Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who are planning to travel frequently out of the city.

Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps can comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips regardless of the car seat type you pick. Bulky clothing or blankets can hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats that have rear-facing positions) are designed to accommodate newborns and children up to the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. They usually come with an infant insert to ensure that the baby's head is comfortable inside the shell of the seat.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children ride rear-facing until they reach their weight or height limits for the car seat, whichever comes first. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to sit rear facing longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

Most manufacturers create car seats with an angle of reclining that can be adjusted to prevent the baby's head from falling backward when the vehicle is stopped. You can read the manual that comes with your car seat to discover how to adjust the angle or watch a video by an influencer for your car seat. It's also important to avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing, such as coats or blankets, because they can prevent the snug fit of the harness and block airflow around your infant's chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant to switch their children from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one because they are concerned that the force of a crash will eject the baby's feet and legs or that their neck and head may be thrown violently forward in a side impact. It's important to remember that rear-facing offers a greater level of protection than forward-facing.

A video by a car seat influencer shows an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being thrown around violently in an accident simulator. The head injury that follows is awe-inspiring. The video of the same incident from the seat facing rearward isn't as horrific because the child's head is cradled by the shell.

If your state law requires you to turn your child's back do not follow it! This is not in line with best practices, which is why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight for the car seat, whichever is first.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are designed to hold infants and newborns, with harnesses that help keep them in the car seat. Parents can adjust the headrest, recline angle, and stroller attachments depending on the car seat. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of children will outgrow them before they're able to transition to a forward-facing car seat.

It's understandable parents' desire to turn their baby around as quickly as they can, however the current norm requires that children less than one year old remain facing rear until they weigh 20 pounds and 1 year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash from a rear-end collision. This is caused when a child moves forward in an accident.

If a baby is thrown forward in a frontal crash, the spinal chord can be stretched and torn and cause paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards while driving, their neck bones are kept together and secured by the harness, which prevents this type of injury.

Rear-facing babies are also less likely to end up in the back of the car during an accident. In a collision, they are less likely to be injured by a seat belt that is positioned across their chests rather than their necks.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat for the size. Always consult the instructions of the manufacturer's car seat and the vehicle owner's manual before making a decision. It's recommended to visit an accredited car seat technician in your local area to get expert advice and assistance.

When a baby outgrows their car seat, they can move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that is designed to start in the rear-facing position and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible one. Both have advantages, but which is the right choice for your family? A convertible car seat is a fantastic option for a durable infant car seat.

Convertible infant car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. They are able to accommodate children from the age of infancy to late elementary school, based on the model you choose. Some rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than the infant car seats which allows for more time of use.

Make sure that the convertible infant car seat has removable newborn inserts to ensure a snug fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the infant car seats on sale's body up so that they can fit into the smallest slots for straps and move them forward a bit in order to prevent their heads from slapping against the straps of their harness.

Some infant car seats have handles to make it easier to move between vehicles. Others can be clicked into strollers, creating a travel system. This feature makes it easy to go from your car to your stroller, without waking your baby for trips to the grocery store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.

Eventually, though your child will eventually outgrow the car seat they were in as infants or reach their weight limit or their height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's the right time to move to a convertible seat once their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be sure to refer to your seat's manual to ensure that your child is in the right place.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than infant car seats at first however, they could be more affordable over time since they can be used for many years. Some models also come with lower anchors which allows for a simpler installation. This could help reduce the chance of injury in an accident.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the first thing to consider when shopping for car seats for infants. All infant car seats have to conform to the safety standards set by the federal government. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional security.

Premium features like anti-rebound bars and no-rethread adjustable harnesses can ensure your child's safety maintained. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat to reduce the impact force of a crash are also available.

Checking the crash test ratings and reviews of an infant car seat can help you determine its safety before you purchase. However, it's important to remember that the most important aspect in determining how safe an infant car seat is actually how it is used. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats result from improper use -- or in the case of an improper installation or inadequate restraint of the child -but not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

If you'd like to be certain that you are using the correct car seat for your infant, then look for one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction manual, plenty of signs that the seat is secure and level, and bubbles on the bottom that will show you EXACTLY the best way to place it. Additionally, make sure to securely secure the straps to the chest and abdomen of your child before you install it. A good indication of this is the sound that it makes when you tighten.

Even if you're merely going to the grocery store or making a quick visit to the park, it's not a good idea to leave your infant unattended in the car. It is not only dangerous in a car crash and leaving your infant carrier or car seat on a hard surface can also lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tip over or roll can also hit and injure babies, or worse they could even suffocate them.

You will require an additional car seat at some point. Consider a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to save money in the long run. These seats will provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.