help you determine the safety of the product before you purchase. However, it's important to remember that the most important aspect in determining how safe an infant car seat is actually how it is used. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, most accidents that involve infant car seats result from negligence -- either improper installation or inadequate restraint of the childbut not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

If you want to make certain that you are using the right car seat for your baby, choose a seat that has an easy-to-read manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level and bubbles at the bottom that will show you EXACTLY where to place it. When you install the seat, tighten the straps around the baby's chest and abdomen. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten it is a good indicator.

Also, when you're out and about with your baby in a car seat, never leave the car seat unattended, even if you're just going to the store or a quick visit to the park. It's not just risky in the event of a crash and leaving your infant car seat or baby carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Seats or carriers that roll or tip over can also injure or suffocate babies.

While the choice between an infant car seat and convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat may feel like it's all about cost at this point, keep in mind that you'll need a booster seat at some time. To save money in the long run consider a convertible or all-in one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.