Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF when your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
In the event of a crash infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position could also help prevent your baby from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the car seat is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This lets you determine the right angle for your child's neck to prevent it from flopping over in collisions. The top tether strap connects to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top. It's important to keep in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.
When best car seats for infants reaches 20 pounds and one year old, it's time to make the switch. Children and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal crash (the most common and severe type). If children under the age of 1 ride backwards their heads are protected by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a heavy rearward weight and a height limit. The child should not be placed in a booster until they reach the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is typically around the age of 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between the two carseats. But keep in mind that the video has been slowed. A child could be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and secure during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, a cushion for body support and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be adjusted with a single pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy protects your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt to ensure safety. It also has a locking clip which keeps the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't in use.
If your infant complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to slump forward when they sleep, the angle of the seat may be too low for the child. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded under the front of your car seat. If this isn't working, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to withstand the force of a collision in the event that they fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest staying a bit longer, since the bones and muscles of children are more flexible.
Many parents choose to purchase convertible car seats that allows their babies to travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer, and makes it more convenient for parents because they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child is no longer in the position.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to forward-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lbs), to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the harness and headrest together without the need to re-thread.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is the best option. It allows you to see your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to enter the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller, making it easier to carry your toddler in and out of the car for trips to the store for groceries or other tasks.
But that even the time your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. From the perspective of crash tests, a child's head is safer in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is because when they are 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 determine when you can rotate the seat of your child. There will be a maximum weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are intended to protect your child's safety as they develop.
Another thing to think about is whether you own a vehicle that has an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual of the seat. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low, as this will impact how well they're secured in an accident.
An excellent option for parents with more than one child or plan to have more is convertible car seats. It is a one-stop car seat that starts by being an infant car seat that faces rearwards before moving your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat.
Style
You've put in a lot of time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. But as they get older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's time to change them.
While the idea of having your child face forward can be thrilling, there are important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.
Be aware that children are very different in terms of size and age, so you should never base on when you should switch to forward-facing on an exact date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. A child may appear bigger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed.
It's recommended that you keep your child rear-facing until they are at least one year old, and certain infant car seats have an integrated reminder to ensure they remain there. This is because children younger than one do not have strong 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, many infant car seats come with convenient features that make them simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap in and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part a travel system.
If you're about to move your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, be sure to follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. When installed properly the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch side to side or from front to back and the harness straps should be placed at or above your child's shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or call the manufacturer of the car seat.