Some Wisdom On Forward Facing Infant Car Seat From The Age Of Five
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year shouldn't ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could stretch and cause serious injuries.
Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at the maximum weight of their current seat or height (or the minimum requirement for the new car 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 head and neck. The forward-facing position will also prevent your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries.
best car seat newborn that face forward have five point harnesses that secure the child with one pull tightening, and the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide enhanced protection from impact. Some also have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you choose the right angle for your child's head to prevent them from flopping over in a collision. The top tether strap connects to the tether anchor of the vehicle and comes from the top. It's important to keep in mind that your child may not require switching to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual of the seat you are using.
When your child is 20 pounds and one year old is over, it's time to change. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries if they travel in a frontal collision (the most frequent and severe type). Rear-facing car seats safeguard the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their head.
If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or all-in-one seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit. The child shouldn't be placed in the booster seat until they have reached the height and age requirements for a high-back or backless booster, which is typically between 4 and 5 years old. These crash videos will show you the differences between carseats. However, keep in mind that the footage is slowed down. If a kid moves too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seats keeps your child safe and secure in the event of an accident. The seat has a soft headrest, a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from any impact. The seat also has a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy protects your child from direct sunlight. To ensure safety, the seat is designed to be secured with the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.
If your child complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to lean forward during sleep, the angle of the seat might be too low for the child. You can correct this by putting tightly rolled towels under the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.
It is important to remember that children aren't yet ready to face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force applied to them in a crash should they fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, as the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable than those of adults.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their babies to travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It also makes it easier for parents as they can easily switch their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that lets your child use the seat for up to 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 pounds) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lb) as well as an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lb). It's easy and simple to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young infant, a forward-facing infant car seat is a great choice. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the other members of your family can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier to get your little one in and out of the car for trips to the grocery store or other errands.
But that even if your child is old enough to transition to a forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing as long as is possible. From the perspective of crash tests, a child’s head is safer in a crash when they are facing 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.
You'll want to check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine when you can turn your child's car seat around. They will often have an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckle position. These limits are meant to ensure the safety of your child as they grow.
You should also think about whether your vehicle is equipped with Tether anchors. If so, make sure that the tether is connected to the anchor points on your vehicle as per the instructions in the manual. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low because this can affect the way they are restrained in an accident.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents who have more than one child or who intend to have more. This is an all-in-one car seat that can start with an infant car seat facing rear before moving your child to a forward-facing position when they're old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing car seat.
Style
You spent a lot time and effort in choosing the best baby car seat for your child. As they grow older and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you might be wondering when it's time to flip them around.
While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be exciting, there are important safety considerations you must keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limits.
Be aware that children differ in size and age, therefore, you shouldn't decide on when you should switch to forward-facing on some specific date on the calendar or if they've reached their limit of legroom. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed.
Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force that could cause serious spinal injuries.
Many infant car seats aren't just safe, but they are also simple to use. These include bases that remain attached to the car and snap out and in to allow you to transport your child from car to stroller or back and are often paired with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system.
If you are ready to switch your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, be sure to adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of your car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side or front to rear when it is installed correctly. The harness straps should be placed over the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, you can contact a certified safety technician in your locality or the manufacturer of the car seat.