9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Why You Should Consider a forward facing infant car seat (Kokoo noted)

Children under one year are NOT supposed to ride forward-facing. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF once your child reaches the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for a new car seat). Make sure you read the instructions for the car seat.

Safety

In the event of a crash, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's head and neck. The forward-facing position can assist in preventing your child from hitting their head on the hard back of the car seat, which could cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five point harnesses that ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening, and the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide better impact protection. Some have a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to set the correct angle for your child's neck in order to stop it from slipping over during an accident. The seat also has the top rated baby car seats tether strap, which comes from the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It is important to keep in mind that your child may not require switching to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual of the seat you're using.

When your child reaches 20 lbs and one year is over, it's time to change. Babies and toddlers under one year old have soft, loose neck muscles that can cause whiplash in the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their heads.

When children move to a forward facing car seat, they still require a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a large rearward weight limit and a high. They should not be moved to an adult car seat until they reach the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means about age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these seats when you watch these crash videos, but remember that the footage is slow-motion. If a child moves too fast, they may be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat keeps your child safe and secure in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell that helps ensure your child is safe from any 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 correctly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle to ensure safety. It also has an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't in use.

If your baby complains of discomfort or appears to slump forward during sleep It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. This can be fixed by placing a towel that is tightly folded underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.

It is crucial to remember that children aren't ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand a force that is applied to them by a collision in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts suggest staying a bit longer, since the bones and muscles of young children are more malleable.

Many parents choose to buy convertible car seats that allows their children to travel rearward-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents enjoy the benefits of 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 as the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without re-threading.

Convenience

A forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent option if you're traveling with a toddler. This allows you to see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. This type of car seat can be used with a stroller, making it easier to get your little one into and out of the car for trips to the supermarket or other chores.

Even even if your child is the age that they are able to switch to a car seat that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing seat for as long as you are able to. From the perspective of crash tests, a child’s head is more secure in a crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- head neck, torso, and head -- is cradled by the seat's back when they are facing in this direction.

You'll want to check the manufacturer's instructions for when you can change the car seat of your child around. You will find that they have a maximum height and weight limit, as well specific rules regarding things such as the crotch strap's location. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they develop.

It is also important to consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure the strap is properly fitted and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the manual of the seat. Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too low or high, as this will affect the way they are secured in the event of a crash.

A great option for parents who have more than one child or plan to have more, is a convertible car seat. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat, and then changed to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.

Style

You've put in a lot of time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. As your child grows and outgrows their car seat for infants, you may wonder if it is time to flip the seat around.

Although the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations you should be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limits.

Be aware that children are different in terms of size and age, therefore you shouldn't base on when you should switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their limit of legroom. A child might appear larger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe to turn them around, since their bones and spine haven't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have an alarm that reminds that your child to remain rear-facing until they're one year old. This is because children younger than one year old do not have enough neck muscles to withstand a frontal impact which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seat cheap car seats are not just safe, but they are also simple to use. They include bases that are attached to the car and snap out and in to let you carry your child from stroller to car and back again and often with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system.

If you're about to move your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and verify the tightness of the car seat. When properly installed the newborn car seat insert seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or front to back, and the harness straps should be positioned at or over your child's shoulders. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, call an approved safety technician in your community or the car seat manufacturer.