15 Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Benefits Everybody Should Know

Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Keep your child in an infant car seat rear-facing is the best option. Children should only be moved to a forward-facing car seat when they reach the height and weight limits of their current car seat. Remember that body paragraphs are structured like a hamburger. The introduction and concluding sentences resemble the top and bottom buns. The supporting body paragraphs constitute the bulk of your essay. Safety Benefits Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their head and neck. “Since their spines aren't ossified yet, it's important to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads,” explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash the head of a child would hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash that could be fatal or even fatal. However, in a rear-facing car seat, the impact is taken up by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. “It's like a hug,” says Adele. In addition the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward against the rear of the seat or other vehicle surfaces. “This helps to prevent collisions with their own bodies, which can cause internal injuries,” she explains. Many parents are opposed to ERF because they are afraid that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. He prefers sitting rear-facing, because the seat reclines and allows him to read a book or watch TV while doing so. If you do have a child that isn't keen on being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or any other reason try convincing them that it's the most secure method of travel for them. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat so long as the height or weight limit is not exceeded. Be certain to strap your child in the rear-facing car seat securely using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. 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 as long as possible because they are a breeze to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. However, placing your child in a rear-facing seat might mean they have to be moved into the bassinet or crib at time of nap or time of bed. This could wake the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. However, the benefits of rear facing outweigh any inconvenience. Newborn babies and preemies are smaller than full-term newborns and therefore the headrest of their car seat is lower. This helps reduce the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and still haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth. The position that faces the rear allows you to observe your baby more clearly than the forward-facing position. This lets you easily observe their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. Most infant car seats come with built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to view your child from nearly every angle. When your child is no longer in their infant car seat, or is at the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of their seat you can move 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 models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars which means they are able to be used for longer. Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known for being flexible. They can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a belt-positioning booster. They typically also come with a large base at the back of your vehicle making them easier to set up and remove. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however they last longer than an infant car seat and can save you money in the long run. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing up to the maximum height and weight limit that are set by their car seat manufacturer or until they reach at minimum two years old. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before age two however, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier. infant car seat uk www.pushchairsandprams.uk to keep it in the rear for a while. Weight Limits You should be aware that all infant car seats have weight and height restrictions. The majority of infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of about 30 inches, depending on the model. Once your child reaches the limit, you are able to move up to the next level of safety. You can opt for an adjustable seat that allows your child to be forward or rear-facing, or an all-in one car seat. Apart from the weight and height limit, there are other factors that indicate your child is prepared for the next phase of a car seat, such as their comfort level while sitting rear facing. You can identify these signs by observing your child's behavior and looking at 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 often run by local government or community organizations. Keeping your infant rear facing as long as possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why parents are hesitant to turn their kids around until they're mature. However, you can avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's car seat is correctly installed and you don't rush to transition to a forward-facing one too soon, even if they're close to the weight or height limits of their current car seat. If you're unsure whether your child is ready for the next stage in their car seat or you're worried you might not have installed their current car seat correctly contact a certified child safety technician. They are available through community groups and hospitals and local government offices and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile that will visit your workplace or home to help ensure you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly. Installation Installing a car seat correctly is essential for its effectiveness. The NHTSA reports, sadly, that more than half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are correctly installed is to read through the instructions, and after that, have them examined by a certified car safety technician. Checking the angle is the first step in installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight. It is also important to ensure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle in the seat. The forward-facing position can cause pressure on the neck and spine of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing crash the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord. When your baby is at the weight or height limit of their car seat for infants, it is time to switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that can be used in the rear-facing position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase a new infant car seat with a higher rear-facing limit if you decide to switch to this type of seat, since older models have lower limits. If you opt for an infant car seat that is able to be removed from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is a great choice for parents who wish to get their infants in and out of the car regularly. It can be difficult and time-consuming to move your stroller and car seat into and out of the vehicle every time, especially in the case of a newborn. 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 time.