Learn About Infant Car Seat Rear Facing When You Work From At Home
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keeping your child in a car seat for infants facing rearwards is the most secure option. Children should only be moved to an infant car seat that faces forward when they reach the maximum weight and height of the seat they are currently in.
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Safety Benefits
Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their head and neck. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines are not yet fully ossed, it is crucial to keep the force of the crash away from their necks and head. In a frontal collision the baby's head can strike the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that is extremely painful or even fatal. In a rear-facing car seat the impact is absorption by the seat and then dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. "It's like a hug," says Adele. The legs of a child can be tucked in the car seat to protect them from being thrown against the back of front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This keeps them from colliding with the inside of their own bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents resist ERF because they fear their child is bored or uncomfortable. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting rear-facing, because the seat reclines and 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 length of legs or other reasons convince them that this is the best option. Explain that the child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat so long as the height or weight limit is not exceeded.
Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing seat using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a tight fit.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can because they are a breeze to use and more portable than convertible car seats. If you choose to keep your child rear-facing, they might require being placed in a crib or a bassinet for nap or bedtime. This could mean waking the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. The security advantages of rear-facing overshadow the inconvenience, however.
The headrest is lower for preemies and newborns than for full-term infants. This helps to reduce the force of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies who have weaker bones and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.
In addition the rear-facing position gives an excellent view of your baby than the forward-facing position. forward facing infant car seat pushchairsandprams.uk lets you easily monitor their behavior and ensure they are content and happy. Many baby car seats have built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from almost any angle.
You can use convertible car seats or an all-in one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach their recommended weight or height limit. Some models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only seats that means they are able to be used for longer.
All-in-one or convertible car seats are well-known for their flexibility. They can be used backward facing or forward facing and as belt-positioning boosters. They typically also have a larger base in the back of your car which makes them easy to set up and remove. These seats are more expensive than infant car seats that can be used only once, but they'll last longer and save money over the course of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limit that are set by the car seat manufacturer, or until they are at least two years old. Many children grow out of their rear-facing infant car seat before age two however, don't be enticed to turn them around earlier -- it's safer to be patient.
Weight Limits
You should be aware that all car seats for infants come with weight and height restrictions. Most infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and the height limit is around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's time to move to the next stage of safety. You can choose a convertible car seat that can be switched between forward and rear facing, or an all-in-one seat that lets your child ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer.
There are other aspects apart from the weight and height limit that can indicate whether your child is able to go up a level in the car seat. One of them is their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can check for these indicators by observing your kiddo's behavior and comparing them to other children of similar age in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually run by local government or community groups.
It is ideal to keep your infant rear-facing as long as you can. This is why many parents wait until their children are fully mature before they switch them over. But you can still avoid this temptation by making sure that your child's car seat is correctly 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 the car seat they're currently in.
You can contact a certified child passenger technician if you have any concerns about your child's readiness to move on to the next level of car seats or if you're concerned that you may not be installing the car seat correctly. These experts are available through community groups, local government offices, and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or contact your local public health department or safety agency. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your home or office to make sure you have the correct equipment and that you are using them correctly.
Installation
A car seat must be properly installed to be efficient. Sadly the NHTSA states that nearly 50% of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to be sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read the manual, then have them professionally examined by a certified car safety technician.
Verifying the angle is the first step to installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. Make sure the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child and height. You can check this 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 positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks and the forward-facing position could cause pressure on their neck and spine during a crash. In a rear-facing collision the back of the car seat absorbs most of the crash force, which protects the baby's delicate neck and spinal cord.
Once your baby has reached the weight limit or height of the car seat they were in as infants, it is time to switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, which can be used in a rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with a higher rear-facing limit if you switch to this type of seat, as older models have lower limits.
If you choose an infant car seat that can be detached from the car, and then re-attached to a stroller, this is a great option for parents who wish to transport their infants in and out of the car often. It can be difficult and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle on a regular basis, especially when you have a baby. However, if you are willing to spend the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a great option for many families. Make sure to plan ahead and select the day that you have plenty of time to spare.