Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at their current seat’s maximum weight or height (or the minimum requirement for a new car seat). Please read your car seat instructions.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which could cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant car seats have five-point harnesses to hold the child in place with just one pull tightening, and the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides better impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best car seat for newborn infant carrier seat car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you choose the right angle for your child’s head to stop the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The top tether strap connects to the tether anchor on the vehicle and is positioned from the top. It is important to remember that you may not need to switch your child to a forward facing car seat until he / is at the maximum weight and height listed in the instruction manual for the seat.
When your child reaches 20 lbs and one year is over, it’s time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in the event of a crash. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most frequent and serious type). Rear-facing car seats protect the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their head.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should still use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. They should not be moved to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement typically around age 4 or 5. You can see the difference in these seats when you watch these crash videos but keep in mind that the video is slow-motion. If a kid moves too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and secure during an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will ensure your child’s safety from impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be tightened with only one pull, and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy protects your child from direct sunlight. For safety the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle’s seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your child is complaining of discomfort during a journey or appears to slouch forward when sleeping the angle of the seat could be too low for your child. This can be corrected by placing tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this doesn’t work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn’t face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash in the event that they fall forward on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, because the muscles and bones of children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents choose to purchase convertible car seats that allows their babies to move rearwards until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It can also make it easier for them because they can easily switch their child’s position from forward-facing to rear-facing when their child is out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the headrest and harness together without the need to re-thread.
Convenience
If you’re traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing good infant car seats car seat is a great choice. It allows you to watch your child’s face while driving and the rest of your family 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 much easier to carry your child into and out of the car for trips to the grocery store or other chores.
But remember, even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat it’s safer to keep them rear-facing for as long as is possible. From the point of view of crash tests, a child’s head is better protected in a crash if they face backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso is held in the rear of the car seat.
You should check the instructions provided by the manufacturer on the best time to turn your child’s car seat around. There will be the weight and height limit you should not go over and also specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they develop.
It is also important to consider whether your vehicle has tether anchors. If yes, ensure that the tether is installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Also, you should ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high because this can affect the way they are secured in the event of a crash.
A convertible car seat is a great option for parents who have multiple children or who plan to have more. It is a one-stop car seat that starts off being used as an infant car seat facing rear before moving your child to a forward-facing position when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing car seat.
Style
You’ve spent a lot of time and effort choosing the perfect baby car seat for your child. As they grow older and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it’s the right time to flip them around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety considerations to keep in mind. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.
Be aware that children are very different in size and age, therefore, you shouldn’t decide the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on a specific date on the calendar or if they’ve reached their maximum legroom. A child may appear bigger in the rear-facing car seat however, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven’t fully developed yet.
It’s recommended that you keep your child rear-facing until they reach one year old, and some infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is due to the fact that children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles to take a direct hit, which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not just secure, but also simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car and allow you to transport your baby from the car to a stroller, and back. They are usually part of a travel system.
If you’re ready to move your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat, be sure to do it correctly by following all the instructions of the manufacturer and examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn’t move more than one inch from side to side or front to rear, when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed over the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, call a certified safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of your car seat.