Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year should not ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead switch to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for the new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
Car seats for infants are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat, which could result in serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the car seat is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some models have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The most suitable infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you set the correct angle for your child's neck to avoid it falling over in an accident. The top tether strap connects to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. It's important to keep it in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.
When your child is 20 lbs and a year old is the right time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their heads.
When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all in-one 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 usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between the carseats. But remember, the video has been slowed. A child can be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your child safe and secure during an accident. The seat comes with a soft headrest and body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing cover to shield your child from the impact. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt for security. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle secure when the seat is not being used.
If your infant complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when sleeping the seat's angle may be too low for them. This can be corrected by placing tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't ready to take on the world until they are at least 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough yet to withstand a force applied to them in a crash should they fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel backwards until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. infant car seat that swivels is also easier for them because 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 allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lb), to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). It's easy and simple to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young infant, a forward-facing infant car seat is a great choice. It lets you see your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it much easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle when you go to the store or doing other errands.
Even if your child has reached the age that they are able to change to a car seat that is forward-facing, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. From the point of view of crash tests, a child's head is safer in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head, neck, and torso is held by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.
Read the instruction manual of the manufacturer to determine the time you can rotate the seat of your child. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over and also specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they develop.
Another thing to consider is whether you have an automobile with Tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is correctly fitted and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. The last thing to do is make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or just below their shoulders, but not too low or high. This will affect how they are restrained during a crash.
An excellent option for parents who have more than one child or plan to have more, is a convertible car seat. This is a complete car seat that can start with an infant car seat that faces rearwards, then move your child to a forward-facing seat when they're old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing position of the car seat.
Style
The infant car seat was a must-have item for your baby and you've spent a lot of time choosing the right one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat, you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety factors to consider. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limits.
Be aware that children differ in both size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you believe they have reached their maximum length. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed.
Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is because kids under one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a collision with a car in front, which can cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only secure, but also simple to use. These include bases that remain attached to the car and snap out and in to let you carry your child from stroller to car and back to the car and are often paired with a frame stroller as part of a travel system.
If you're about to transition your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you do it correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and then examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side or front to rear when installed correctly. The harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, you can contact an accredited safety technician in your area or the car seat manufacturer.