Rear Facing Infant Car Seat

A rear-facing infant seat absorbs the force of an impact in a crash and protects your child's head and neck. They also protect your child's legs from hitting the front of the carseat in a crash, which can cause serious injury or even death.

All infants and toddlers should be rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit set by the car seat's manufacturer. This includes convertible seats and dedicated infant car seats.

Rear-facing infant car seats are specially designed for babies and infants who are smaller.

A rear-facing infant car seat is one kind of child seat that only has a rearward-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and small children, typically up to 35 pounds. They also have a smaller base than other car seats. This makes them perfect for small vehicles and helps to save space in the back seat. Many infant car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a child easier.

Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are also recommended to use rear-facing infant car seat for travel car seats. They are more spacious and more comfortable than standard car seats, which are difficult to access and out of for small babies. The infant car seat gives more cervical and head support than a rear-facing car seat. This can protect preemies or smaller babies in the event of a collision.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight and height for the car seat, or at around two years old. This is based on the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to develop strength in this position, which could prevent spinal injuries. In addition, it is important to note that children who are infants or younger are more prone to suffering serious injuries from front-facing collisions.

In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant seat absorbs most of the force of impact, protecting the baby's head, neck and spine. In contrast, when a child rides in a forward-facing seat, their heads that are disproportionately large can be thrown against the vehicle's dashboard or console and cause serious injuries.

Many parents believe that their child is ready to move to an adult booster seat or a forward-facing car seat by age two. This is a huge mistake. Recent research published in BMJ injury prevention show that it is safer for children to sit rear-facing in their car seats until the age of three or four. The longer a child remains rear-facing in their car seat the more likely that their cervical vertebrae will mature and ossify.

They are easy to set up and remove.

The majority of rear-facing infant car seats come with an easy-to-install base that can be installed in your vehicle and can be easily removed when no longer required. This feature is practical and lets parents keep their child in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially during bad weather or at nights when it is more difficult. It is also easy to switch between cars and let parents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.

Once your child has outgrown their infant car seat in terms of weight or height then it's time to upgrade to a booster or convertible. It's crucial to remember that children are more secure when they're in the rear-facing car seat as long as is possible. Many safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach their second birthday or the weight and height limit that is set by the manufacturer of the car seat.

In a frontal collision, a child riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs majority of the force in an accident by absorbing them at their head, neck, and spine. However, when a child rides forward-facing, their head is moved forward due to the force of the collision and can stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.

If you are concerned about your child’s comfort when facing rearwards, make sure they are warm by wrapping them in blankets. Avoid placing a loose blanket behind or beneath them. Be cautious when wearing bulky clothing that could interfere with the tightness of the harness. Lastly, make sure that the chest clip sits flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are snug with no slack.

Many child safety experts believe that if children ride in rear-facing car seats for a longer period of time and are five times safer in the event of a crash. In a crash, the heads of children - which are disproportionately larger than their bodies can be thrown around with force that is not taken up by their necks or the torsos. With rear-facing seats the head of a child is cushioned by the seat's headrest and is held by their backs during a crash, protecting them from the most serious injuries.

They protect your child's neck and head.

In the case of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child who is in a rear-facing car seat are held by the back of the seat. In a frontal accident (the most common) infants in forward-facing car seats are thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the back of their car seat, and their heads are cushioned and supported by the headrest.

Infants can also breathe much easier when they are in a rear facing infant car seat facing car seat, since their chins are pressed against their chest. When children are in car seats that are forward-facing, their chin is often pulled down, which can block their airways and make it difficult for them to breathe. In reality, children who doze in a car seat that is forward-facing are 75% more likely be injured in the head than those who sleep in a rear-facing car seat.

Another aspect to be considered is that the brain and spine are still developing, which makes them more susceptible in the event of an accident. In the event of a crash that involves an infant positioned forward the head of the child may hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to become stretched and could result in serious injury or even death. It's important to keep your infant car seat cheap in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat.

Some infant car seats have an insert specifically designed to in supporting the head of a child. This can be removed after the child is no longer using it. Additionally, many car seats have load bar or anti-rebound features that help absorb the impact of the crash. This is important since it reduces the impact on your child and could keep them from being thrown from their seat.

NHTSA recommends that you keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat. Once they reach that point then, they should move to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat that can be used rear-facing and then converted to forward facing as they increase in height.

They are easy to clean.

Whether you buy an infant car seat that is attached to a base within your vehicle, or a convertible or all-in-one car seat that are all designed to be easy and quick removal. They are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems and strollers for on-the go errands. These seats are easy to clean. A lot of seats have covers that can be removed and parts that can be cleaned and dried in the washing machine. This is essential, particularly when you have children who are messy.

The rear facing position can protect a child's head and neck in the event of a collision that is crucial for infants and toddlers. Their heads contain a lot of cartilage, and their spinal cords are more flexible than adult ones. If they collision, their head may be slammed backwards and stretch their spinal cords, resulting in severe injuries. Many experts in car safety recommend that children stay rear-facing for as long as possible.

While it's tempting to transition your child into booster seats when they're ready, every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in a crash. In a front-facing crash, their heads would be thrown forward and possibly hit by the plastic shell of the seat or the dashboard, increasing the chance of injury. Ideally, children should ride rearwards until they reach their rear-facing seat's maximum weight or maximum height, or until two years old.

If you're unsure if your child should be moving out of the rear-facing seat, contact an CPST certified in your area for assistance. They can assist you in determining the appropriate age for your child to turn around, as well as make sure they're riding properly and safely in their seat.

Many parents believe that their child has outgrown their car seat for infants once they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. However there are a myriad of factors to consider, including the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is no more above 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.