Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF when your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum requirement for a new car seat). Please read your car seat instructions.

Safety

In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward-facing position can assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant car seats have five-point harnesses to secure the child with one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide better protection against impact. Some come with a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck to stop it from slipping over in the event of an accident. The top tether strap is attached to the vehicle's tether anchor and comes from the top. It is important to remember that you may not need to move your child from a forward-facing car seat until she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual of the seat.

It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash in a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are in a rear-facing car seat their heads are cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all in-one that has a heavy rearward weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to an adult car seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements typically around age 4 or 5. You can see the difference in these seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the video is reduced in speed. If a child is moving too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat keeps your baby safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will protect your child from any impact. The seat also features five-point harnesses with simple one-pull tightening and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is correctly positioned. A retractable canopy protects your child from sun. To ensure safety the seat is designed to lock to the seat belt of your vehicle and includes a locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.

If your child is complaining of discomfort during a journey or appears to slouch forward when sleeping, the seat's angle could be too low for the child. This can be corrected by placing a tightly rolled towel underneath the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their carseat.

Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force of a collision, if they were to fall forward on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents decide to purchase a convertible seat that allows their children to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer, and makes it easier for parents as they can simply shift their child from the rear facing infant car seat-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child has outgrown it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat usage with only one seat, from rear facing infant car seat-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seats that swivel car seat is a great option for traveling with a child who is young. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disrupting your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller, making it easier to carry your child into and out of the car for trips to the store for groceries or other tasks.

But that even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. From the perspective of crash tests, children's head is better protected in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head, neck, and torso is supported by the back of the car seat when they face in this direction.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate the seat of your child. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit you should not go over, as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These limits are meant to ensure your child's safety as they develop.

Another thing to think about is whether you own a vehicle with tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is fitted and connected to the anchor points on your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low in order to affect the way they are restrained in the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a great option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more. It is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat and then moved to a forward facing seat once your child has reached the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.

Style

The baby car seat was a must-have item for your little one and you spent much time deciding the right one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you may be wondering when it's time to flip them around.

While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are some important safety factors to consider. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limitations.

You should also be aware that children differ in terms of size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide on when you should switch to forward-facing on an exact date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. It may appear that a child is larger in a rear-facing car seat, however this does not mean that it is safe to turn your child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.

Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children younger than one year old do not have the strength of their neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which could cause serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe in addition to being safe, many infant car seats on sale car seats come with practical features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to transport your baby from stroller to car and back and are often paired with a frame stroller as part of a travel system.

If you're ready to transition your child's rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of the car seat. When properly installed, the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps must be at or above your child's shoulders. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, you can contact an approved safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of your car seat.