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Infant Car Seat - What You Need to Know

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

Dress your baby in clothing so that the harness straps comfortably be positioned over their shoulders and hips regardless of the car seat type you choose. The weight of blankets and clothing can make it difficult to get a snug fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seats with a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and children of a smaller size up to a weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are usually equipped with an infant insert that makes sure the head of a newborn is comfortably positioned inside the seat shell.

The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Certain convertible and all-in-one car seats allow your child to sit rear facing longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

The majority of car seat manufacturers offer the option of reclining angles that can be adjusted in order to keep the baby's back from falling forward when the vehicle stops. You'll need to read the manual for your car seat to figure out how to adjust the reclining angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat to learn how. It's also important to avoid putting your baby in bulky clothing like blankets and coats because they can hinder an ideal fit for the harness and cut off airflow around the infant's chest and neck.

Many parents aren't comfortable switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They are concerned that the impact force could eject their baby's legs or feet, or that their neck and head could be violently thrown forward in an accident that is side-to-side. It is important to keep in mind that rear-facing provides a better level of protection than forward-facing.

A video by a car seat influencer shows a child sitting in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed around in the crash simulation. The head injury that results is terrifying. But the video of the same crash from the rear-facing car seat not as severe as the head of a child is in the car seat's shell.

If your state requires that you face your child in the opposite direction, do not follow it. This isn't in line with best practices, which is why the AAP and NHTSA have now agreed that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever comes first.

Forward-Facing

Car seats for infants are designed specifically for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them in the seat. Parents can adjust the recline angle, headrest and stroller attachments based on the model of car seat. The majority of infant car seats newborn seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and a majority of children will outgrow them before they're able to transition to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's normal for parents to would like to turn their child around whenever they can, the current standard mandates that children under one year of age must be rear-facing in car seats until they're 20 pounds or one year old. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by an accident that rears them, which happens when a child turns forward in the event of an accident.

If a baby's neck gets moved forward in a frontal accident, the spinal cord can stretch and tear, which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards in the car, their neck bones are kept together and protected by the harness, which prevents this type of injury.

Rear-facing infants are also less likely to end up in the back of the vehicle in an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chest instead of their necks, in the event of a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is in the correct car seat for her size. Refer to the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and your vehicle's owner's manual before making a choice. It's also a good idea to visit a reputable car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.

If an infant is outgrowing their car seat, they can change to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that starts in the rear-facing position, and shifts to forward-facing when they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat with lap-sash adult seatbelts after they've reached their recommended weight and age.

Convertible

Many new parents are confused when it comes to choosing between an infant car seat and convertible ones. Both have their advantages but which is the right choice for your family? An infant car seat is ideal for infants, but if you want something that will last for several years, a convertible is probably more suitable.

As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be moved from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they can fit children from infancy to 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.

Make sure that the convertible infant car seat comes with removable inserts for newborns to ensure a snug fit for your child. These paddings raise the infant's body so that they can get to the smallest strap slots, and pushes them forward slightly to prevent their head from sliding back against the straps of their harness or the buckle on the crotch of the seat (which puts them at risk of positional asphyxia).

Infant car seats also tend to have a handle parents use to transfer between cars and can be connected to strollers to form a travel system. This feature makes it easy to transfer your car to your stroller without waking your baby for trips to the grocery store mall, the doctor's office, or visits.

Your child will eventually outgrow the infant car seat. This can occur when they reach their weight limit or height. Most experts agree that it's the right time to move to a convertible seat when their head is within an inch of the top of the seat, but be sure to consult your seat's instruction manual to ensure your child is in the right place.

While convertible car seats can seem more expensive upfront than infant car seats however, they could be less expensive in the long term because you'll be in a position to use them for many years. Some models also have lower anchors, which make it easier to install. This could help reduce injuries during a crash.

Safety Ratings

When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety is the top rated baby car seats priority. All infant car seats have to conform to the safety standards set by the federal government. However some seats go above and beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional peace of mind.

Premium features like anti-rebound bars as well as no-rethread adjustable harnesses can help to ensure that your child's safety is ensured. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat and help reduce the impact force of a crash are available as well.

An effective method to determine the safety of an infant car seat is prior to purchasing it is to review its crash test ratings and reviews. It is important to remember that the use of an infant car seat will determine how secure it is. According to our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats stem from improper use -- or in the case of an incorrect installation or improper restraint of the childbut not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

If you want to be sure that you are using your infant car seat correctly then look for one that comes with an easy-to-read instruction guide, lots of indicators that the seat is level and secure and bubbles on the bottom that show you EXACTLY the best way to place it. Additionally, make sure to securely secure the straps to the abdomen and chest of your baby when you install it. A good indicator of this is the sound that it makes as you tighten.

When you're out and about with your infant in car seats, don't leave it unattended, even if you are just running into the store or a quick visit to the park. Apart from being an extremely dangerous idea in the event of the event of a crash, leaving your infant car seat or carrier on a rough surface outside of your vehicle is a risky practice that can lead to injuries and falls. Seats and carriers that tip over or roll can also hit and injure babies or, worse yet and even cause them to suffocate.

While the choice between an infant 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 will require an additional booster seat at some point. To save money over the long term opt for a convertible or all-in one car seat that will give you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.