Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure method to ensure your child remains in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to a car seat that faces forward when they reach the limit of their weight and height in their existing seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest option for newborns and young babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren't ossified, it's crucial to keep the force from the crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal crash, the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash that could be fatal or severe. In the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of the child can be placed into the car seat to prevent them from being thrown into the back of the front seat or any other surface 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 fear that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature lets him stretch his legs while reading a book or watch TV.

If you have children who are reluctant to face the rear due to their leg length or other reasons, convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that the child is able to remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the height or weight limits are not exceeded.

Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats as they can compress in a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose, 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 seat newborn car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are easy to use and more portable infant car seat than convertible car seats. However, having your child in a rear-facing car seat could mean that they need to be moved into a crib or bassinet at nap times or time of bed. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping, which is never ideal. However, the advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience.

The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term babies. This helps reduce the impact force and also ensures that the harness's chest clip is at or below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is especially crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

The rear-facing position allows you to observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This allows you to observe their behavior, and ensure they are content and happy. The majority of infant car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from nearly every angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their car seat as infants, or reaches the height or weight limit suggested by the seat manufacturer, you can switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they are at least two years old. Some models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats which means they are able to be used for longer.

All-in-one or convertible car seats are well-known for their versatility. They can be used rear-facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They usually also have a larger base in the back of your vehicle making them easier to install and remove. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats however they last longer than an infant car seat and can save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat or until they reach at minimum two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat by the time they reach the age of two. But, it's always better to wait.

Weight Limits

You must be aware that all infant car seats have weight and height limits. Most infant car seat travel car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child is at the limits, you can proceed to the next level of safety. You can either choose a convertible seat that allows your child to be either forward or rear-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

In addition to the weight and height limit, there are other factors that indicate your child is ready for the next stage of car seats, such as their level of comfort while riding rear facing. You can check for these signs by watching your child's behavior, and then comparing them to other children in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually run by local government or community groups.

It is recommended to keep your child rear-facing for as long as you can. This is why a lot of parents wait until their children are fully mature before they switch them over. But you can still avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's seat is properly installed and that you do not rush to change to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're close to the weight or height limits of their current car seat.

If you're unsure whether your child is ready for the next stage in their car seat or you're concerned that you may not have installed their current car seat correctly, reach out to an accredited child safety technician. These specialists are available through community organizations and hospitals local government offices, and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or contact your local public safety agency or health department. There are also mobile car seat check events that will visit your workplace or at home to help ensure you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

Installing a car seat correctly is essential for its effectiveness. Sadly it is the case that the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear facing). The best car seats newborn way to make sure that your infant car seat is correctly installed is to read the manual and have it professionally verified by a certified vehicle safety technician.

The angle check is the first step in installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. Check that the car seat base is set at a suitable angle for your baby's weight that is visible on the the side of the base or in the user's manual.

Also, make sure that your baby's head is in the correct angle 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 the majority of the crash force. This protects the baby's neck and spinal cord.

When your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat it is time to switch to a convertible seat or all-in-one seat. These can be used in a rear-facing position up to the front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with an increased rear-facing limit when you choose to change to this type of seat, since older models have lower limits.

If you select an infant car seat that can be detached from the car and re-attached to strollers, this is a great option for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car frequently. The only downside to this is that it can be a hassle and time-consuming to move the car seat and stroller in and out of your car every time, particularly with a newborn. If you're willing to spend the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a viable alternative for many families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.