9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a forward facing infant car seat (Jisuzm official blog)

Children under the age of one year shouldn't ride facing towards the forward. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead when your child is at the maximum weight of their current seat or height (or the minimum for the new car seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position also stops 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 to hold the child in place with just one pull tightening, and the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved impact protection. Some come with an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant car seats have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The seat also comes with a top tether strap that is attached to the top rated infant car seats of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It is important to remember that you might not have to change your child's seat to a forward-facing car seat until he / is at the maximum weight and height specified in the manual for the seat.

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

When kids move to a forward-facing car seat, they should use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a strong rear-facing weight and a height limit. The child should not be moved into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back or a backless booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. You can see the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the video is reduced in speed. Children can be injured in the event that they move too fast.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride in comfort and stay secure during the event of a crash. The seat has a soft headrest, a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to keep your child safe from impact. The seat has a five-point safety harness which can be tightened with only one pull, and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy protects your child from sun. To ensure safety the seat is designed to be locked to the seat belt of your vehicle and comes with an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use.

If your child complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward when they sleep, the angle of the seat may be too low for the child. You can fix this by placing tightly folded towels on the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this doesn't work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force of a collision, if they were to be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer since the muscles and bones of children are more flexible.

Many parents choose to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat longer, and also makes it easier for parents as they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat usage with just one seat, from rear-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 lbs). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is a great choice. It lets you view your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to get into the vehicle without disturbing your baby seat or toddler. The car seat can be used with strollers, making it easier for you to get your child into and out of the car when going to the shop or running errands.

Even if your child has reached the age at which they can switch to a car seat that is facing forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. If you view it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is more secure in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body, including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the rear of the car seat.

You should check the manufacturer's instructions for when you can change the car seat of your child around. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit you shouldn't go over and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These limits are intended to ensure the safety of your child as they grow.

You should also think about whether your vehicle comes with tether anchors. If so, make sure that the tether is connected to the anchor points on your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Also, you should make sure that the shoulder straps of your harness are just above your child's shoulders and not too high or low, as this will affect the way they are secured in an accident.

A convertible car seat is a good choice for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat best car seat, and then changed to a forward-facing seat once your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

The baby car seat was a must for your child, and you spent many hours deciding the best one. But as they get older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you may be wondering if it's time to change them.

While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limitations.

Remember that children vary in terms of size and age. Don't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum length. It may appear that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

It is recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old, and certain infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to withstand a frontal impact, which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats aren't just safe, but they are also simple to use. They include bases that are attached to the car and snap out and in to allow you to carry your child from stroller to car or back again and are often paired with a frame stroller as part of an overall travel system.

If you're about to transition your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you do it correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and examining the car seat for tightness. When installed properly, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps should be at or above your child's shoulders. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of the car seat.