Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of impact in a crash and protects your child's head and neck. In a crash, they also stop your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat. This can result in serious injuries or even death.
All infants and toddlers should be rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit set by the car seat's manufacturer. This includes convertible seats as well as dedicated infant car seats.
best car seat newborn -facing infant car seats are made for babies and smaller infants.
A rear-facing infant car seat is one type of child seat that only has a rearward-facing position. These seats are designed for newborns and smaller babies, usually up to 35 pounds. They also have a wider base than other types of car seats. This makes them perfect for small cars and can help make space in the back of the vehicle. Many infant car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a child more convenient.
Rear-facing infant car seats are also recommended for babies and preemies born prior to 37 weeks gestation. They are bigger and better fitted than standard car seats which are difficult to access and out of for very small infants. The infant car seat also provides more neck and head support than a rear-facing car seat, which could aid in protecting preemies and smaller babies from injuries in a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight and height for the car seat or at around two years old. This is due to the fact that there is more time for the child's spine to strengthen in this position, which could help prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that children and infants are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they are facing forward.
In the event of a crash, the rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the bulk of the force generated by the collision, thereby protecting the baby's head, neck and spine. In contrast, when children are in a forward-facing seat, their heads that are disproportionately large could be thrown into the dashboard or console of the vehicle and cause serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready for the transition to the booster seat or forward-facing car seat by two years old. This is a huge mistake. It is safer for kids to remain rear-facing in their car seat until they reach three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child is rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae grow and become ossified.
Installation and removal is simple.
The majority of rear-facing infant car seats have a snap-on base that is fitted into your car and can be removed when no longer required. This feature is convenient and allows parents to secure their child in the seat without having to get out of the vehicle, especially during bad weather or at nights when it can be difficult. It is also simple to switch between vehicles and give grandparents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
Once your child outgrows their infant car seat in weight and height then it's time to move on to a convertible or booster. It's crucial to remember that children are safer when they're in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible. In fact, it's advised by a number of safety experts that children use rear-facing car seats until their second birthday or at the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal collision, the child who is rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the impact forces in the event of a crash by absorbing them around their neck, head and the spine. However, when children ride forward-facing their head is being pushed forward by the force of the crash. This can stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or even death.
If you are concerned about your child's comfort facing rearwards, make sure they are warm with blankets. Avoid placing a blanket on top of or beneath them. Be careful not to dress them in bulky clothing as this could interfere with the tightness and fit of the harness. The last thing to do is make sure that the chest clip is flat against the shoulder and the harness straps are free of looseness.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children ride in rear-facing car seats for longer and are five times safer in the event of a crash. In a crash head injuries to children's heads who are larger than their bodies are able to be thrown off with force that isn't taken up by their necks or their torsos. With rear-facing seats, a child's head is protected by the headrest of the seat and is cradled by their back in an accident, shielding them from the most serious injuries.
They protect your child's head and neck.
When a baby is in a rear-facing car seat, their neck and spinal cord are cradled against the back of the safety seat in the event of a crash. This is crucial because in a frontal collision (the most common kind of car accident) infants who are facing forward in cars are forcefully thrown into the dashboard, which could result in neck injuries and possibly death. Infants in rear-facing seats are cradled by the back of their car seat, and their heads are supported and cushioned by the headrest.
Infants also breathe easier when they are in a rear-facing car seat, as their chins are pressed against their chest. When children are sitting in forward-facing car seats their chin is often downwards, which can block their airways and make it difficult for them to breathe. Children who sleep in a car seat that faces the front are 75% more likely than kids who doze off in a rear-facing seat to suffer an injury to their head.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's spine and brain are still developing, which makes them more susceptible in the event of an accident. In the event of a crash that involves an infant positioned forward, the head of the child can hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to be stretched and could result in serious injury or even death. It's important to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat.
Some infant car seats come with an insert specifically designed to support a baby's head. This can be removed once a child outgrows it. Some car seats also come with anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the energy of a crash. This is crucial since it minimizes the impact on your child, and could even keep him from being ejected.
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. When they do, they should transition to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats that can be used rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
No matter if you choose an infant car seat that attaches to a base within your vehicle, or a convertible or all-in-one car seat that are all designed to be quick and easy to remove. They often snap directly into frame strollers and travel systems to run errands while on the move making life much easier! They are also easy to clean. Many come with machine-washable covers as well as removable parts that can be washed in a washer and dryer. This is crucial, especially if you have children who can be messy.
The position that is rear facing cradles a child's head and neck in the event of a collision crucial for infants and toddlers. Their spinal cords and heads are more flexible, and they also have a lot of cartilage. During a collision their head can move backwards, stretching their spinal cords, result in severe injuries. This is the reason why many car safety experts suggest keeping children rear-facing for as long as they can.
It's tempting to switch your child's front-facing seat to a booster once they are ready, but every switch lowers their protection in a crash. In a front-facing crash their heads would be thrown forward and possibly struck by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, increasing the risk of injury. The ideal is for children to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight rear-facing or height limit of their seat or until they turn 2 years old.
If you are unsure if your child should be transitioning out of the rear-facing seat, contact an CPST certified person in your area for assistance. They can help you determine the time when your child is ready to turn around and ensure that they are riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents assume that their child is no anymore a baby car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. But there are a myriad of factors to consider in addition to the size of your vehicle and child's unique body shape. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is no more over the top of the seat. For more information on recline safety, refer to the manual for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle.