Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride facing forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child reaches their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum requirement for a new car seat). Please review your instructions for your car seat.
Safety
Infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position also helps prevent your child from hitting their head against the back of the seat, which could result in serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The most suitable infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you choose the ideal angle for your child's neck to stop it from slipping over during collisions. The top tether strap is attached to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top. It is important to remember that you might not have to switch your child to a forward-facing car seat until he / is at the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.
When your child is 20 pounds and one year old, it's time to change. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). When children younger than 1 year are riding rear-facing their head is cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can strain their necks.
When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all in-one that has a high rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements, which usually means about age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the video is slow-motion. If a child moves too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your infant to ride comfortably and stay secure during a crash. The seat has a soft headrest, a cushion for body support and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from a collision. The seat comes with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with a single pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your baby from the sunlight. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt to ensure security. It also includes a locking clip which keeps the buckle in place when the seat is not in use.
If your child is complaining of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward when sleeping the angle of the seat might be too low for them. You can remedy this by placing tightly folded towels under the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this does not work, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
It is crucial to remember that children aren't ready to face forward until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough to withstand the force that is applied to them by a collision if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend taking longer to wait because the bones and muscles of children are more flexible.
Many parents decide to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows them to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat longer, and makes it more convenient for parents because they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child outgrows it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lbs) as well as a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option when you're traveling with a toddler. It allows you to see your child's view while driving, and allows everyone else in the family to get into the vehicle without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller which makes it easier to carry your child in and out of the car for trips to the store for groceries or other tasks.
But, even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. From the perspective of crash tests, children's head is more secure in a crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- including the head neck, torso, and head is held by the seat's back when they are facing in this direction.
You'll want to check the instructions provided by the manufacturer on the best time to change your child's car seat around. They will often have the weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of your child as they develop.
You should also consider whether your vehicle is equipped with anchors for tethers. If yes, you must ensure that the strap is properly fitted and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the seat's manual. The last thing to do is ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or just below their shoulders, and are not too low or high. This will affect how they are secured in the event of an accident.
A good choice for parents with more than one child or plan to have more, is a convertible car seat. It is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The car seat for your baby was a must for your little one and you spent much time deciding the best one. As your child grows older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you may wonder if it is time to flip the seat around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are several important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
You should also be aware that children are different in size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide when to switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their limit of legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet.
It is recommended to keep your child rear facing until they reach one year old, and some infant car seat s have an integrated reminder to ensure they remain there. This is due to the fact that children younger than one year old do not have the strength of their neck muscles to withstand the force of a collision with a car in front, which could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure and secure, many infant car seats have convenient features that make them simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap in and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller and back. They are often part the travel system.
If you are ready to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of the car seat. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back and the harness straps should be at or above your child's shoulders. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, you can contact an accredited safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.