Rear Facing Infant Car Seat A rear-facing infant seat absorbs the force of impact during a crash, and protects your child's neck and head. They also prevent your child's legs away from hitting the front of the carseat in the event of a crash, which could cause serious injury or even death. All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height of the car seat manufacturer. This includes both convertible seats as well as specific infant car seats. https://www.pushchairsandprams.uk/categories/baby-car-seats -facing infant car seats are specifically designed for newborns and infants who are smaller. A rear-facing infant car seat is a particular type of child car seat that only has a rear-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and smaller infants, typically up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than other car seats. They are great for cars with small trunks and make it easier to store them on the back of the car. In addition, most baby car seats can be snapped into strollers to make traveling with a baby much easier. Rear-facing infant car seats are also recommended for preemies and babies born before 37 weeks gestation. They offer more room and more comfort than standard car seats, which can be difficult for a very small baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat provides more head and cervical support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can help protect babies and preemies in a crash. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain in the rear until they reach their maximum weight and height for the car seat or at around two years old. This is because the spine of children will be stronger in this position and can prevent injuries to the spine. Additionally, it's important to remember that infants and younger children are more prone to suffering serious injuries in front-facing collisions. In the event of an accident, the rear-facing seat will absorb the bulk of the impact, protecting the baby's neck, head and spine. When the child is in a seat that is forward-facing, their heads, which are large, can be thrown against the vehicle's dashboard or console, causing serious injuries. Many parents believe that their child is ready for the transition to the booster seat or forward-facing car seat at around age two. This is a huge error. Recent research published in BMJ injury prevention have shown that it is safer for children to sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child stays rear-facing, the more their cervical vertebrae grow and ossify. They are simple to put in and take down. Most rear-facing infant car seat come with a snap-on base that can be removed from your car when not in use. This is a useful feature that lets parents secure the child in their car seat without having to get out of the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or the night when it's more difficult. It is also easy to switch between cars and allow parents or other caregivers access the child's car seat. When your child has outgrown their car seat for infants in height and weight then it's time to move to a booster or convertible. It's important to keep it in mind that children are safer if they are rear-facing for as long as is possible. In fact, it is recommended by many safety experts that children use rear-facing car seats until their second birthday or at the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat. In a frontal crash a baby riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the forces in an accident by absorbing them on their neck, head, and the spine. However, when a child rides forward-facing, their head is being pushed forward due to the force of the crash and could cause a stretch in their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death. If you are concerned about your child's safety when facing rearwards, make sure they are warm with blankets. Avoid placing a loose blanket behind or underneath them. Likewise, be careful about dressing them in bulky outerwear that could interfere with the tightness of the harness. The last thing to do is ensure that the chest clip is positioned flat against the shoulder and that the harness straps are free of slack. Many experts in child safety believe that if children sit in rear-facing car seats longer they'll be five times more secure in the event of a crash. This is due to the fact that in a crash, kids' heads are large for their bodies - may be thrown forward by force that is normally taken up by their torsos and necks. Rear-facing seats provide cushioning for the head of the child and protect them from serious injuries. They guard the neck and head of your child. In the event of an accident, the neck and spinal cord of a child in a rear-facing car seat is cradled by the back of the seat. This is important because in a frontal collision (the most common type of car crash) infants who are facing forward in cars are thrown from the dashboard, which can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are cradled by the back of their car seat, and their heads are padded and supported by the headrest. Infants also have a significantly easier breathing experience when they are sitting in a rear-facing car seat because their chin is placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the chin may be pulled down and this can make it difficult for children to breathe. Kids who doze off in front-facing cars are 75% more likely than those who sleep in a rear-facing seat to sustain an injury to their head. Another important factor to consider is that a baby's brain and spine are still developing, which makes them more vulnerable in the event of a crash. In the event of a crash that involves an infant positioned forward the head of the child could hit the buckle on the dashboard or the seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to become stretched and could result in serious injury or even death. It is crucial to ensure that your child is in a rearward-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. Some infant car seats come with a special insert to support the baby's head. When a child has outgrown it, the insert can be removed. A majority of car seats have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the impact of a collision. This is important since it minimizes the impact to your child and could stop them from being thrown from their seat. The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the height and weight limit for their particular car seat. Once they reach that point it, they should be moved to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat which can be used rear facing and converted to forward facing as they increase in height. They are easy to clean. All car seats, no matter if they are convertibles or all-in one car seats are able to be removed quickly and easily. They often snap directly into frame strollers and travel systems for errands on the go, which makes life so much easier! These seats are easy to clean. Many come with machine-washable covers as well as parts that are removable and can be washed in a washer and dryer. This is essential, particularly if you have children who can be messy. In the case of an accident, the position of the rear will protect the child's neck and head. This is particularly crucial for children who are just starting out. Their heads are full of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than adult ones. When they collide their head can be able to snap backwards and stretch their spinal cords, result in severe injuries. This is one reason why many auto safety experts suggest keeping children rear-facing as long as possible. Although it's tempting to put your child into booster seats when they appear ready however, each front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they have in a crash. In a front-facing crash, their heads would be thrown forward and hit by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, thereby increasing the chance of injury. The ideal is for children to ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight for rear-facing or the maximum height for their seat, or until they reach the age of 2. If you're unsure if your child should be transitioning from the rear-facing seat, contact a CPST certified person in your area for help. They can help you determine the ideal age at which your child can turn around, as well as ensure they're riding correctly and safely in their seat. Many parents mistakenly believe that they have outgrown their car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. There are a myriad of aspects to take into consideration, including the size of your car as well as your child's unique shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is not over the top of the seat. For more information about recline safety, refer to your car seat manual and the owner's manual for your vehicle.