Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure way to ensure your child is in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to an infant car seat that faces forward when they reach the weight and height limits of their existing 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 support and cradle their head and neck. "Since their spines aren't ossified yet, it's important to keep the force of a crash off their necks and heads," explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash, the baby car seat's head can hit the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that can be severe or even fatal. In a rear-facing seat the impact is absorbed and absorbed at the back of the car. "It's like a hug," says Adele. In addition the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown against the back of the front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with the inside of their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear that their child may become bored or uneasy. Neither has been true for my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting rear-facing, because the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book or watch TV while he does so.

If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the best option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in one car seats provided they don't exceed the height or weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.

Also, be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They can expand in the event of a crash, making the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always perform the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing as long as possible because they are a breeze to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they may need to be put in a crib or a bassinet at nap or bedtime. This could wake the sleeping child, which is not ideal. However, the safety advantages of rear facing are greater than any discomfort.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term newborns which means that the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps reduce the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is essential for premature infants whose bones are still weak and have not been ossified since birth or pregnancy.

The rear-facing position also lets you see your baby much better than when they are facing forward. This lets you easily check their behavior and ensure that they are content and happy. Most infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted so that you can view your child from any angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their infant car seat or attains the weight or height limit set by their seat manufacturer you can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they reach two years old. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars which means they can be used for longer.

Convertible or all-in-one car seats are renowned for their versatility. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easy to remove and install because they have a large base in the back of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used once, but they will last longer and will save you money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by their car seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. Many children outgrow their rear-facing infant car 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 weight and height limits. The majority of infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of about 30 inches, based on the model. When your child has reached the limits, you can move up to the next level of safety. You can either choose a convertible seat that permits your child to be forward or rear-facing, or an all-in-one car seat.

There are other factors apart from the weight and height limit, that can tell you whether your child is able to move up a stage in the car seat. One of these is their comfort level riding rear-facing. You can check for these indicators by observing your kiddo's behavior and looking at other children their age in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car seat inspection station which are often operated by local government agencies or community organizations.

Keeping your infant rear facing for as long as is possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why so many parents are reluctant to turn their kids around until they're fully grown. You can ward off this temptation by making sure that your child's car seats is installed correctly and doesn't switch them to a front-facing car seat before they are ready, even the weight or height is near the limits of their current seat.

Contact a certified child passenger technician if there are any concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready to move on to the next level of car seats or if you're concerned that you may not install the car seat correctly. They can be found through local community organizations, government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or contact your local public health department or safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that can visit your workplace or at home to ensure that you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is essential for its effectiveness. Sadly the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read through the instructions, and then have them professionally checked by an accredited car safety technician.

The first step in installing an infant rear facing car seat is to check the angle. Make sure that the car seat base is at a safe angle to support the weight of your child, which you can find on the the back of the base or in its user's manual.

It is also important to ensure that the baby's head is properly positioned in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks and the forward-facing position could put pressure on their necks and spine in the event of a collision. If a rear-facing collision occurs, the car seat's back absorbs the majority of the collision force, which protects the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.

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

If you select an infant car seat that is able to be detached from the car and re-attached to the stroller, it is an ideal option for parents who want to get their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only downside to this is that it could be tricky and time consuming to get the stroller and car seat into and out of your car each time, especially with a newborn. If you're willing to invest the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a viable option for a lot of families. Make sure to plan ahead, and choose a day when you will have plenty of time spare.