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What Is Infant Car Seat Rear Facing And Why Is Everyone Dissing It?
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in an infant car seat facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be moved to a car seat that faces forward once they have reached the maximum weight and height of their existing seat.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the best option for newborns and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their neck and head. "Since their spines aren't ossified yet, it's important to keep the force of a crash off their necks and heads" explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash, the baby's head is likely to strike the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that is extremely painful or even fatal. However, with 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 secured into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward by the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. "This prevents a collision with the inside of their own bodies, which causes internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents avoid ERF because they believe their child will be uncomfortable or bored. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. He prefers to sit 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 due to of leg length or other reasons Try to convince them that it's the safest way for them to travel. Explain that they can remain in their convertible or all-in-one seats provided they don't exceed the height and weight limits set by the seat manufacturer.
Also, make sure to secure your child into a rear-facing car seat by using the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't allow them to wear bulky clothes, such as winter coats, since they could be swollen in a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen and put your child at risk of injury. Always perform the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats facing rear for as long as is possible, as they are a breeze to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, they may need to be put in a crib or bassinet at nap or time to sleep. This could mean waking the baby who is sleeping which is not optimal. The safety benefits of rear-facing outweigh the inconvenience, however.
The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term babies. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth.
The rear-facing position allows you to see your baby better than when they are facing forward. This allows you to easily observe their behavior and ensure they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to view your child from virtually any angle.
You can utilize a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their recommended weight or height limit. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only seats that allow them to be used for a longer period of time.
Convertible car seats or all-in one seats are known as versatile. best car seats for infants can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easy to remove and install due to their large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. They're more expensive than single-use infant car seats but they last much longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height limits set by their car seat manufacturer or at least 2 years older. It is common for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat by the time they turn two years old. However, it's better to wait.
Weight Limits
All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you have to keep in mind. The majority of infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and the height limit is around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child is at the limit, you are able to move to the next level of security. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to sit rear-facing or forward-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 step in a car seat, such as their level of comfort while sitting rear facing. You can find these signs in your child's behavior and compare it to other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also ask for help from certified child passenger safety technicians at a car seat inspection station which are often operated by local government agencies or community-based organizations.
It's ideal to keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can. This is the reason why many parents wait until their children are grown before turning them around. However, you can avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's seat is properly installed and you don't rush to switch them to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're close to the limits on weight or height 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 that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly Contact a certified child safety technician. These experts are available through community organizations, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can locate one close to you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your office or home to make sure you have the right equipment and are using them correctly.
Installation
A car seat needs to be installed correctly in order to be effective. The NHTSA reports, sadly, that almost half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best method to make sure that your infant car seats are installed correctly is to read through the manual, and after that, have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.
The first step in installing a rear-facing infant car seat is to test the angle. Make sure that the base of the car seat is in a safe position for the weight of your baby, which you can find on the indicator on the side of the car seat base or in its user's manual.
Also, ensure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. Forward-facing positions can cause pressure on the neck and spine of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. In a rear-facing collision the back of the car seat absorbs most of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.
When your child is at the weight or height limit of the infant car seat it's time to change over to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. They can be used in a rear-facing orientation until the front-facing limit. Make sure you purchase a new infant car seat with an increased rear-facing limit when you switch to this type of seat because older models have lower limits.
Parents who frequently transport their children by car will find it convenient to pick an infant car seat that is able to be removed and connected to strollers. It can be challenging and time-consuming to maneuver your car seat and stroller into and out of the vehicle on a regular basis, especially if you have a newborn. This could be a good choice for many families when they are willing to take the time to get it right every time. Plan ahead and pick a day that you have plenty of time.