Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride in a forward-facing. In a crash, their neck muscles may be stretched and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead when your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum required for a new car seat). Please review your car seat instructions.
Safety
In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries.
All infant car seats with a forward-facing view have five-point harnesses to secure the child with one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for enhanced protection from impact. Some also have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats will come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This lets you set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in the event of collisions. The seat also comes with the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep it in mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you're using.
It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and a year. Infants 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 prone to suffer serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and severe type). When children younger than 1 year ride rear-facing their heads are cushioned by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can cause neck strain.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight and height limit. The child shouldn't be able to move into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is usually between 4 and 5 years old. It is evident the difference in these seats when you look at these crash videos, but remember that the video is slowed down. If a child is moving too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, a cushion for body support and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from any impact. The seat is equipped with a five-point safety harness that can be tightened with a single pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy shields your child from sun. To ensure safety the seat is designed to lock with the vehicle's seat belt and has an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle securely fastened when not in use.
If your infant complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to lean forward during sleep the seat's angle might be too low for them. You can fix this by putting tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this still doesn't help then you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us examine the angle of their car seat.
It is vital to keep in mind that children are not ready to take on the world until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds AND one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand the force applied to them by a collision should they fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, as the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults.
Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that allows their children to 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 longer, and makes it more convenient for parents since they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child outgrows it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lbs), to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lb). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
A forward-facing infant car seat is a fantastic option when you're traveling with a toddler. It allows you to watch your child as you drive and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier to get your child in and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or doing other errands.
But remember, even if your child is old enough to move to a forward-facing car seat it's safer to keep them rear-facing for the longest time possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash test results, a child's head is more protected in a frontal crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body including the head, neck and torso, are cradled in the car seat's rear.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate your child's seat. You'll find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well specific rules about things like the crotch strap's location. These limits are intended to protect your child's safety as they grow.
You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure that the strap is correctly installed and connected to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the seat's manual. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are just above your child's shoulders and not too low or high, as this will affect how well they are secured in the event of the event of a crash.
An excellent option for parents who have 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 weight or height limits of the rear-facing position.
Style
The baby car seat was a must-have item for your little one and you spent many hours deciding the best one. As pushchairsandprams grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you may be wondering if it's the right time to change them.
While the idea of having your child face forward can be thrilling, there are important safety considerations you should be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.
Be aware 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 limit of legroom. Children may appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe to turn around, as their spine and bones aren'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 younger than one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision, which can cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure, many infant car seats come with practical features that make them easy to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to carry your child from car to stroller or back to the car and often with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system.
If you are ready to transition 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 and check the tightness of your car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side, or front to rear, when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed over the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, contact a certified safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of the car seat.