Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of an impact during a crash, and protects your child's neck and head. In best car seat www.pushchairsandprams.uk stop your child's legs hitting the front of the car seat. This can result in serious injuries or even death.
All toddlers and infants must be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height of their car seat manufacturer. This includes both infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically designed for babies and infants who are smaller.
A rear-facing infant car seat is one kind of child car seat that only has a rearward-facing position. These seats are designed specifically for infants and small babies generally up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than other car seats. They are great for small cars and help to save space on the back of the seat. Many car seats for infants can be converted into strollers, which makes the journey of a child easier.
Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are also advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are bigger and better fitted than standard car seats that are difficult to access and out of for small infants. The infant car seat gives more cervical and head support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can protect preemies or smaller babies in the event of a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children sit in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their car seat, or approximately two years old. This is based on the fact that rear-facing provides more time for the spine of the child to develop strength in this position, which could protect against injuries to the spine. Additionally, it's important to note that children who are infants or younger are more likely to sustain serious injuries in front-facing collisions.
In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the bulk of the force of impact, thereby protecting the baby's neck, head and spine. If a child is sitting in a chair that faces forward, their heads may be dropped into the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready to transition to an adult booster seat or a forward-facing car seat at around age two. But this is a big mistake. Recent studies published in BMJ injury prevention have shown that it is better for children to remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae will grow and ossify.
They are simple to put in and remove.
Most rear-facing infant car seat have a snap-on base which can be removed from the vehicle when not in use. This is a convenient feature and lets parents secure the child in their seat without leaving the vehicle, particularly in the event of bad weather or at night when it is more difficult. It is also simple to switch between cars and give parents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
When your child is outgrowing their infant car seat, either in terms of weight or height it's time to upgrade to a convertible or booster. It's important to keep in mind that children are safer when they ride rear-facing for as long as possible. In fact, it is highly recommended by safety experts that children use rear-facing car seats until their two years old or until they reach the height and weight limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal collision the baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the majority of the impact force absorbing it around the neck, head and the spine. When the child is facing forward their head is thrown forward due to the force of the crash. This can stretch their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death.
If you are worried about your child’s comfort when facing backwards, keep them warm with a blanket. Avoid placing a blanket that is loose behind or underneath them. Be careful not to dress them in bulky clothing because this can compromise the snugness and fit of the harness. The last thing to do is make sure that the chest clip is level against the shoulder and the harness straps do not have gaps.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children ride in rear-facing car seats longer, they'll be five times safer in 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 their torsos. Seats that face the rear provide cushioning for the head of the child and shield them from serious injuries.
They protect the head and neck of your child.
When an infant is riding in a rear-facing car seat, their neck and spinal cord is cradled against the back of the safety seat in the event of a collision. In a frontal crash (the most frequent) infants in car seats that face forward are being thrown against the dashboard. This can result in neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the back of their car seats and their heads are supported and cushioned by the headrest.
Infants also have a significantly easier time breathing when they are positioned in a rear-facing car seat because their chin is placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats the face can be pushed downwards and it can be difficult for children to breathe. In fact, kids who sleep in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely be injured in the head than those who doze in a rear-facing car seat.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's brain and spine are still developing, which makes them more prone to injury in the event of an accident. If a crash occurs with a front-facing view, an infant's head can hit the dashboard or buckle of the seat belt. it could stretch their spinal cord and cause serious injury or even death. This is why it's so important to ensure that your child is in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they've reached the weight and height limits of their infant car seat.
Some infant car seats have an insert designed to support the head of a baby. It can be removed when a child outgrows it. A majority of car seats have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the energy from a crash. This is crucial because it lessens the impact on your child, and could stop them from being thrown from their seat.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in an infant car seat that faces rearwards until they reach the height and weight limit for their specific car seat. Then, they can transition to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
All car seats, no matter if they are convertibles or all-in-one car seats can be removed easily and quickly. In many cases, they connect directly to frame strollers and travel systems to run errands while on the move and make life much simpler! These seats are also 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 especially important as children can be messy!
The position that is rear facing is where a child's head is cradled in the neck in the event of a collision, which is critical for infants and toddlers. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they have a lot of cartilage. If they crash, their head could snap backward and stretch their spinal cords, possibly leading to serious injuries. This is the reason why many car safety experts advise keeping children rear-facing for as long as they can.
It's tempting to move your child's front-facing seat to a booster when they are ready, but every switch reduces their protection in the event of a crash. In a frontal crash the child's head would be thrown to the side and could possibly hit the plastic shell or dashboard. This increases the chance of injuries. The ideal scenario is for children to ride backwards until they reach the maximum weight of their rear-facing car seat or maximum height, or until 2 years old.
If you are unsure if your child should be transitioning from an rear-facing seat, consult a CPST certified in your area for help. They can assist you in determining the best age at which your child can turn around, and also ensure they're riding correctly and safely in their seat.
Many parents mistakenly assume their child has outgrown their car seat for infants once they have reached the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. But there are a variety of things to take into consideration, including the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. Many infant car seats come with built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is not over the top of the seat. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle for more details on safe recline.