14 Companies Doing An Excellent Job At Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children under one year should not ride facing in the direction of forward. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injury.
Switch to FF instead when your child is at the weight limit of their current car seat or height (or the minimum for the new car seat). Read your car seat instructions carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to safeguard the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could assist in preventing your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses. They secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined in energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some also have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The best infant carseats will have an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster which allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head to stop them from falling over in the event of a collision. The seat also has the top tether strap, which is attached to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It's important to keep it in mind that your child might not need to 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 weighs 20 pounds and one year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that could cause whiplash if involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent kind) they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats shield the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their head.
When children transition to a forward-facing car seat they should use a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster age and height requirements for the seat, which usually means about age 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between carseats. But remember, the video is slowed down. If a kid moves too fast, they could be injured.
Comfort
A forward-facing infant car seat allows your infant to ride in comfort and be secure in the event of a crash. The seat has a soft headrest, a cushion for body support, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to keep your child safe from any impact. The seat also comes with five-point harnesses that are easy to use with one-pull tightening and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is properly positioned. A retractable sun canopy will shield your baby 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 latch buckle fastened when the seat isn't in use.
If your baby complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward when 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 up more. If this does not work, 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 minimum 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are not strong enough to take the force of a crash in the event that they fall to their front on their own. Some experts recommend waiting longer since the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to be rear-facing until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets them benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for longer, and also makes it more convenient for parents because they can easily move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when their child is no longer in the position.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gives your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading.
Convenience
If you're traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat is an excellent 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. The car seat can be used in conjunction with strollers, making it easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle when you go to the store or running other errands.
Even if your child has reached the age that they are able to change to a car seat that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. From the standpoint of crash tests, children's head is more secure in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is because when they are facing backwards the entire body including the neck, head and torso, are cradled in the rear of the car seat.
You should check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine how to turn your child's car seat around. They will often have an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't go over as well as specific rules for things like the crotch buckle's position. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they develop.
You should also consider whether your vehicle comes with tether anchors. If you do, make sure the strap is properly fitted and tied to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the instruction in the seat's manual. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the shoulder straps of your harness are at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low, as this will impact how well they're restrained in an accident.
A convertible car seat is a smart option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as a rear-facing infant car seat, and then changed to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight limit or height of the rear-facing position.
Style
You've put in a lot of time and effort deciding on the best baby car seat for your child. As your child grows and outgrows their infant car seat, you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around.
While the idea of having your child face forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety aspects to be aware of. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.
It is important to remember that children differ in terms of size and age, therefore you shouldn't base the decision to change to a forward-facing car seat on some specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their maximum legroom. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean that it's safe for turning them around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed.
It is recommended that you keep your child facing rearwards until they are at least one year old. some infant car seats come with an inbuilt reminder to keep them there. This is because children under one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact that could cause serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being secure and secure, many infant car seats are equipped with convenient features that make them simple to use. Pushchairs & Prams include bases that remain attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to transport your child from stroller to car or back and often with a frame stroller as part of a travel system.
If you're ready to move your baby to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you follow all of the manufacturer's instructions and checking the car seat for tightness. The car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side, or front to rear when properly installed. The harness straps should also be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions ask a certified car seat safety technician in your region or contact the manufacturer of the car seat.