Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In a crash, their weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injury.

Instead change to FF at the time your child reaches the weight or height limits of their current seat (or the minimums required for the new seat). Check the instructions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

In the event of a crash infant car seats are designed to protect your child's neck and head. The forward facing position will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide improved protection from impact. Some come with an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant carseats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which lets you set the correct angle of your child's head to prevent them from falling over in a collision. The seat also has a top tether strap that is attached to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. Be aware that you might not have to move your child from an forward-facing car seat until is at the maximum weight and height listed in the manual of the seat.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child reaches 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and serious type). If children under the age of 1 are backwards their heads are cushioned by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that can cause neck strain.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all in-one that has a high rearward weight and height limit. The child should not be able to move into an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between the two carseats. But keep in mind that the footage has been slowed. If a child is moving too quickly, they can be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your child to ride in comfort and be secure in an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a cushion for body support and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to ensure your child's safety from a collision. The seat also comes with a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be locked to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure safety. It also has a clip to lock the buckle secure even when the seat isn't being used.

If your child complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to lean forward when sleeping, the seat's angle may be too low for them. You can fix this by placing tightly rolled towels on the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this isn't working, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a crash should they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts recommend staying a bit longer, because the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible seat, which allows their babies to travel rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for parents as they can easily switch their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to a forward facing infant car seat-facing harness and high-back seats (30-100 lb) and then to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the harness and headrest together without the need to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is a great option for traveling with a toddler. It lets you see your child while driving and allows everyone else in the family to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers making it easier to get your child into and out of the vehicle when going to the store or running other tasks.

But remember, even when your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat, it's safer to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. When you look at it from the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is more protected in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body, including the neck, head and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear.

It is important to read the manufacturer's instructions for how to change your child's car seat around. They usually have a maximum weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed, as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These limits are designed to protect your child's health as they grow.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether you own a vehicle that has Tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, you must make sure the strap is properly fitted and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the instruction in the seat's manual. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low, as this will affect how well they are secured in the event of the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a great option for parents who have multiple children or who plan to have more children. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as an rotating infant car seat rear-facing car seat and then converted to a forward-facing seat once your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

The baby car seat was a must-have for your baby and you spent much time deciding the best car seats for infants one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants you might be wondering when it's time to switch them around.

While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.

Keep in mind that children vary in both size and age. It isn't a good idea to base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you believe they have reached their maximum legroom. It may seem that a child is taller in a rear facing car seat, but this doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.

It is recommended to keep your child rear-facing until they reach one year old, and some infant car seats have an inbuilt reminder to ensure they remain there. This is due to the fact that children younger than one year old don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision, which could cause serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being secure in addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with practical features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay in the car and snap out and in to let you carry your child from car to stroller or back, and they often pair with a frame stroller as part of a travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you do it correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or front to rear when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, contact an approved safety technician in your community or the car seat manufacturer.