10 Facts About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat That Can Instantly Put You In Good Mood
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride facing forward. In a crash their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead change to FF when your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of their current seat (or the minimums required for the new seat). Please review your car seat instructions.
Safety
In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck to prevent it from flopping over in the event of a collision. The top tether strap is connected to the vehicle's tether anchor and comes from the top. It is important to remember that you might not have to move your child from an forward-facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual for the seat.
When your child reaches 20 lbs and one year is over, it's time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash if involved in an accident. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they are in a frontal crash (the most frequent and severe type). When kids under 1 year are riding backwards their heads are cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that could strain their necks.
When kids move to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or all-in-one seat 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 booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between the two carseats. But keep in mind that the video has been slowed. Children can be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your child to ride comfortably and be secure in an accident. The seat has a comfortable headrest and body support cushion as well as an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from impact. The seat also features five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening and a movable front center adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy will shield your child from the sun. For safety the seat is designed to be locked by the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your child complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward when sleeping, it may be because the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be corrected by placing tightly rolled towel under the front of your car seat. If this still doesn't help you can take your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to take the force of a collision in the event that they fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents decide to buy a convertible car seat which allows their infants to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets them enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for longer, and makes it more convenient for parents because they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child is no longer in the position.
The 4Ever Convertible Car Seat from Graco is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lb) and then to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lb). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, without re-threading.
Convenience
A forward facing infant car seat is a fantastic option if you're traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to watch your child while driving and the rest of your family can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seats can be used with strollers which makes it much easier to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or doing other tasks.
Even when your child is at the age that they are able to change their car seat to one that is forward-facing, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing seat for as long as you can. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- head as well as neck and torso is held by the seat's back when they're facing in this direction.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see the time you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll find that they have the maximum height and weight limit, and also specific rules about things like the crotch strap's location. These limits are meant to protect your child's safety as they develop.
You should also consider whether your vehicle has Tether anchors. If so, make sure that the strap is correctly installed and tied to the vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the manual of the seat. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high because this can impact how well they're restrained in an accident.
A convertible car seat is a great option for parents with multiple children or who plan to have more. This is a complete car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat and then transition your child to a forward-facing seat when they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position in the car seat.
Style
You've put in a lot of time and effort choosing the perfect baby car seat for your child. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety considerations to keep in mind. infant carrier seat should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat.
Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you think they have reached their maximum amount of legroom. It might appear that a child is bigger in a rear facing car seat, but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn the child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles to take a direct hit, which could result in serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats are not only safe, but they are also simple to use. Some of them have 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 the travel system.
If you're about to transition your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and check the fit of the car seat. If it's installed correctly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch from side to side or from front to back and the harness straps must be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, contact a certified safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.