Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
The most secure way to ensure your child is in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be moved to a car seat that faces forward when they reach the maximum weight and height of the seat they are currently in.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren’t fully ossed, it is crucial to keep the force from the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash, the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash effects that can be fatal or severe. In a rear-facing seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated at the back of the car. “It’s like a hug,” says Adele. The child’s legs can also be placed into the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the rear of the seat or any other surface in the vehicle. “This keeps them from colliding with the inside of their own bodies, which causes internal injuries,” she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they fear that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. Neither has been true for my son, Lukas. In fact Lukas prefers riding backwards because the recline feature allows him to cross his legs and read an article or watch TV.
If you have a child who is reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats as long as they do not exceed the height or weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.
Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat with the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are simple to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they might have to be placed in a bassinet or crib at nap or time to sleep. This could mean waking the baby who is sleeping which is not ideal. The safety advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, however.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term babies. This reduces the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip on the harness is at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is important for premature infants, with bones that aren’t strong enough and have not been ossified since birth or pregnancy.
The position that faces the rear allows you to observe your baby more clearly than when they are facing forward. This allows you to observe their behavior, and ensure they are content and happy. Most infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted so you can view your child from any angle.
You can use a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their recommended weight or height limit. Some models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars which means they are able to be used for longer.
Convertible Kinderkraft JUNIORFIX2 Isofix Toddler Car Seat – Gray Car Seat Comfort UP: Booster with Adjustable Headrest (try www.pushchairsandprams.uk) seats or all-in-ones are known for their flexibility. They can be used in forward-facing or rear-facing positions or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also simpler to set up and take down because they are built with a large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. They are more expensive than car seats for infants that are used once, but they’ll last longer and save money over the course of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by their car seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat before they reach the age of two. However, it’s best to wait.
Weight Limits
You must be aware that all car seats for infants have height and weight restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs 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 safety. You can either choose a convertible seat that permits your child to ride rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in one car seat.
Apart from a height and weight limit, there are also other indicators that indicate your child is ready to move on to the next step in a car seat, such as their comfort level while sitting rear facing. You can look for these signs by watching your kiddo’s behavior and comparing them to other children their age in their car seats. You can also ask for help from certified child safety specialists at a car seat inspection station that are usually run by local government agencies or community groups.
Remaining rear-facing for your infant as long as possible is safest for them, and it’s easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they’re mature. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure your child’s car seat is correctly installed and you don’t rush to switch them to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they’re close to the limits on weight or height of their current car seat.
If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move on to the next stage of car seat or you’re worried you might not be installing the car seat correctly Contact a certified child safety technician. They can be found through community groups, local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile which can come to your workplace or home to help ensure you have the proper equipment and are using it correctly.
Installation
The correct installation of a car seat is essential for its effectiveness. The NHTSA has found that nearly half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to ensure that your child’s car seat is properly installed is to read the instruction manual and have it checked by a certified car safety technician.
The first step in installing a rear-facing infant car seat is to test the angle. Make sure that the base of the car seat is in a safe position for your baby’s weight that is visible on the indicator on the side of the base or in its user manual.
Also, ensure that the baby’s head is correctly positioned in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks and a forward-facing position can put pressure on their neck and spine in the event of a collision. In a rear-facing collision, a car seat’s back absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.
Once your child has reached the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it’s time to change to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing orientation to the front-facing limit. Make sure to purchase an infant car seat that has an increased rear-facing limit when you choose to change to this type of seat, since older models have lower limits.
Parents who often transport their infants by car will be able to pick an infant car seat that is removable and connected to strollers. The only downside to this is that it could be a hassle and time-consuming to maneuver the car seat and stroller into and out of your car every time, especially for infants. If you’re willing to spend the extra time each time to do it right, this can be a great alternative for many families. Make sure you plan ahead and select a date when you have plenty of time spare.
