9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year should not ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF when your child reaches their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum requirement for a new car seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.

Safety

In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward facing position can also prevent your child from hitting their head on the back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some also have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The most effective infant car seats have an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck to avoid it falling over in collisions. The top tether strap connects to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top. Be aware that you may not need to change your child's seat to a forward facing car seat until he or she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and a year. Babies and toddlers under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their head.

When kids move to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. The child shouldn't be moved into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the two carseats. But keep in mind that the footage has been slowed down. If a child moves too quickly, they can be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to ride in comfort and remain safe during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will keep your child safe from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened by one pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. For your safety the seat is designed to be locked by the vehicle's seat belt and has an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or appears to slouch forward when sleeping the angle of the seat could be too low for them. You can remedy this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. 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 weigh at minimum 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks are not strong enough yet to withstand a force that is applied to them by a collision should they fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest taking longer to wait since the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable.

Many parents decide to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets them enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for longer, and also makes it more convenient for parents since they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child has outgrown it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat usage with just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.

Convenience

If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat that swivels car seat can be a great choice. It lets you view your child's face while driving and allows all of your family members to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seats can be used with strollers making it much easier to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or running other errands.

But remember, even when your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat it's safer to keep them rear-facing for as long as is possible. If you view it from the standpoint of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- including the head as well as neck and torso is held by the back of the car seat when they're facing in this direction.

Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to determine the time you can rotate the seat of your child. There will be a maximum weight and height limit that you should not go over and also specific rules for things like crotch buckles. These rules are designed to protect your child as they develop.

Another thing to take into consideration is if you have an automobile with tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is fitted and connected to the anchor points on your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Also, make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or below their shoulders, and are not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured in the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have more than one child or who intend to have more. It is a one-stop car seat that can start with a rear facing infant car seat-facing infant car seat before moving your child to a forward-facing position when they're old enough and have reached the weight or height limit of the rear-facing car seat.

Style

You've put in a lot of time and effort choosing the best car seat for newborn baby car seat for your child. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their infant car seat, you might be wondering if it's time to flip them around.

Although the idea of having your baby face forward may be exciting, there are some important safety considerations you should keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limitations.

Remember that children vary in terms of size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar, or if you think they have reached their maximum length. It may appear that a child is bigger in a rear facing car seat, but this doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have an alarm that reminds you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. 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 collision with a car in front, which can cause serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seat for travel car seats aren't just secure, but also simple to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to let you carry your baby from stroller to car and back and often with a frame stroller to form part of an overall travel infant car seat system.

If you're ready to move your baby into a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do so correctly by following all the instructions of the manufacturer and then examining the car seat for tightness. When properly installed the car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or front to back, and the harness straps should be 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 contact the manufacturer of your car seat.