Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride in a forward-facing. In a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead when your child reaches the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for the new car seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

Infant car seats are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position can also prevent your child from crashing their head against the hard back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant seats that face forward have five-point harnesses, which ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the car seat is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS for better impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The best car seats infant carseats will feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you choose the right angle for your child's head to stop the car seat from slipping over in the event of a collision. The seat also comes with a top tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat. It then hooks to the tether anchor within your vehicle. It's important to keep it in mind that your child might not need to switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual of the seat you're using.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in the event of a crash. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent kind), they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When children younger than 1 year ride rear-facing their heads are protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that can cause neck strain.

When children move to a forward facing car seat, they require a convertible or an all in-one that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means around age 4 or 5. These crash videos will show you the differences between the carseats. However, keep in mind that the video has been slowed down. If a child is moving too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your child safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to ensure your child's safety from impact. The seat is equipped with five points of safety harness that can be tightened with a single pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable canopy shields your child from direct sunlight. To ensure safety the seat is designed to be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle and has an adjustable clip that holds the latch buckle secure when not in use.

If your infant complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward when they sleep the angle of the seat might be too low for the child. This can be fixed by placing a tightly rolled towel underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will examine the angle of the car seat.

It is important to remember that children aren't yet ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't sturdy enough yet to withstand a force applied to them by a collision if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, as the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents decide to buy a convertible car seat which allows their infants to travel backwards 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 is also easier for them 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 provides your child 10 years of car seat use in only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest in tandem, without having to re-thread.

Convenience

When traveling with a young infant car seat newborn, a forward-facing infant car seat can be a great choice. This lets you see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or baby. The type of car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers which makes it easier to get your child into and out of the car while you are at the grocery store or running other chores.

But remember that even if your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing car seat it's better to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. From the perspective of crash tests, children's head is more secure in the event of a crash if they are facing backwards. This is because when facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso, are cradled in the car seat's rear.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to see the time you can rotate your child's seat. You will find that they have the maximum height and weight limit, and also specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap position. These limits are designed to safeguard your child as they develop.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether you have an automobile with Tether anchors for your car seat. If yes, you must ensure that the strap is properly fitted and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as per the instructions in the seat's manual. Also, make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or below their shoulders, and are not too low or high. This can affect how they're secured during an accident.

A convertible car seat is a great option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. It's a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat and then converted to a forward-facing car seat once your child reaches the height or weight limits of the rear-facing position.

Style

You spent a lot time and effort in choosing the best car seats for newborns baby car seat for your child. However, as they age and start outgrowing their car seat for infants you might be wondering if it's the right time to change them.

While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are several important safety factors to consider. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of their car seat and height limits.

It is important to remember that children are different in terms of size and age, therefore you shouldn't base the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on a specific date on the calendar or when they've reached their limit of legroom. Children may appear larger in a rear-facing car seat however, that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children younger than one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a collision with a car in front, which can result in serious spinal injuries.

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

If you're ready to move your baby into forward-facing convertible car seats, be sure to do so correctly by following all of the manufacturer's instructions and then examining the car seat for tightness. When installed properly the car seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps must be positioned at or over the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions ask a certified car seat safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.