Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injury.

Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the weight or height limits of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.

Safety

In the case of a collision, infant car seat newborn car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five point harnesses that secure the child with one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for better impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best infant car seat infant carseats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which allows you to choose the right angle for your child's head to stop the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The seat also has an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep it in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual for the seat you are using.

When your child reaches 20 lbs and one year, it's time to make the switch. Toddlers and babies under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats protect the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their head.

If children are moving to a forward facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all in-one that has a heavy rearward weight limit and a high. The child shouldn't be moved into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is typically around age 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the two carseats. But keep in mind that the video has been slowed down. If a child is moving too fast, they may be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your child safe and secure in the event of an accident. The seat has a comfortable headrest and a body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from collision. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be tightened with one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. For your safety, the seat is designed to be locked with the vehicle's seat belt and comes with an adjustable clip that holds the buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward during sleep the seat's angle may be too low for your child. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel on the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work you can take your child to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to take the force of a crash in the event that they fall forward on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer as the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their babies to be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for longer, and also makes it more convenient for parents since they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child has outgrown it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a four-in-one convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant car seat newborn (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lb), to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to install. You can move the headrest and harness together without the need to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is an excellent option if you're traveling with a toddler. This allows you to see your child as you drive and the other members of your family can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seats can be used with strollers making it easier for you to get your child in and out of the car when you go to the store or doing other errands.

Even if your child has reached the age where they can change to a car seat that faces forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position the duration you can. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child’s head is safer in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is because the whole body -- head neck, torso, and head -- is cradled by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.

You should check the manufacturer's instructions for how to turn your child's car seat around. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit that you should not go over as well as specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are meant to ensure your child's safety as they grow.

Another thing to think about is whether you have an automobile with an anchor for tethering your car seat. If you do, ensure that the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. Also, you should ensure that the harness shoulder straps are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high in order to affect how well they are restrained in the event of a crash.

A great option for parents who have multiple children or are planning to have more children is convertible car seats. It is a one-stop car seats by age seat that can start by being an infant car seat facing rear, then move your child to a forward-facing seat when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing position of the car seat.

Style

The car seat for your baby was a must for your baby and you spent a lot of time choosing the right one. As your child grows and outgrows their infant car seat you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around.

While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are several important safety considerations to keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limitations.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you think they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. It may appear that a child is larger in a rear facing car seat, but that does not mean that it's safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats come with a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one don't have enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact which could result in serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure and secure, many infant car seats come with practical features that make them simple to use. They include bases that are connected to the car and snap in and out to allow you to transport your child from car to stroller or back to the car and often with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.

If you're about to move your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of the car seat. When properly installed the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps should be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions you should talk to a certified safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.