Keep Your Child in an infant car seat rear facing (click this link)

Insuring that your child is in a car seat that is rear facing is the safest option. Children should only be moved to the car seat facing forward once they have reached the limit of their weight and height in their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is the safest option for newborns and babies because it cradles and supports their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines are not yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force from the crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal collision, the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, creating a whiplash effect that can be severe or fatal. In a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorption by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be tucked in the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This helps to prevent collisions with their bodies, causing internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are against ERF because they think their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. He prefers sitting in the rear as the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book or watch a show while doing it.

If you have a child who is reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or other reasons you can convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats provided they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat.

Be sure to buckle your child into a rear-facing car seat by using the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothing such as winter coats, since they can be compressed during a crash, causing the harness straps to loosen, putting your child at risk of injuries. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.

Convenience

Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear facing for as long as they can because they are a breeze to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. However, keeping your child in a rear-facing car seat may mean they have to be moved into a crib or bassinet at nap times or bedtimes. This could mean waking the sleeping baby, which is never optimal. However, the security benefits of rear facing outweigh any inconvenience.

Newborn babies and preemies are smaller than full-term newborns, so the headrest of their car seat is lower. This reduces the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is located below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is particularly crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones and still haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.

Additionally, the rear-facing position provides a much better view of your baby than forward-facing. This lets you monitor their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. Most infant car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from nearly every angle.

When your child is no longer in their car seat as infants, or is at the weight or height limit recommended by their seat manufacturer You can then switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that allows them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some have rear-facing limits that are higher than rear-only car seats, allowing them to be used for a longer period of time.

Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are renowned for being versatile. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They are also simpler to set up and take down because they are built with a large base that is located at the rear of your car. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however, they last longer than a standard infant seat and will save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat and up to at least two years old. Many children outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat before the age of two however, don't be enticed to change them earlier -- it's safer to keep it in the rear for a while.

Weight Limits

All rotating infant car seat car seats have weight and height limits you need to keep in mind. The majority have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child is at the limit, you can move up to the next level of security. You can choose a convertible seat that allows your child to sit rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

In addition to a height and weight limit, there are other indicators that show your child is prepared for the next step in car seats, such as their comfort level while sitting rear facing. You can identify these indicators by observing your child's behavior and comparing them to other children their age in their car seats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually run by local government or community groups.

It is best to keep your good infant car seats rear-facing for as long as you can. This is why many parents wait until their children are grown before turning them around. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seat is installed correctly and don't switch them to a front-facing car seat before they're ready even when their weight or height is within the limits of their current seat.

If you're unsure whether your child is prepared for the next stage of car seat or you're worried that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly Contact a certified child passenger safety technician. These specialists can be found through local community organizations, government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you, or contact your local public safety agency or health department. There are also mobile car seat check-in events that will visit your home or workplace to help ensure you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

A car seat must be installed correctly to be effective. Unfortunately, the NHTSA estimates that more than 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 installed correctly is to study the manual and have it examined by a certified car safety technician.

The first step in installing an infant rear facing car seat is to check the angle. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to make sure it is safe for your child's weight.

Also, ensure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. The forward-facing position can cause pressure on the spine and neck of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing collision, the car seat's back absorbs the majority of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.

When your baby is at the weight limit or height of their car seat for infants and is now weighing more than a pound, it's time to move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. If you decide to move to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, make sure that the new model has a higher rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you select an infant car seat that can be removed from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is an ideal option for parents who want to get their infants in and out of the car frequently. It can be a challenge and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle each time, particularly when you have a baby. This is a great option for a lot of families, when they are willing to take the time to get it right every time. Plan ahead and choose the day when you have plenty of spare time.