Keep Your Child in an infant car seat rear facing (campbell-velling-2.technetbloggers.de)

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

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Safety Benefits

Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is safest for babies and infants because it cradles and supports their neck and head. "Since their spines haven't been ossified yet, it's vital to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads," explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash a baby's head would strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash that could be fatal or severe. In a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. "It's like a hug," says Adele. In addition, the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, preventing them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This prevents them from colliding with their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are against ERF because they believe their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. He prefers sitting rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read or watch TV while doing it.

If you do have a child that is hesitant to sit in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or any other reason Try to convince them that it's the best option for them to travel. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in one car seats as long as they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.

Be sure to secure your child in the rear-facing car seat securely using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothes such as winter coats as they can be compressed in a crash and cause the straps of the harness to become loose and place your child at risk for injury. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can because they are more user-friendly and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, they might have to be placed in a crib or a bassinet during nap time or time to sleep. This could wake the child who is sleeping which isn't ideal. The advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, however.

The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is located below their shoulders, not at their necks. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.

The position that faces the rear lets you observe your baby more clearly than when they are facing forward. This allows you to easily check their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. Most infant car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to see your child from almost every angle.

Once your baby outgrows their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit suggested by their seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear facing until they reach two years old. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only seats that allow them to be used for longer.

Convertible car seats or all-in-one seats are known for being flexible. They can be used backward facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They are also easy to set up and take down due to their large base at the back of your vehicle. These seats are more expensive than infant car seats that can be used only once, but they will last longer and save money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limits that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat or until they reach at least two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before age two, but don't be tempted to turn them around earlier -- it's safer to keep it in the rear for a while.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you have to be aware of. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of about 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's time to move on to the next level of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that can switch between forward and rear facing, or an all-in-one seat that allows your child to ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.

Apart from a height and weight limit, there are also other indicators that indicate your child is prepared for the next phase of a car seat, including their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can find these signs in your child's behaviour, and compare it to other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also seek help from certified child safety technicians at an inspection station for car seats which are often operated by local government agencies or community-based organizations.

It is best to keep your infant rear-facing as long as you can. This is why a lot of parents wait until their children are mature before they switch them over. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is correctly installed and do not rush to change to a forward-facing one too soon, 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 prepared for the next car seat stage or you're concerned that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly, reach out to a certified child safety technician. They can be found through community groups, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can find one close to you by searching online or calling your local health department or public 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 correct equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

A car seat must be installed correctly in order to be efficient. Unfortunately the NHTSA states that nearly half of all car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best way to ensure that your child's car seat is correctly installed is to read the instruction manual and have it professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.

Checking the angle is the first step towards installing a rear-facing infant car seat. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

You should also make sure that the head of your baby car seat is positioned correctly in the seat. The forward-facing position could cause pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rearward-facing collision the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.

When your child is at the weight limit or height of the infant car seat that swivels car seat, it's time to move to a convertible car seat or all-in-one seat. They can be used in a rear-facing configuration until the front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase an infant car seat that has a higher rear-facing limit if you switch to this type of seat because older models have lower limits.

Parents who often transport their children by car seats by age will be able to select an infant car seat that is removable and connected to strollers. It can be a challenge and time-consuming to maneuver your stroller and car seat in and out of the vehicle each time, particularly in the case of a newborn. If you're willing to invest the extra time each time to get it right, this could be a viable option for many families. Make a plan and pick the day you will have plenty of time.