Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of the crash and shields your baby's neck and head. In a crash they also protect your child's legs hitting the front of the car seat. This can cause serious injuries or even death.
All toddlers and infants should ride rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat's manufacturer. This includes both infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seat is specifically designed for newborns, smaller infants.
A rear-facing infant car seat is a kind of child seat that has only a rearward-facing position. These seats are specifically designed for babies and infants, usually up to 35 pounds. They also have a narrower base than other car seats. This makes them suitable for cars with small spaces and also helps make space in the back of the car. In addition, many baby car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.
Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are also advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are more spacious and better fitted than standard car seats that are difficult to get in and out of for very small babies. The infant car seat offers more head and cervical support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can help protect preemies or smaller babies in the event of a crash.
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 when they reach the age of two years old. This is due to the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to strengthen in this position, which can protect against spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that infants and children are more likely to suffer severe injuries when facing forward.
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 head, neck and spine. When a child sits in a seat that faces forward, their heads can be placed in the dashboard or console of the vehicle, causing serious injury.
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 error. It is safer for children to be rear-facing in their car seats until they are three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child stays rear-facing, the more their cervical vertebrae grow and develop ossification.
They are simple to put in and take down.
Most rear-facing infant car seat include a snap-on base that can be removed from your vehicle when not in use. This feature is convenient and allows parents to secure their child in the seat without having to get out of the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or at nights when it may be more difficult. It also makes it easy to change vehicles and allows grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat in height and weight, it's time to move to a booster or convertible. It's important to keep in mind that children are safer when they ride rear-facing for as long as is possible. In fact, it is highly recommended by safety experts that children ride rear-facing until they reach their second birthday or at the weight and height limit of the car seat manufacturer.
In a frontal collision, a child riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the impact forces in an accident by absorbing them around their neck, head, and spine. When a child is rear-facing in a car seat the force of crashing can cause their head to be thrown forward, causing serious injury or even death.
If you're worried about your child's comfort while facing backwards, try keeping them warm in blankets and avoid placing an untidy one between them or under them. Be cautious not to dress them in bulky clothes as this could interfere with the snugness and fit of the harness. Also, ensure that the chest clip sits flat against their shoulders and the harness straps are tight with no gaps.
Many child safety experts believe that rear-facing car seats will safeguard children five times better in a crash when they are riding for longer. In an accident head injuries to children's heads that are significantly larger than their bodies – are able to be thrown off with force that isn't absorbed by their necks and their torsos. With rear-facing seats, a child's head is supported by the seat's headrest and is held by their backs in a crash, protecting them from the most serious injuries.
They guard the head and neck of your child.
When a baby is in a rear-facing car seat, their neck and spinal cord is cradled against the back of the child's safety seat in the event of a collision. This is important because in a frontal collision (the most frequent type of car crash), babies in forward-facing cars are thrown from the dashboard, which can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear facing seats are cradled and cushioned by the back of their car seat and their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants also breathe easier when they are in a rear-facing car seat because their chins are placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the face can be pushed downwards, which can make it difficult for children to breathe. Children who sleep in a front-facing car are 75% more likely than kids who doze off in a rear-facing car seat to suffer injuries to their heads.
A baby's spine and brain are still developing. This makes them more susceptible to accidents. In best infant carrier car seat -facing crash, the head of a child could hit the dashboard or buckle of the seat belt. it could stretch their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death. This is why it's important to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they've reached the height and weight limit of the car seat they're in.
Some infant car seats have an insert designed to support the head of a baby. It can be removed when the child is no longer using it. A majority of car seats have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb impact of a collision. This is important since it minimizes the impact to your child and could prevent them from being ejected from their seat.
NHTSA suggests that you keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until he or she is at the weight and height limits of their car seat. Then, they can change to a convertible or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then changed to forward-facing once they reach a certain age.
They are easy to clean.
No matter if you choose an infant car seat that attaches to a base inside your vehicle or a convertible or all-in one car seat that are all designed for quick and easy removal. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems and strollers to run errands while on the move. These seats are also very easy to clean. Many come with machine-washable covers as well as removable parts that can be cleaned in the washer and dryer. This is crucial, especially if you have children who can be messy.
In the case of an accident, the position that is facing back will support a child's neck and head. This is particularly important for young children. Their heads are stuffed full of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. When they collide their head can snap backward and stretch their spinal cords and causing serious injuries. This is why many car safety experts advise keeping children facing rear for as long as is possible.
Although it's tempting to move your child into booster seats when they seem ready however, each front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll have in the event of a collision. In a frontal crash the child's head will be dropped to the side and could possibly strike the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the chance of injury. Idealy, children should ride rearwards until they reach the weight limit of their rear-facing seat or maximum height or until they reach 2 years of age.
If you're unsure whether your child is ready to transition out of their rear-facing car seat, check with an accredited CPST in your area who can help. They can help you determine the moment when your child is ready to turn around and ensure that they're riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents think that their child is no anymore a baby car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. However there are a myriad of factors to consider in addition to the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is no more above the top of the seat. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual for more information about safe reclining.