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10 Tips For Getting The Most Value From Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead of FF when your child is at the maximum weight of their current seat or height (or the minimum requirement for the new car seat). Please review your instructions for the car seat.
Safety
In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's neck and head. The forward-facing position could assist in preventing your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, that allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head to stop them from flopping over in the event of a collision. The seat also has a top tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It is important to remember that you might not have to move your child from an forward-facing car seat until he / attains the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.
When your child is 20 lbs and a year old is over, it's time to make the switch. Children and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and severe type). Rear-facing car seats safeguard the necks of children less than one year old by cushioning their head.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible seat or an all-in-one with a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat which is usually at around the age of 4 or 5. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the carseats. But keep in mind that the footage has been slowed down. A child can be injured when they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your baby to ride in comfort and be secure in the event of a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any impacts. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness which can be adjusted with a single pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from sun. The seat can be locked to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure security. It also comes with a clip to lock the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't being used.
If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward when sleeping, the seat's angle might be too low for the child. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this still doesn't help you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their carseat.
Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash should they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer, since the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that lets their infants travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for longer and is easier for parents as they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child outgrows it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use with only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the harness and headrest together without the need to re-thread.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young infant, a forward-facing infant car seat can be an excellent choice. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the other members of your family can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seats can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier to get your child into and out of the vehicle while you are at the grocery store or doing other chores.
Even even if your child is the age at which they can change their car seat to one that faces forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is better protected in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is because the whole body -- head as well as neck and torso is held by the back of the car seat when they face in this direction.
You'll want to check the instructions provided by the manufacturer on when you can change the car seat of your child around. There will be an upper weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed and also specific rules regarding things like the crotch buckle's position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child as they grow.
You should also think about whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the seat's manual. Also, make sure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are on or below their shoulders, and not too low or high. This can affect how they're secured during an accident.
An excellent option for parents with several children or are planning to have more is a convertible car seat. It is a one-stop car seat that starts by being an infant car seat facing rear and then transition your child to a forward-facing seat once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing position of the car seat.
Style
You've put in a lot of time and effort deciding on the best baby car seat for your child. As your child grows and outgrows their infant car seat you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are some important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limitations.
It is important to remember that children are very different in size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on a specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their legroom limit. good infant car seats may appear that a child is larger in a rear facing car seat, but this doesn't mean that it's safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.
It's recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they are at least one year old, and some infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is because children younger than one do not have strong enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force that could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats have useful features that make them simple to use. These include bases that remain connected to the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your child from stroller to car and back and often with a frame stroller as part of an overall travel system.
If you are ready to move your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, ensure that you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side, or front to rear, when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.