Is Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Really As Vital As Everyone Says?

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 transferred to the car seat facing forward when they reach the limit of their weight and height in their current seat.

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Safety Benefits

Rear-facing infant car seats are the safest choice for newborns and small babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their necks and heads. "Since their spines aren't fully been ossified, it's crucial to keep the impact of a collision off their necks and heads," explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head could hit the seat in front of them, causing whiplash effects that can be severe or fatal. In a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorbed by the seat, and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of the child can be placed into the car seat to keep them from being thrown into the back of front seat or any other surface in the vehicle. "This stops them from hitting their own body, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents are against ERF because they fear that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. This is not the case for my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting rear-facing as the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book or watch TV while he does so.

If you have children who are hesitant to face the rear due to their leg length or for other reasons, convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat as long as the height or weight limits are not exceeded.

Also, be sure to secure your child into a rear-facing car seat by using the vehicle's lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats, as these can be compressed in a crash and cause the harness straps to loosen and place your child at risk of injuries. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats facing rear for as long as is possible, as they are easy to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a bassinet or crib at nap or bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which isn't optimal. However, the security advantages of rear facing far outweigh any discomfort.

Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants which means that the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps to reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is especially crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones and aren't fully ossedified from pregnancy or birth.

In addition the rear-facing position offers a much better view of your baby than the forward-facing position. This lets you easily monitor their behavior and ensure that they are happy and comfortable. The majority of infant car seats come with built-in mirrors that can be adjusted to ensure that you can see your child at any angle.

You can use a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the recommended weight or height limit. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats, meaning they can be used longer.

Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are well-known for their versatility. They can be used forward-facing, rear-facing or as belt positioning boosters. They are also simpler to install and remove because they have a large base that is located at the rear of your vehicle. They are more expensive than the infant car seats that can be used once, but they'll last longer and will save you money over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer or until they reach at least two years old. Many children are outgrowing their rear-facing infant seat before the age of two, but don't be tempted to change them earlier. It's safer to wait.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats have weight and height limits that you need to be aware of. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of about 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child is at the limits, you can move to the next level of security. You can either choose a convertible seat that permits your child to be rear-facing or forward-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

There are other factors apart from the weight and height limits, that can tell you whether your child is able to move up a stage in the car seat. One of these is their level of comfort when riding backwards. You can look for these signs by observing your kiddo's behavior and looking at other children of similar age in their carseats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is typically run by local government or community organizations.

Keep your infant rear-facing as long as possible is the best option for them, and it's easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to turn their kids around until they're completely grown. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's seat is properly installed and you do not rush to change to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're not close to the weight or height limits of the car seat they're currently in.

infant car seat in front seat  can reach a certified child passenger technician if you have questions about your child's readiness for the next phase of car seats or if you are worried that you might not be installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community groups such as hospitals and local government offices and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or contact your local public health or safety department. There are also mobile car seat check events which can come to your home or workplace to ensure that you have the correct equipment and are using it correctly.

Installation

A car seat needs to be installed correctly to be effective. Sadly, the NHTSA estimates that more than half of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to be sure that your infant car seats are installed correctly is to read the instructions, and then have them assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.

The first step when installing a rear facing infant car seat is to check the angle. Make sure the car seat base is set at a suitable angle for your baby's weight and height. You can check this on the indicator on the back of the base or in its user manual.

It is also important to ensure that the baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. The forward-facing position can put pressure on the neck and spine of infants with their large heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs, a car seat's back absorbs the majority of the crash force. This helps protect the baby's neck and 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 an all-in-one car seat. These can be used in a rear-facing position up to the front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, be sure that the new model has a higher rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you select an infant car seat that can be removed from the car, and then re-attached to a stroller, this is an ideal option for parents who wish to get their infants in and out of the car often. The only drawback is that it can be time-consuming and difficult to maneuver the car seat and stroller in and out of your car each time, especially with a newborn. This could be a good choice for many families who are willing to spend the time to make it happen every time. Be sure to think ahead and pick a date when you have plenty of time to spare.