Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
In the UK, all children must use a child seat until they reach a certain height or age. Choosing the right car seat is vital to ensure the safety of your child.
Which?, the consumer champion, has rated this rearward-facing seat as one of its top. It has a baby-hugging inlay and also an enhanced G-Cell defense against side-impacts. It also comes with a rotation function that allows you to adjust the seat to the optimum position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats for infants are designed to shield infants from neck and head injuries that can occur during a crash. Children who ride forward-facing in car seats are seven-times more likely to sustain serious injuries than those who ride rear-facing. Car seats that are rear-facing for infants are typically placed on the back of the car, and are lighter and smaller than convertible child safety seats. It is recommended to use a rear facing infant car seat until the child is outgrowing it or reaches the weight or height limits for forward-facing use.
There are two types of car seats: convertible car seat and an all-in-one car seat. Both are safe for your baby, but each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Convertible car seat start with the rear facing, but can be turned to face forward when your child is large enough. All-in-one car seat have higher rear-facing weights and height limits which means that your child will be able to safely ride in the seat for a longer period of time.
Make sure that the rear-facing car seats you pick for your child are compatible with your vehicle and are correctly installed. Check the manufacturer’s labels and your vehicle owner’s manual for instructions on how to install the seat. It is also important to test the harness of the seat to ensure it is snug and secure, and ensure that your child doesn’t fold in the harness. Avoid wearing bulky clothing that could hinder straps.
Rear-facing car seats are more secure for babies than seats that face forward because the force of the crash is less likely to be dissipated when a baby is cradled within the seat. In addition, rear-facing seats can provide more protection for infants ejected from a vehicle in a side impact accident.
If your child outgrows their rear-facing infant car seat you may want to consider switching to a seat that has a heavy rearward-facing weight limit and size. A majority of convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits, which permit your child to use the seat for longer than two years.
Forward-facing
When your baby outgrows the rear-facing cheap infant car seats car seat, you can flip them to face forward. But, you shouldn’t do this until your child has reached the height and weight limits of the seat manufacturer. You should also talk to your child’s pediatrician.
According to the laws of physics and safety research, children less than two are more secure in a rearward-facing seat. They are able to rest more comfortably in their seat, and are less likely to be injured by the belt or airbag. This is especially important for infants who’s necks and bones are still developing. According to the i-Size guidelines toddlers and infants should ride rear-facing for a minimum of 12 months or 20 lbs. Some experts suggest staying longer.
If your child grows out of the rear-facing seat you can move them to a car seat that’s convertible or has a five-point safety harness. These seats are designed to hold your growing child and are often equipped with a baby-friendly positioner that can be removed. These seats come with a base to allow them to be used on different vehicles. You can also buy additional bases if your vehicle has more than one.
It is also recommended to use a car seat with a headrest for children up to 20 pounds. The headrest should be placed slightly to the back, but not more than 300 degrees vertical. It must also be able to be able to cover the baby’s ear. The baby’s airway could be blocked in the event that the headrest isn’t tilted back far enough. In addition, the car seat shouldn’t be set at an angle that could cause a herniated disc in the spine.
In the event of a crash, it is possible for children to be thrown from the car seat facing forward. This could result in death. A towel that has been rolled up or pillow can be put beneath the base of the seat to make it recline, and this will help keep your child safe in the car.
In addition to preventing children from falling out of their seats There is evidence that a rear-facing car seat can help reduce injuries to the legs in crashes. In a frontal collision, the legs of an infant facing forward can fly upwards, striking the rear of the car seat. This can cause serious injuries. In an rear-facing seat the child’s legs won’t hit the seat and can be cushioned by the harness. This will lower the risk of injury.
Multi-group
There are plenty of choices for infant car seats, but not all are suitable for your baby’s needs. A multi-group infant car seat is one that will accommodate your child from birth to the age of four, and can be used with nearly any pram. This type of car seat will have an adjustable harness to safeguard your child, and it is designed to grow with your child with features such as an adjustable headrest as well as side impact wings. Some of these seats can be rotated inside the vehicle to give your child a wider view of the road.
New infant car seats are designed to be based on height, not weight, making them safer for your child. The car seats, referred to as iSize or R129 in the UK they are approved by the EU and must meet strict safety standards to be sold. The seat will be branded with the label with a capital ‘E’ in a circle, as well as the letters “R129”. These seats are easier to install and provide better protection against side impacts.
The Group 1 or 0 car seat is designed to face rearwards until your child weighs at least 9kg. After that they can be turned to face forward. They have a harness, and are secured using either Isofix or Pushchairsandprams the car seat belt. Some of them will have the ability to rotate that means you can move the car seat between vehicles without the need for a belt. Some are also able to fit on most prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat will last your infant until they reach 11 years old and up to 100cm, or until you choose to turn them into a booster seat. These are the safest car seats, and are recommended by Which?. These car seats come with a wide design with a one-handed recline setting and at least 12 headrest positions. Some of them come with handles that are lightweight and can be easily stowed in the suitcase.
Rotation function
The rotation function of an infant car seat is among its most prominent features. It allows the portion of the seat that is used to hold the baby to spin on a separate base, making it easier for parents to get the child in and out of the car. This feature is especially helpful in vehicles with trunk or backseat that is compact. It also makes it easier to install a seat into another vehicle.
The rotating feature also makes it easier to access harness buckles without disturbing the sleepy baby, which is a real godsend if you’re juggling toddlers while trying to get them into the car. However, some of the seats that rotate have a hard time achieving this goal, so it’s worth looking up online reviews of specific models to find out how well they function.
Another important feature to look for is whether the seat can be used with a stroller. A lot of brands offer this option and is known as a travel system and it’s ideal for new parents who are looking for an all-in-one unit that will take them through all the stages of their child’s life. It’s also a great choice for families with a multi-car household because it allows them to switch cars quickly without disturbing the baby.
Car seats for infants are designed to hold babies and newborns up to one year of age. They are divided into four groups: Group 0, 1 2, and 3. The Group 0 car seats, which are sometimes called carrycots, place the child in a rear-facing location and connect to the vehicle with a standard seat belt or an ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seat is typically attached to the base of the vehicle by using LATCH. This system connects most types of car seats.
A seat in the group 3 category is usually a convertible seat that expands with the child, from newborn to about four years old. These seats have a higher weight and height limit, as well as a padded adjustable headrest that can protect the child in an accident. They also come with a support wedge that can be removed and a luxury carry handle, so that the seat can also double as a mobile carrier.
