Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride in a forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles that are weak could be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for the new car seat). Please read your instructions for your car seat.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat which can cause serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses. They can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some models also come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best car seat newborn infant carseats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you set the correct angle of your child’s head to stop them from falling over in a collision. The top tether strap is connected to the tether anchor of the vehicle and comes from the top. It is important to keep in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual of the seat you’re using.
When your child is 20 pounds and one year old is over, it’s time to change. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles which can result in whiplash during the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind), they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. If children under the age of 1 are riding rear-facing their head is protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could strain their necks.
When children transition to a forward facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight limit and a high. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement, which usually means at around the age of 4 or 5. You can see the difference in these car seats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the footage is reduced in speed. If a kid moves too quickly, they can be injured.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to enjoy a comfortable ride and remain safe during the event of a crash. The seat features a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from impacts. The seat comes with five points of safety harness that can be tightened by one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy shields your baby from the sunlight. To ensure safety, the seat is designed to lock by the vehicle’s seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your child complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward during sleep or sleeping, the seat’s angle could be too low for them. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn’t help then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn’t face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash, if they were to fall to their front on their own. Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, because the bones and muscles of children are more flexible.
Many parents decide to purchase a convertible seat, which allows their babies to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for them as they can easily switch their child’s position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.
The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a four-in-one convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for 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) as well as a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). It is simple and easy to install with the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option for traveling with a toddler. This allows you to see your child as you drive and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier to get your child into and out of the car when going to the shop or running chores.
But remember that even when your child is old enough to switch to an forward-facing car seat, it’s best to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. From the point of view of crash tests, a child’s head is safer in a crash when they face backwards. This is because the entire body — head, neck, and torso — is cradled by the car seat’s back when they’re facing in this direction.
You should check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine how to change your child’s car seat around. You’ll find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap’s position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child as they grow.
It is also important to consider whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If you do, make sure that the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the vehicle’s anchor points as per the instructions in the manual of the seat. Additionally, you’ll need to ensure that the harness shoulder straps are just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high, as this will affect the way they are secured in the event of a crash.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have several children or who are planning to have more children. It is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.
Style
The car seat for your baby was a must for your child, and you spent much time deciding the right one. However, as they age and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you might be wondering when it’s time to switch them around.
Although the idea of having your baby face forward may be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you must keep in mind. Children should be 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 when to switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar or if they’ve reached their limit of legroom. It may seem that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, however this doesn’t mean it is safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren’t fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to ensure they remain there. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles to withstand a frontal impact which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not just secure, but also simple to use. They include bases that are attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your baby from stroller to car and back again, and they often pair with a frame stroller as part of the travel system.
If you are ready to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of the car seat. If it’s installed correctly the car seat shouldn’t move more than one inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps should be at or above your child’s shoulders. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, contact a certified safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.
