Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year shouldn't ride facing forward. In a crash their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries.
Instead, switch to FF when your child is at the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for the new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck 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 can cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant car seat for travel seats feature five-point harnesses that can secure the child by pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing EPS for better impact protection. Some also have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best car seats for infants infant car seats include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to set the correct angle of your child's head to stop them from flopping over in a collision. The seat also comes with an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat. It then hooks to the tether anchor within your vehicle. It is important to remember that you may not need to move your child from a forward facing car seat until is at the maximum weight and height listed in the instruction manual for the seat.
When your child is 20 pounds and one year old is the right time to switch. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal crash (the most frequent and serious type). When children younger than 1 year are riding backwards their heads are protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.
When children transition to an forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat with a high rear-facing weight and a height limit. The child shouldn't be moved into the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. You can notice the differences in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, but remember that the video is slow-motion. If a child is moving too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat keeps your baby safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat has a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from any impact. The seat also has five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy will protect your child from the sun. For your safety, the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle's seat belt and has an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your infant complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to slump forward during sleep the seat's angle may be too low for the child. You can remedy this by putting tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this still doesn't help you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.
It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't yet ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force that would be applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer since the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable.
Many parents decide to purchase a convertible seat that allows their children to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It is also easier for parents as they can easily switch their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat provides your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.
Convenience
When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent choice. It lets you view your child while driving and allows the rest of the family to ride in the car without disturbing your infant or toddler. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier for you to get your child into and out of the vehicle when going to the store or doing other chores.
But, even if your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. If you view it from the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body, including the head, neck and torso is held in the rear of the car seat.
You'll want to check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine the best car seats time to change the car seat of your child around. You'll see that they have an upper and lower limit, as well as specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap position. These rules are designed to safeguard your child as they grow.
You should also think about whether your vehicle comes with anchors for tethers. If so, ensure that the tether is installed and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or just below their shoulders, but not too low or high. This can affect how they're restrained during the event of a crash.
A good choice for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more is convertible car seats. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then moved to a forward-facing seat once your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
You've spent a lot of time and effort deciding on the perfect baby car seat for your child. As your child gets older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's time to turn the seat around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety factors to consider. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
It is important to remember that children are very different in terms of size and age, therefore you shouldn't base when to switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their maximum legroom. A child may appear bigger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, since their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.
Some infant car seats have an alarm that reminds you to keep your child rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats come with convenient features that make them easy to use. They include bases that are in the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your child from car to stroller or back, and they often pair with a frame stroller as part of the travel system.
If you're ready to move your child to forward-facing convertible car seats, be sure to follow all the instructions of the manufacturer and then examining the car seat for tightness. When installed properly the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch side to side or front to back, and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns ask an accredited car seat safety technician in your region or contact the manufacturer of your car seat.