5 Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Lessons From The Pros
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing The safest way to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to an infant car seat that faces forward once they have reached the weight and height limits of the seat they are currently in. Remember that body paragraphs are structured as a hamburger. The introduction and concluding sentences resemble the top and bottom buns. The bulk of the essay are the body paragraphs supporting it. Safety Benefits Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for newborns and young babies. This is because they provide support and support to their necks and heads. “Since their spines aren't fully ossified yet, it's important to keep the impact of a collision off their heads and necks,” says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision the baby's head is likely to hit the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed and absorbed to the rear of the car. Adele says, “It feels like a hug.” The child's legs can also be secured in the car seat to keep them from being thrown against the back of front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. “This stops them from crashing into their own body, which could cause internal injuries,” she explains. Many parents are against ERF because they are afraid that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers sitting rear-facing, because the seat reclines and allows him to read, or watch TV while doing so. If you do have an older child who is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing seat due to of leg length or other reasons try convincing them that it's the best method of travel for them. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats provided they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat. Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothes, such as winter coats as they can be compressed in a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen, putting your child at risk for injury. Always perform the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit. Convenience Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as is possible, as they are a breeze to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they may have to be placed in a bassinet or crib during nap time or time to sleep. This may require waking up the sleeping baby which isn't ideal. However, the safety advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort. Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term newborns, so the headrest of their car seats is lower. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is located below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is especially crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones and aren't fully ossedified from pregnancy or birth. In addition the rear-facing position gives an excellent view of your child than facing forward. This allows you to easily observe their behavior and ensure they are happy and comfortable. Many infant car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to see your child from almost any angle. When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or reaches the height or weight limit set by the seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear facing until they reach two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only car seats that allow them to be used for longer. Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as multi-functional. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also easier to install and remove because they have a large base at the back of your vehicle. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats but they last much longer than a standard infant seat and can save you money in the long run. forward facing infant car seat pushchairsandprams.uk of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits established by the manufacturer of their car seat or are at least 2 years older. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two, but don't be tempted to switch them around earlier. It's better to be patient. Weight Limits You should be aware that all car seats for infants have height and weight restrictions. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and an upper height limit of around 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child reaches the limits, it's time to move on to the next level of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that allows you to switch between rear facing and forward facing, or an all-in one car seat that allows your child to ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer. There are other factors aside from the weight and height limit, that can tell you if your child is ready to make the next step in a car seat. One of them is their comfort level when riding in a rear-facing. You can check for these signs by observing your kiddo's behavior and looking at other children in their carseats. You can also seek help from certified child safety technicians at a car seat inspection station which are often operated by local government agencies or community groups. Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as is possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to understand why a lot of parents are hesitant to move their children back until they're mature. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is correctly installed and don't rush to transition them 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. Contact a certified child passenger technician if there are any concerns about your child's readiness for the next stage of car seats or if you are worried that you might not install the car seat correctly. These specialists are available through community groups, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You are able to locate one close to you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events which can come to your workplace or home to make sure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly. Installation Installing a car seat correctly is vital to ensure its safety. The NHTSA has found that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read the instructions, and then have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician. The first step in installing a rear facing infant car seat is to determine the angle. Check that the base of the car seat is at a safe angle for the weight of your baby that is visible on the the base of the base or in its user manual. You should also make sure that the baby's head is correctly positioned in the seat. Forward-facing positions can put pressure on the neck and spine of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing crash, the car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord. When your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, it is time to switch over to a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing orientation to the front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you decide to switch to this type of seat as older models have lower limits. If you select an infant car seat that is able to be removed from the car and re-attached to the stroller, it is a great choice for parents who want to transport their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only downside to this is that it can be time-consuming and difficult to maneuver the car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle each time, especially with infants. This could be a good choice for many families when they are willing to invest the time to make it happen every time. Make a plan and pick a day that you have plenty of spare time.