Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year old are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles that are weak could stretch and cause serious injuries. Switch to FF instead of FF when your child reaches the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum required for the new car seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully. Safety In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child. The forward-facing position can also prevent your child from hitting their head on the back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries. All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses. They ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun. The most suitable infant car seats include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This allows you to choose the ideal angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over in the event of a collision. The top tether strap connects to the tether anchor on the vehicle and comes from the top. Be aware that you may not need to change your child's seat to a forward facing car seat until he / attains the maximum weight and height as stated in the manual of the seat. It's the time to switch to a different model when your child reaches 20 pounds and a year. Toddlers and babies under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their head. When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they should remain in a convertible or all-in-one seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit. The child should not be placed in the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. You can see the difference in these carseats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the footage is slow-motion. Children can be injured in the event that they move too fast. Comfort A forward facing infant car seat allows your child to enjoy a comfortable ride and remain safe during the event of a crash. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps protect your child from impact. The seat has a five-point safety harness which can be adjusted with only one pull, and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy protects your baby from the sunlight. The seat can be secured to the vehicle seat belt to ensure safety. It also has a clip to lock the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't being used. If your child complains of discomfort or appears to be slouching forward while sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat. Remember that children should not face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force of a collision, if they were to fall to their front on their own. Some experts suggest taking longer to wait as the bones and muscles of children are more malleable. Many parents decide to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for parents as they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat usage with only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the headrest and harness together without the need to re-thread. Convenience A forward facing infant car seat is a great option if you're traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier to get your child in and out of the car when you go to the store or doing other errands. But that even if your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat, it's best to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. From the standpoint of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body, including the neck, head and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear. Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine the time you can rotate the seat of your child. You will find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well as specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's position. These rules are designed to protect your child as they grow. Another thing to think about is whether you own a vehicle that has tether anchors for your car seat. If you do, make sure the tether strap is properly installed and connected to the vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the manual for your seat. Lastly, you'll want to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are just above your child's shoulders and not too high or low because this can impact how well they're secured in a crash. A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat, and then changed to a forward facing seat when your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position. Style You've put in a lot of time and effort in choosing the right car seat for your child. As they grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you may be wondering when it's time to change them. While the idea of letting 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 some specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their maximum legroom. A child might appear larger in the rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed. It is recommended that you keep your child rear facing until they reach one year old. certain infant car seats come with a built-in reminder to keep them there. This is because kids under one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which can cause serious spinal injuries. Many infant car seats aren't just secure, but also simple to use. These include bases that remain connected to the car and snap out and in to allow you to carry your baby from car to stroller or back and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system. If you're ready to transition your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, make sure you adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer and check the tightness of your car seat. The car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side or from front to back, when installed correctly. The harness straps must be placed over the shoulders of your child. If https://www.pushchairsandprams.uk/categories/baby-car-seats have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of your car seat.