Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing The most secure method to keep your child in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to an infant car seat that faces forward when they reach the weight and height limits of their current seat. Remember that the body paragraphs are arranged as the hamburger. The introduction and the conclusion sentences are the top and bottom buns. The body paragraphs supporting it are the meat of your essay. Safety Benefits Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for newborns and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. "Since their spines aren't fully ossified yet, it's important to keep the force of a crash off their necks and heads," says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal crash, the baby's head will hit the seat in front of them. This can cause a whiplash that is extremely painful or even fatal. However, with the rear-facing car seat the impact is taken up by the seat and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The legs of a child can be secured in the car seat to prevent them from being thrown into the back of front seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This prevents them from hitting their own body, which could cause internal injuries," she explains. Many parents are opposed to ERF because they fear that their child will be bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact, he prefers to ride rear-facing since the recline feature allows him to cross his legs and read a book or watch tv. If you have children who are hesitant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or other reasons convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in-one car seats as long as they don't exceed the height or weight limits set by the seat manufacturer. Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit. Convenience Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can because they are simple to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, they may require being placed in a crib or bassinet at nap or bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which is not ideal. However, the safety advantages of rear facing far outweigh any inconvenience. Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term newborns which means that the headrest of their car seat is lower. This reduces the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders instead of at their necks. This is especially important for premature babies, who have weaker bones and still aren't fully ossedified from pregnancy or birth. The position that faces the rear allows you to observe your baby more clearly than when they are facing forward. This lets you easily observe their behavior and ensure they are content and happy. The majority of baby car seats have a built-in baby mirror that can be adjusted to allow you to view your child from almost any angle. You can utilize a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Some models even have higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars that means they are able to be used for longer. Convertible or all-in-one car seats are known for their flexibility. They can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They typically also have a larger base in the back of your vehicle making them easier to install and remove. They are more expensive than car seats for infants that can be used only once, but they'll last longer and save you money over time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limit that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat and up to at least two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat before they turn two years old. However, it's better to wait. https://www.pushchairsandprams.uk/categories/baby-car-seats should be aware that all car seats for infants have height and weight restrictions. The majority of infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds and a height limit of around 30 inches, depending on the model. If your child is reaching the limits, it's time to move on to the next stage of safety. This could be a convertible car seat that allows you to switch between rear facing and forward facing or an all-in-one car seat that lets your kiddo ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight that is recommended by the manufacturer. Apart from the weight and height limit, there are also other indicators that show your child is ready to move on to the next step in car seats, such as their comfort level while riding rear facing. You can identify these indicators by observing your child's behavior and comparing them to other children their age in their carseats. You can also seek advice from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually operated by local government or community groups. Keep your infant rear-facing as long as possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to turn their kids around until they're fully grown. You can avoid this temptation if you make sure your child's car seat is installed correctly and doesn't change them to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even when their weight or height is close to the limits of their current seat. If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move on to the next stage of car seat or you're worried that you may not have installed their current car seat in a correct manner, reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician. These specialists are available through community groups such as hospitals and local government offices and child safety programs. You can search online for a specialist near you or call your local public safety agency or health department. Mobile car seat check events can be held at your workplace or at home to ensure that you have the right equipment and that you are using them correctly. Installation A car seat has to be installed correctly in order to be effective. The NHTSA reports, sadly, that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best method to make sure that your child's car seats are correctly installed is to read through the manual, after that, have them examined by a certified car safety technician. The first step in installing an infant rear facing car seat is to determine the angle. Make sure that 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 the side of the car seat base or in its user's manual. You should also make sure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. The forward-facing position can create pressure on the spine and neck of babies with their heavy heads and soft necks. In a rearward-facing collision, a car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby's neck and the spinal cord. When your baby is at the weight or height limit of their car seat for infants and is now weighing more than a pound, it's time to switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches their front-facing limit. Be sure to get an infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you switch to this type of seat as older models have lower limits. Parents who often transport their children by car will appreciate the ability to pick an infant car seat that can be detached and attached to a stroller. The only drawback is that it could be time-consuming and difficult to maneuver the stroller and car seat into and out of your vehicle every time, especially for a newborn. However, if you are willing to invest the extra time each time to do it right, this can be a good option for many families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.