Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF when your child reaches the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum requirement for the new car seat). Read your car seat instructions 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 will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the hard back of the seat which could result in serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant car seats come with five-point harnesses that secure the child with one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide enhanced protection against impact. Some models have an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best infant car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you set the correct angle of your child's head in order to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a crash. The car seat also comes with the top tether strap, which is attached to the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. It is important to keep in mind that your child might not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top weight and height allowed listed in the instruction manual for the seat you're using.

It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash when they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent type) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the necks of infants under one year old by cushioning their head.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one seat that has a heavy rearward weight limit and a high. They shouldn't be moved to an adult car seat until they reach the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement which is usually about age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these car seats when you watch these crash videos however, remember that the video is reduced in speed. A child could be injured if they move too quickly.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat for newborn seat will keep your child safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat comes with a comfortable headrest, a cushion for body support, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from a collision. The seat is equipped with five points of safety harness that can be tightened with one pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy can shield your child from the sun. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle to ensure safety. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle secure even when the seat isn't being used.

If your baby complains about discomfort or appears to be slouching forward while sleeping it could be because the angle of the car seat is too low. You can remedy this by putting tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it higher. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will check the angle of the car seat.

Be aware that children should not face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to stand up to the force of a collision in the event that they fall forward on their own. Some experts recommend taking longer to wait as the muscles and bones of children are more malleable.

Many parents choose to buy a convertible car seat that allows their children to be in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This lets parents enjoy the benefits a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It can also make it easier for them because they can easily change their child's position from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a convertible 4-in-1 car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seat (30-100 lbs) and then to a backless belt-positioning seat (40-120 lb). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the harness and headrest together 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. It allows you to see your child while driving and allows the rest of the family to get into the vehicle without disturbing your infant or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers making it much easier to take your toddler into and out of the car to go to the grocery store or other errands.

Even if your child has reached the age at which they can change their car seat to one that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you can. When you consider it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is safer in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- including the head neck, torso, and head -- is cradled by the car seat's back when they're facing in this direction.

You should check the manufacturer's instructions for when you can turn your child's car seat around. There will be the weight and height limit you should not go over, as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckles. These rules are designed to protect your child's health as they grow.

Another thing to consider is if you have a vehicle that has Tether anchors for your car seat. If so, make sure the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle as instructed in the manual for your seat. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This will affect how they are restrained during the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts off being used as a rear-facing infant car seat before moving your child to a forward-facing position when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing car seat.

Style

You've put in a lot of time and effort in choosing the perfect baby car seat for your child. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat you may wonder if it is time to flip the seat around.

While the idea of having your child face forward is exciting, there are some important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should be rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight and height limits.

Be aware that children differ in both size and age. You shouldn't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar, or if you believe they have reached their maximum legroom. It may seem that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, but this doesn't mean it is safe to turn the child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

It is recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they reach one year old. certain infant car seat newborn car seats have an integrated reminder to ensure they remain there. This is due to the fact that children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles to be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force that could cause serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats are not just secure, but also simple to use. They include bases that are connected to the car and snap in and out to let you carry your baby from stroller to car or back to the car, and they often pair with a frame stroller to form part of a travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby into forward-facing convertible car seats, be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and checking the car seat for tightness. When properly installed the car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the installation of your car seat, contact an accredited safety technician in your area or the manufacturer of your car seat.