Infant Car Seat Newborn Car Seat - What You Need to Know

Most infant car seats can disengage from their base and snap into a stroller frame for easy transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who plan to take frequent trips out of town.

Regardless of which type of car seat you choose make sure your child is dressed in clothes that allow the harness straps to comfortably fit over their hips and shoulders. Large blankets or clothing can hinder a secure harness fit.

Rear-Facing

Infant car seats, also known as convertible car seat with a rear-facing position, are designed to accommodate infants and small children up to a certain weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer. These car seats are typically equipped with an infant carrier seat insert that ensures the head of a baby is securely positioned inside the seat shell.

The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that babies ride rear-facing until they reach their weight or height limits for car seats or until they reach their weight limits, whichever comes first. Certain convertible and all in one car seats allow your child to be rear facing for longer, up to age 4 or 5 (depending on the model).

The majority of manufacturers have their car seats designed with a reclining angle that can be adjusted to keep the baby's head from sliding backwards when the car is stopped. You can either read the manual that comes with your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat. It's also important not to wearing your child in bulky clothes, like blankets and coats as they could hinder the snug fit of the harness and cut off airflow around the baby's chest and neck.

Many parents aren't comfortable switching their child from a rear-facing position to forward-facing. They worry that the impact force could eject their baby's legs or feet, or their neck or head could be violently thrown forward during a side-impact. It's important to remember that rear-facing provides a much more protection than forward-facing.

A video by an influencer for car seats shows a child in a forward-facing car seat violently tossed in the crash simulation. The head injury that results is horrifying. However, the video of the same accident from the rear-facing car seat not as severe because the head of the child is cradled in the shell of the car seat.

If your state law requires you to turn your child's face forward avoid it! This is not in accordance with the best car seats newborn practices. The AAP and NHTSA agree that children should remain rear-facing until either they reach their maximum weight or the height required for a car seat.

Forward-Facing

Infant car seats are made to protect infants and newborns with harnesses to help keep them in the car seat. Parents may be able adjust the recline angle, headrest, and stroller attachments depending on the model of car seat. The majority of infant car seats come with an upper weight and height limit, and most children will outgrow them before they are ready to move to a forward-facing car seat.

While it's normal for parents to would like to get their child back as soon as possible however, the current norm states that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in car seats until they reach 20 pounds and 1 year of age. The reason is that neck muscles of infants aren't strong enough to withstand whiplash caused by a rear-end collision, which happens when a child turns forward in an accident.

If a child's neck is thrust forward during a frontal accident, the spinal cord can stretch and tear, which can cause paralysis or even death. If a child is seated backwards in a car the neck bones remain together and are protected by the straps that secure the harness, which prevents this kind of injury.

Rear-facing babies are also less likely to be in the back of the car during an accident. They are also less likely to be injured by a seat belt that stretches across their chests rather than their necks, in a collision.

Parents must ensure that their child is using the correct car seat for the size. Take a look at the instructions for car seats from the manufacturer and the owner's manual for your vehicle prior to making a decision. It's also a good infant car seats idea to visit a certified car seat technician in your local area for professional help and advice.

When a baby outgrows their car seat, they can change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that starts in the rear-facing location and then shifts to forward-facing after they've reached their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat using a a lap-sash adult seatbelt when they've reached the recommended weight and age.

Convertible

Many new parents are split between a baby car seat or a convertible. Both have advantages, but which is the right choice for your family? An infant car seat is ideal for infants However, if you're looking for something that will last several years, a convertible is probably a better option.

As your child grows in age, convertible car seats for infants can be moved from rear-facing to front-facing. They are able to accommodate children from the age of infancy to the end of elementary school, based on the model you select. Certain rear-facing car seats have higher weight and size limits than the infant car seats which allows for more time of use.

Find out if the convertible infant car seat has removable newborn car seat insert inserts to ensure a comfortable fit for your child. These sturdy pads raise the infant's body so that they can reach the lowest slots for straps, and then push them slightly forward in order to prevent their heads from slapping against the harness straps.

Infant car seats also tend to have a handle that parents use to move them between vehicles, and some of them can be connected to strollers to create a travel system. This feature lets you effortlessly transfer from your car seat newborn to a stroller, without having to wake your baby.

Your child will eventually outgrow their infant car seat. This could occur when they reach their weight or height limit. Many experts agree that it's time to upgrade to a convertible car seat when your child's head is within 1 inch of the top edge of the seat. Review the instructions in your seat's manual to ensure your child is in the right place.

Convertible car seats can appear more expensive than infant car seats at first, but they can be cheaper over time because they can be used for a number of years. Some models also have lower anchors, which allow for easier installation. This could help reduce the risk of injuries in a crash.

Safety Ratings

When shopping for an infant car seat, safety should be top of mind. All infant car seats must be compliant with the safety standards of the federal government, but some surpass the minimum requirements to provide extra security for parents.

Premium features, like adjustable no-rethread harnesses and anti-rebound bars, will aid in ensuring that your child is secure correctly and securely. Other useful tools, like load legs that brace the base of the seat and reduce the impact force of a crash are available as well.

A good way to determine the safety of an infant car seat is prior to buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. However it is important to remember that the most important aspect in determining the safety of an infant car seat is how it's used. Based on our conversations with NHTSA engineers, the majority of crashes that involve infant car seats are caused by misuse -- either inadequate installation or inadequate restraint of a childand not the actual performance of the seat in the event of a crash.

To ensure that you're using a car seat for your infant correctly, choose one that has a clear instruction manual as well as plenty of indicators that show it's solid and level, with bubbles at the base which tell you EXACTLY where to place the seat. Additionally, make sure to be sure to secure the straps the chest and abdomen of your child when you install it. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten is a good indication.

Even if you're merely going to the store or making a quick visit into the park, you should never leave your child unattended in a car. It's not just risky in the event of a crash and leaving your infant car seat or infant carrier on a hard surface could cause injuries and falls. Car seats that tilt or roll over can also cause injuries to babies, or worse and even cause them to suffocate.

You will need an additional car seat at some point. To save money in the long run consider an all-in-one or convertible car seat that will give you more options and last longer than an infant car seat.