Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Tools To Streamline Your Daily Lifethe One Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Trick That Everybody Should Learn
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keep your child in a car seat for infants rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be transferred to a car seat that faces forward once they have reached the limit of their weight and height in their current seat.
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Safety Benefits
Using an infant car seat rear facing is the most secure option for newborns and babies due to the way it cradles and supports their head and neck. "Since their spines haven't been ossified yet, it's vital to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads" explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash, the baby's head can hit the seat infront of them. This can cause a whiplash that can be severe or even fatal. However, with the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be placed into the car seat to protect them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other vehicle surface. "This helps to prevent collisions with their bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they think their child will be uncomfortable or bored. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. In fact Lukas prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature lets him cross his legs and read an article or watch TV.
If you do have an older child who is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing seat due to of leg length or other factors, try to convince them that it's the safest method of travel for them. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat inserts for newborns seat so long as the weight or height limits aren't exceeded.
Also, be sure to secure your child into the rear-facing car seat securely with the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats. They can expand in the event of a crash, making the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats rear facing for as long as they can because they are a breeze to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. However, keeping your child in a rear-facing vehicle may mean they have to be put in a crib or bassinet at nap times or times of bedtime. This could wake the sleeping child, which is not ideal. However, the advantages of rear facing far outweigh any inconvenience.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term infants. This reduces the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is particularly important for premature babies who have weaker bones and still aren't fully ossedified from pregnancy or birth.
Additionally, the rear-facing position provides a much better view of your baby than the forward-facing position. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure they are happy and comfortable. Many infant car seats have a built-in lightweight baby car seat mirror that can be adjusted to see your child from almost every angle.
You can utilize convertible car seats or an all-in-one seat to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the recommended weight or height limit. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only seats that allow them to be used for a longer period of time.
Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are renowned for being multi-functional. They can be used rear facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They are also easier to remove and install because they are built with a large base that is located at the rear of your car. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats, but they last much longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limits allowed by their car seat manufacturer, or until they are at minimum two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before the age of two, but don't be tempted to switch them around earlier. It's safer to wait.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all car seats for infants have weight and height limits. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of about 30 inches, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you are able to move up to the next level of security. You can either choose an adjustable seat that allows your child to sit rear-facing or forward-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 to move on to the next step in a car seat, including their level of comfort while riding rear facing. You can find these indicators in your child's behavior, and compare it to other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is typically run by local government or community-based organizations.
Keeping your infant rear facing infant car seat facing for as long as is possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to understand why so many parents are reluctant to turn their children around until they're fully grown. However, you can avoid this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is correctly installed and you do not rush to change them to a forward-facing seat too quickly, even if they're close to the limit of weight or height of the car seat they're currently in.
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 worried that you might not be installing the car seat correctly. These experts can be found through community organizations, local government offices, and child safety programs. You can locate one close to you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your workplace or at home to ensure you have the right equipment and that you are using them correctly.
Installation
Installing a car seat correctly is crucial to its effectiveness. Sadly, the NHTSA reports that almost half of all car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your infant car seats are correctly installed is to go through the manual, then have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.
The first step to install a rear-facing infant car seat is to test the angle. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.
Also, make sure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle in the seat. Babies have large heads and soft necks, and the forward-facing position could put pressure on their neck and spine in the event of a collision. If a rear-facing collision occurs, a car seat's back absorbs the majority of the collision force. This protects the baby’s neck and the spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it's time to move over to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing orientation until the front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat that has a higher rear-facing limit if you decide to switch to this type of seat, as older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their children by car will find it convenient to select an infant car seat that is able to be removed and connected to the stroller. The only downside to this is that it can be time-consuming and difficult to get the stroller and car seat in and out of your vehicle each time, especially with infants. However, if you are willing to spend the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a great alternative for many families. Be sure to think ahead and pick a day when you will have plenty of time to spare.