A Step-By-Step Guide To Choosing The Right Infant Car Seat Rear Facing
Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing The most secure method to ensure your child remains in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to a car seat that faces forward once they have reached the weight and height limits of their existing seat. Remember that body paragraphs are structured as a hamburger. The introduction and conclusion sentences are the top and bottom buns. The supporting body paragraphs are the main part of your essay. Safety Benefits Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for infants and young babies. This is because they support and cradle their necks and heads. “Since their spines aren't fully been ossified yet, it's vital to keep the impact of a crash away from their necks and heads,” explains Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision, the baby's head will hit the seat infront of them. This can cause a whiplash that is extremely painful or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is absorption by the seat and then dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, “It feels like a hug.” The legs of the child can be secured into the car seat to protect them from being thrown against the back of the front seat or any other vehicle surface. “This helps to prevent collisions with the inside of their bodies, causing internal injuries,” she explains. Many parents are against ERF because they fear that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. It's not the case with my son, Lukas. He prefers sitting rear-facing as the seat reclines and allows him to read a book or watch a show while doing it. If you have children who are hesitant to be rear-facing due to their length of legs or other reasons convince them that this is the most secure option. Explain that they can stay in their convertible or all-in one car seats provided they don't exceed the height or weight limits set by the manufacturer of the seat. Be sure to lock your child in a rear-facing seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They could compress in the event of a crash, making the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit. Convenience Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as they can because they are easy to use and more portable than convertible car seats. However placing your child in a rear-facing seat might mean they have to be put in a crib or bassinet at time of nap or bedtimes. This could mean waking the baby who is sleeping, which is never ideal. The security advantages of rear-facing far outweigh the inconvenience, however. The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term babies. This helps reduce the impact force and also ensures that the harness' chest clip is placed below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is crucial for premature infants, who have bones that are weak and are not fully ossedified following birth or pregnancy. The rear-facing position lets you observe your baby more clearly than a forward-facing position. This allows you to monitor their behavior and ensure that they are happy and comfortable. Most infant car seats have built-in mirrors that can be adjusted so you can observe your child from any angle. You can utilize a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats which means they can be used for longer. best car seats for newborns www.pushchairsandprams.uk or all-in-one car seats are well-known for their flexibility. They can be used forward-facing or rear-facing positions, or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also simpler to install and remove because they have a large base that is located at the rear of your car. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats but they last much longer than an infant car seat and will save you money in the long run. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limits allowed by the car seat manufacturer or until they reach at minimum two years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat before they reach age two. But, it's always better to wait. Weight Limits It is important to know that all car seats for infants come with height and weight restrictions. The majority have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's the time to move to the next level of safety: either a convertible car seat that allows you to change between forward and rear facing, or an all-in-one seat that allows your child to ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer. Aside from the weight and height limit, there are also other indicators that indicate your child is prepared for the next stage of car seats, such as their level of comfort when riding rear facing. You can find these signs in your child's behavior and compare it to other children similar to them in their car seats. You can also seek assistance from certified child safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is usually operated by local governments or community-based organizations. Remaining rear-facing for your infant as long as possible is the most secure option for them and it's easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to move their children around until they're mature. However, you can avoid this temptation by ensuring your child's car seat is correctly installed and do not rush to change them to a forward-facing seat too quickly even if they're not close to the limits on weight or height of their current car seat. If you're uncertain whether your child is prepared for the next stage in their car seat or you're concerned that you may not be installing their current car seat correctly contact a certified child passenger safety technician. These experts are available through community organizations, hospitals and local government offices and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or call your local public health department or safety agency. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your home or office to make sure you have the right equipment and are using it correctly. Installation A car seat needs to be installed correctly to be effective. The NHTSA states, with regret, that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best way to ensure that your infant car seat is installed correctly is to read the instruction manual and have it verified by a certified vehicle safety technician. The first step when installing an infant rear facing car seat is to check the angle. You can verify the angle of the base on the side or in the user manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight. It is also important to ensure that the head of your baby is correctly positioned in the seat. Forward-facing positions can put pressure on the spine and neck of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs, a car seat's back absorbs most of the crash force. This protects the baby's neck and the spinal cord. When your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat it's time to change over to a convertible car seat or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing position up to the front-facing limit. If you decide to change to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, ensure that the new model has a higher rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits. Parents who often transport their infants by car will appreciate the ability to choose an infant car-seat that is able to be removed and connected to a stroller. The only drawback is that it can be tricky and time consuming to maneuver the car seat and stroller in and out of your vehicle each time, especially with infants. However, if you are willing to spend the extra time each time to get it right, this could be a great option for many families. Be sure to plan ahead, and choose a date when you have plenty of time to spare.