Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be detached from their base, and snapped into a stroller that is compatible to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them very popular with parents who are planning to take frequent trips outside of the city.

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

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seats with a rearward-facing position designed to accommodate newborns and small children up to a weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert to ensure that the head of a baby is securely positioned inside the seat shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that infants remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to ride rear-facing even longer, up to about age 4 or 5.

Most car seat manufacturers include an adjustable reclining angle that can be adjusted to stop the baby's back from slipping forward when the vehicle slows down. It is necessary to read your car seat's manual to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle or watch a video by a car seat influencer to learn how to do it. It's also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing, like blankets or coats because they can hinder an ideal fit for the harness and cut off airflow around your infant's neck and chest.

Many parents are hesitant about changing their child's rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash may throw their child's legs or feet, or that their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during an impact from the side. It's important to keep in mind that rear-facing offers a more protection than forward-facing.

A video posted by a car seat influencer depicts an infant sitting in a forward-facing car seat being thrown around violently in an accident simulator. The head injury that occurs is terrifying. But the video of the same crash that was recorded from the rear-facing car seat not nearly as horrific, because a child's head is held within the car seat's shell.

So, if your state law requires you to turn your child to forward-facing, ignore it! This is not in line with the best car seat for newborn practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should stay rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or height for the car seat.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed for newborns and infants. Harnesses assist in securing them into the seat. Depending on the model of the car seat parents might be capable of adjusting the recline angle and headrest for their child's comfort, and also select from various attachments for the baby's stroller. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and the majority of children will outgrow them before they're ready to be switched to a forward-facing car seat.

It's understandable for parents to want to change their baby's position as quickly as they can, however, the current law requires that children under one year old stay rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is because infants' neck muscles aren't strong enough for the whiplash that comes with a rear-end crash that occurs when a baby is pushed forward during a crash.

If a child's neck is forced forward in an accident in front the spinal cord may stretch and tear, which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is looking backwards in the car their neck bones are held together and protected by the harness, preventing this type of injury.

Rear-facing babies are less likely to end up in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They're also less likely be injured by the seat belt that extends across their chests instead of their necks in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the right car seat for his or her size. Always consult the manufacturer's car seat instructions and the owner's manual for your vehicle when making the decision. It's recommended to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area for expert assistance and advice.

When a baby outgrows their car seat, they may move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that starts in the rear-facing location and then transitions to forward-facing once 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 split between choosing an infant car seat or a convertible one. Both have their advantages but which one is best car seats infant for your family? An infant car seat is great for newborns however if you are looking for something that lasts for many years it is likely that a convertible would be more suitable.

As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be moved from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they are able to be used for children as young as late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats have greater weight and size limitations than the infant car seats that allow for more use.

Make sure that the convertible infant car seat comes with removable newborn inserts to ensure a secure fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the infant's body so that they can fit into the smallest slots for straps and push them slightly forward to stop their heads from hitting the harness straps.

Car seats for infants also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer them between vehicles and can click into strollers to form a travel system. This feature allows you to easily transfer from your car to a stroller, without having to wake up your baby.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This can occur when they reach their weight limit or height. Most experts agree it's time to upgrade to convertible car seats when your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Consult your seat's instruction manual to ensure that your child is prepared.

Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially however, they could be cheaper over time because they can be used for a long time. Additionally, some models have lower anchors that allow you to install them using less force than traditional seats, which could reduce injuries in a crash.

Safety Ratings

When it comes to buying an infant car seat, safety should be the top priority. All infant car seats are required to meet the safety standards set by the federal government. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to give parents additional peace of mind.

Premium features, such as adjustable no-rethread harnesses and anti-rebound bars, will help ensure that your child is secured correctly and securely. Load legs, which brace the seat's base and reduce the force in a crash are also available.

A good way to determine the safety of an infant car seat is prior to buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. However, it's important to remember that the most important factor in determining the safety of an infant car seat is how it's used. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seat swivel car seats stem from negligence -- either improper installation or inadequate restraint of the child -and 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 car seat newborn, 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 where to place it. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. A good indication of this is the sound that it makes when you tighten.

Also, when you're out and about with your child in a car seat, do not leave it unattended, even if you are just running into the shop or taking a short excursion to the park. It's not just risky in a car crash however, leaving an infant car seat or baby carrier on a rough surface could also lead to injuries and falls. Car seats and carriers that tilt or roll over can also hit and injure babies, or worse they could even suffocate them.

While the choice between an cheap infant car seats car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats may seem like it's all about price at this point be aware that you will require an additional booster seat at some time. To save money in the long run opt for an all-in-one or convertible car seat that offers you more options and last longer than a car seat for infants.