Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of impact in a crash and protects your child's neck and head. They also prevent your child's legs from striking the front of the carseat in a crash, which could result in serious injuries or even death.
All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height of their car seat manufacturer. This includes convertible seats and specific infant car seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically designed for babies and infants who are smaller.
A rear-facing infant car seat is a type of child seat that is only rearward-facing position. These seats are designed for newborns and smaller babies, usually up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than that of other car seats. They are ideal for cars with small trunks and allow for more space on the back of the seat. Many car seats for infants can be converted into strollers, which makes traveling with a child much simpler.
Rear facing infant car seats are recommended for babies and preemies born prior to 37 weeks gestation. They are more spacious and offer more comfort than standard car seats which can be difficult for a tiny baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat gives more cervical and head support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can protect babies and preemies in the event of a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain in the rear until they reach their maximum weight and height for car seats or at around two years old. This is based on the fact that rear-facing provides more time for the child's spine to strengthen in this position, which can protect against injuries to the spine. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind that infants and younger children are more prone to suffering serious injuries from front-facing collisions.
In the event of a crash, the rear-facing infant seat absorbs the majority of the impact's force and protects the infant's head, neck and spine. When children are in a forward-facing seat, their disproportionately large heads can be thrown at the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents think that their child is ready to get a booster seat or a seat facing forward at the age of two. This is a big mistake. It is safer for children to stay rear facing in their car seat until they are three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child remains rear-facing in their car seat, the more likely it is that their cervical vertebrae will grow and develop ossification.
Installation and removal is easy.
The majority of rear facing infant car seats have a snap-on base that is fitted into your car and can be removed when not needed. This feature is practical and lets parents ensure their child is in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially during bad weather or at nights when it can be difficult. It also makes it easy to switch between cars and give grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
When your child is outgrowing their infant car seat in weight and height, it's time to move on to a convertible or booster. But, it's important to remember that children are much safer when they are in the rear-facing car seat as long as they can. In fact, it's highly recommended by safety experts to have children ride rear-facing until their two years old or until they reach the maximum height and weight limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal crash a child riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the forces in an accident by absorbing them at their head, neck, and spine. When a child is rear-facing in a car seat, the force of crashing could cause their head to be thrown forward, leading to serious injuries or death.
If you are worried about your child's safety when facing backwards, keep them warm with a blanket. Avoid placing a blanket on top of or beneath them. Also, be cautious about dressing them in bulky clothes that might interfere with the tightness of the harness. Make sure that the chest clip is flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are tight with no looseness.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children are in rear-facing car seats longer they'll be five times more secure in a crash. This is because in a crash, kids head-on - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - could be thrown forward using force that is normally absorbent by their torsos as well as necks. With rear-facing seats children's heads are protected by the headrest of the seat and cradled by their back in the event of a crash, shielding them from the most serious injuries.
infant car seat for travel Pushchairs And Prams are designed to protect your child's neck and head.
When a baby is in a rear-facing car seat, their neck and spinal cord is cradled against the back of the child safety seat in the event of a crash. In a frontal accident (the most frequent) infants who are in forward-facing car seats are hit by the dashboard. This can result in neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the back of their car seats, and their heads are padded and supported by the headrest.
Infants also have a much easier breathing process when sitting in a rear-facing car seat because their chin is placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats the face can be pushed downwards and it can be difficult for children to breathe. Kids who doze off in front-facing cars are 75% more likely than kids who doze off in a rear facing car seat to sustain injuries to their heads.
The brain and spine of a newborn are still developing. This makes them more susceptible to crashes. In a forward-facing crash the head of an infant could strike the dashboard or buckle of the seat belt and it could stretch their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death. This is why it's important to ensure your child is in a rear-facing car seat as long as you can, up to the point that they reach the weight and height limits of the car seat they're in.
Some infant car seats have a special insert to support the head of the baby. When a child has outgrown the insert, it can be removed. Some car seats also come with anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the energy from a crash. This is important as it helps reduce the impact on your child and could even stop him from being thrown out.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the height and weight limit for their particular car seat. After that, they can move to a convertible or all-in one car seat. These seats can be used rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing when they grow.
They are easy to clean.
If you purchase an infant car seat that connects 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 or strollers for on-the go errands. These seats are simple to clean. A lot of seats have covers that can be removed and parts that can be cleaned and dried in the washing machine. This is important, especially for children who are messy.
The rear facing position is where a child's head is cradled in the neck in the event of a crash crucial for young children. Their heads are full of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than adult ones. When they collide their head can be able to snap backwards and stretch their spinal cords, result in serious injuries. Many experts in car safety recommend that children remain rear-facing for as long as they can.
While it's tempting to transition your child into booster seats when they seem ready but every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in the event of a collision. In a frontal crash, the child's head could be thrown to the side and possibly strike the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the chance of injuries. The ideal scenario is for children to be riding rearwards until they reach the weight limit of their rear-facing seat or height limit, or until 2 years old.
If you're unsure whether your child is ready to transition out of their rear-facing car seat, consult an accredited CPST in your area that can assist. They can assist you in determining when your child is ready to turn around and make sure they are riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents believe that their child is no more a car seat for babies when they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. But, there are a number of factors to consider, including the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in recline indicators that tell you when your child's head isn't extended beyond the top of their seat. For more information about safe recline, consult the manual for your car seat and the owner's guide of your vehicle.