How Do I Explain Forward Facing Infant Car Seat To A Five-Year-Old
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing infant car seat that swivels Car Seat
Children younger than one year should NOT ride facing towards the forward. In the event of a crash neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum for a new car seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
In the event of a crash infant car seat rear facing car seats are designed to protect your child's neck and head. The forward facing position also stops your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant car seats (cool training) come with five-point harnesses that hold the child in place with just one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide improved protection from impact. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over during an accident. The car seat also comes with a top tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you may not need to move your child from a forward facing car seat until he or attains the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual for the seat.
When your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old, it's time to make the switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles which can result in whiplash during a crash. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent type), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their heads.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight limit and a high. The child shouldn't be able to move into a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is typically around the age of 4 or 5 years old. It is evident the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos however, remember that the video is reduced in speed. A child could be injured in the event that they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride comfortably and remain safe during a crash. The seat has a comfortable headrest and a body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps protect your child from collision. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with one pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure your child is positioned correctly. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt to ensure security. It also includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle fastened even when the seat isn't being used.
If your child complains of discomfort or appears to slump forward while sleeping it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded on the front of your car seat. If this doesn't help you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their car seat.
It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't yet ready to face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough to withstand the force applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts suggest staying a bit longer, since the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.
Many parents choose to purchase convertible car seats that lets their infants be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer and is more convenient for parents since they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child outgrows it.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat usage with just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the harness and headrest together without re-threading.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is the best option. It lets you view your child's face while driving and allows all of your family members to enter the car seats by age without disturbing your infant car seats on sale or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to take your little one into and out of the car for trips to the grocery store or other tasks.
Even if your child has reached the age where they can change to a car seat that is forward-facing it is best infant car seat to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. If you view it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear.
Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate the seat of your child. They usually have an upper weight and height limit that you should not go over and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These rules are designed to safeguard your child as they develop.
You should also consider whether your vehicle is equipped with tether anchors. If so, make sure that the tether is correctly connected to your vehicle's anchor points according to the instructions in the manual. The last thing to do is make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or below their shoulders, and 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 choice for parents with several children or who are planning to have more. It is a one-stop car seat that starts with a rear-facing infant car seat, then move your child to a forward-facing seat when they're old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat.
Style
You've spent a lot of time and effort deciding on the perfect baby car seat for your child. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat you may wonder if it is time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are some important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
You should also be aware that children are very different in terms of size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on some specific date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force, which could result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with useful features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your child from stroller to car or back, and they often pair with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.
If you're ready to move your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you follow all of the manufacturer's instructions and examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or front to back and the harness straps must be positioned at or over your child's shoulders. If you have any concerns or questions ask a certified safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.