Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure method to keep your child in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be switched to a forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limits of their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren't ossified, it's crucial to keep the force of the crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal crash the head of a child would strike the seat in front of them, causing a whiplash effect that can be fatal or severe. However, with the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be placed in the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the back of the front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This keeps them from hitting their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers to sit rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book or watch TV while doing so.

If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or for other reasons you can convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats in the event that they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.

Also, be certain to strap your child in the rear-facing car seat securely with the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. They can expand during a crash, causing the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always perform the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can, because they are more user-friendly and more mobile than convertible seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, they might require being placed in a bassinet or crib during nap time or at bedtime. This could wake the sleeping child which isn't ideal. The safety benefits of rear-facing outweigh the inconvenience, however.

The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term babies. This helps to reduce the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.

The rear-facing position also lets you see your baby much better than when they are facing forward. This allows you to easily check their behavior and ensure that they are comfortable and happy. The majority of baby car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from virtually any angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their infant car seat or is at the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of their seat you can move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats that means they can be used longer.

Convertible or all-in-one car seats are renowned for their versatility. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a belt positioning booster. They are also simpler to remove and install because they are built with a large base at the back of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than rotating infant car seat car seats that can be used only once, but they will last longer and save money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer or are at least 2 years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before the age of two however, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier. It's safer to wait.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you have to keep in mind. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you are able to move to the next level of security. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to sit either forward or rear-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

There are other factors, besides the weight and height limits, which can help you determine whether your child is able to go up a level in a car seat. One of them is their comfort level riding rear-facing. You can check for these signs by observing your child's behavior, and then looking at other children of similar age in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is often run by local government or community organizations.

Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why so many parents are reluctant to turn their kids around until they're mature. But you can still avoid this temptation by making sure that 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 not close to the limit of weight or height of their current car seat.

You can reach a certified child passenger technician if you have any questions about your child's readiness to move on to the next level of car seats or if you are concerned that you may not install the car seat correctly. They are available through community groups such as hospitals local government offices, and child safety programs. You can locate one close to you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your office or home to ensure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

A car seat must be installed correctly in order to be efficient. The NHTSA reports, sadly, that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best car seats newborn way to ensure that your child's car seat is correctly installed is to read the instruction manual and have it checked by a certified car safety technician.

Verifying the angle is the first step towards installing a rear-facing infant car seat. Check that the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle for the weight of your baby and height. You can check this on the the base of the car seat base or in the user's manual.

It is also important to ensure that your baby car seat's head is in the right angle in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks and a forward-facing position can cause 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 helps protect the baby's neck and the spinal cord.

Once your child has reached the weight or height limit of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to transition to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase a new infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you choose to change to this type of car seat, as older models have lower limits.

Parents who often transport their children by car will be able to pick an infant car seat that is able to be removed and attached to the stroller. It can be a challenge and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle on a regular basis, especially when you have a baby. This could be a good option for a lot of families, if they are willing to spend the time to get it right each time. Make sure to think ahead and pick a day when you will have plenty of time to spare.