Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can be removed from their base and snap into a compatible stroller frame for easy transport. This makes them very popular with parents who plan to frequently travel out of town.

No matter which car seat you pick make sure your child is dressed in clothing that allows the harness straps to fit comfortably over their shoulders and hips. Bulky clothing or blankets can hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seats with a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate newborns and small children up to a certain weight and height limit set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert that ensures the head of a newborn is comfortable in 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 Newborn seat or until they reach their weight limits, whichever comes first. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child remain rear-facing for longer, until around age 4 or 5.

The majority of manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's head from sliding backward when the vehicle is stopped. You'll need to read your car seat's manual to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat to learn how to do it. Avoid putting your baby in heavy clothing, such as blankets or coats. They could hinder an ideal fit of the harness and hinder airflow around their chest and neck.

Many parents are hesitant about switching their child from rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the force of the crash could eject their baby's legs or feet, or that their neck and head could be hurled forward violently in an accident that is side-to-side. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing provides a much greater level of protection than forward-facing.

A video from an influencer for car seats shows a child sitting in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed around in the crash simulation. The resultant head injury is horrific. The video of the same incident from the rear-facing seat is not as bad because the child's head is held by the shell.

If your state requires you to put your child forward, don't do it. This is not in accordance with the best practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should be rear facing infant car seat-facing until they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made for newborns and infants. Harnesses are used to secure them into the seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle, headrest and stroller attachments based on the car seat. The majority of infant car seats are designed to accommodate an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow these seats before they are ready to move to a forward facing car seat.

It's natural parents' desire to turn their baby car seat around as soon as they can, however the current norm stipulates that children younger than one year old remain rear-facing until they weigh 20 pounds and are 1 year old. This is due to the fact that infants' neck muscles aren't strong enough to withstand the force of a rear-end crash which happens when a baby turns forward in the event of a crash.

If a baby is being thrown forward in a frontal collision the spinal cord 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, preventing this kind of injury.

Additionally, infants who are rear-facing are less likely to be to be thrown into the back of the car in an accident. In a collision, they are less likely to be injured by a seat belt that is positioned across their chests instead of their necks.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for her size. Always refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and vehicle owner's manual when making a decision. It's recommended to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.

When an infant grows out of their car seat, they can change to a convertible car seat. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing direction and then shift to forward-facing mode when they reach their weight and height limits. Once they reach the recommended weight and age, they can upgrade to a booster using a lap-sash seatbelt.

Convertible

Many new parents are torn when it comes to choosing between an infant car seat and convertible ones. Both have their advantages, but which one is the best choice for your family? An infant car seat is great for newborns However, if you're looking for something that will last several years it is likely that a convertible would be the better choice.

As your child grows, convertible infant car seats 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. Some have higher weight and height limits in the rear-facing position than infant car seats, which allows them to be used longer.

Find out if the convertible car seat is equipped with removable inserts for newborns to ensure a snug fit for your child. These firm padding lifts the infant's torso so they can fit into the smallest slots on the straps, and then moves them slightly forward to prevent their head from slipping back against the straps of their harness or the buckle for the crotch (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Some infant car seats come with handles to make it easier to move between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, creating a travel system. This feature lets you easily transfer your car to a stroller, without having to wake your baby.

In the end, however your child will outgrow the car seat they were in as infants, either by reaching their weight limit or height limit. Most experts agree that it's time to switch to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be certain to read the instruction manual to ensure your child is ready.

While convertible car seats can seem more expensive upfront than car seats for infants, they may be cheaper in the long run because you'll be capable of using them for many years. Some models also come with lower anchors which allow for easier installation. This could help reduce injuries during a crash.

Safety Ratings

Safety is the first thing to think about when purchasing an infant car seats. All infant car seats are required to conform to federal safety standards. However some go above the minimum requirements to give parents additional security.

Premium features, like adjustable harnesses that do not rethread and anti-rebound bars, can aid in ensuring that your child is secured correctly and securely. Other helpful tools, like load legs that brace the base of the seat and help reduce the force of a crash, are available as well.

An effective method to determine how secure an infant car seat is prior to purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. However it's important to keep in mind that the most important factor in determining how safe an infant car seat is actually how it's used. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats are caused by improper use -- or in the case of an inadequate installation or improper restraint of a child- and not the actual performance of the seat in a crash.

To ensure that you're using an infant car seat correctly, look for one that has a clear instruction manual as well as plenty of indicators to show it's secure and level, including bubbles at the base which tell you EXACTLY where to position the seat. When installing the seat tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. A good indicator of this is the ratcheting sound it makes as you tighten.

Also, when you're out and about with your child in a car seat, never leave the car seat unattended, even if you are just running into the store or a quick excursion to the park. It's not only an extremely dangerous idea in the event of the event of a crash, leaving your infant car seat or carrier on a hard surface outside the vehicle is a risky practice that can lead to injuries and falls. Car seats that tilt or roll over can cause injuries to babies or, worse yet they could even suffocate them.

While the decision between an infant car seats best car seat and a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat might seem like it boils down to cost at this point, keep in mind that you'll need an additional booster seat at some point. Consider a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money over the long term. These seats offer more options and will last longer than infant car seats.