Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure way to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be moved to an forward-facing car seat when they reach the height and weight limits of their current seat.

Remember that the body paragraphs are structured like a hamburger. The introduction and the conclusion sentences are the top and bottom buns. The bulk of the essay are the body paragraphs supporting it.

Safety Benefits

The use of a car seat for infants rear facing is the most secure option for infants and newborns because of the way it cradles and supports their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines aren't yet ossified, it's crucial to keep the force of a crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal crash the head of a child would strike the seat in front of them, causing whiplash that could be severe or fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is taken up by the seat, and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be secured in the car seat to protect them from being thrown into the back of the front seat or any other surface in the vehicle. "This helps to prevent collisions with the inside of their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents resist ERF because they believe their child will be uncomfortable or bored. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers sitting rear-facing since the seat reclines, which allows him to read, or watch TV while doing it.

However, if you have a child that is resistant to being in a rear-facing seat because of leg length or other factors Try to convince them that it's the safest option for them to travel. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat so long as the height or weight limits are not over.

Also, be certain to strap your child in a rear-facing car seat with the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress in the event of a crash, making the harness straps to become loose. 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 keeping infant car seats facing rear as long as possible because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a crib or a bassinet during nap time or time to sleep. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which is not the best option. The benefits of rear-facing outweigh the inconvenience, however.

The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term infants. This reduces the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is crucial for premature infants, with bones that aren't strong enough and have not been ossified since birth or pregnancy.

In addition the rear-facing position offers an excellent view of your child than facing forward. This lets you easily observe their behavior and ensure that they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted to ensure that you can view your child from any angle.

When your child is no longer in their infant car seat rear facing car seat, or is at the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of their seat, you can switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats which means they can be used for longer.

Convertible or all-in-one car seats are well-known for their versatility. They can be used backward facing or forward facing, as well as belt-positioning boosters. They usually 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 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 the car seat manufacturer, or until they are at minimum two years old. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before the age of two however, don't be enticed to switch them around earlier. It's better to wait.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits you need to keep in mind. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child has reached the limit, you can proceed to the next level of security. You can opt for an adjustable seat that allows your child to sit forward or rear-facing, or an all-in one car seat.

There are other aspects apart from the weight and height limit, that can indicate if your child is ready to make the next step in a car seat. One of them is their comfort level when riding rear-facing. You can identify these indicators by observing your child's behavior and looking at other children of similar age in their carseats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually operated by local government or community organizations.

It's best to keep your infant rear-facing as long as you can. This is why a lot of parents wait until their children are fully mature before allowing them to turn around. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure your child's car seat is installed correctly and don't switch them to a front-facing car seat before they're ready even when their weight or height is within the limits of their current seat.

You can reach a certified child passenger technician if there are any concerns regarding your child's ability to be ready for the next phase of car seats or if you are concerned that you may not be installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community organizations, local government offices, and child safety programs. You can locate one near you by searching online or calling your local health department or public safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile that will visit your workplace or home to ensure that you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

Installing a car seat correctly is crucial to its effectiveness. Unfortunately the NHTSA reports that almost 50% of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your infant car seat is properly installed is to read the manual and have it examined by a certified car safety technician.

The first step in installing an infant rear facing car seat is to test the angle. 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.

You should also make sure that the lightweight baby car seat's head is properly positioned in the seat. The forward-facing position could put pressure on the spine and neck of infants with their large heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing collision, a car seat's back absorbs the majority of the crash force. This protects the lightweight baby car seat’s neck and the spinal cord.

When your child is at the weight limit or height of the infant car seat it is time to switch over to a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing position to the front-facing limit. Make sure to purchase an infant car seat that has more rear-facing capacity if you switch to this type of seat, as older models have lower limits.

Parents who frequently transport their children by car will appreciate the ability to pick an infant car seat that is able to be removed and connected to strollers. The only downside to this is that it can be a hassle and time-consuming to get the stroller and car seat newborn seat into and out of your vehicle every time, especially for a newborn. This is a great option for a lot of families when they are willing to take the time to do it right each time. Make sure you plan ahead and select a day when you will have plenty of time to spare.