Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the forces of the collision and protects your child's neck and head. In the event of a crash, they also protect your child's legs hitting the front of the car seat. This could cause serious injury or even death.
All toddlers and infants should be rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of the car seat's manufacturer. This applies to infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are designed for newborns and infants who are smaller.
A rear facing infant car seat is a particular type of child car seat that is only available in an rear-facing position. These seats are designed specifically for infants and small babies, usually up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than that of other car seats. This makes them ideal for cars with small spaces and also helps make space in the back of the car. In addition, many infant car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.
Infants born before 37 weeks of gestation are advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are bigger and more comfortable than standard car seats, which can be difficult to get into and out of for very small infants. The infant car seat gives more cervical and head support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can help protect preemies or smaller babies in a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they attain their maximum weight and height for car seats or when they are around two years old. This is due to the fact that the spine of children is more able to strengthen in this position and prevent spinal injuries. It is important to keep in mind that infants and children are more likely to sustain severe injuries when facing forward.
In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the bulk of the force generated by the collision and protects the baby's neck, head and spine. In contrast, when a child rides in a forward-facing seat, their heads, which are large, can be thrown against the console or dashboard of the vehicle which can cause serious injuries.
Many parents believe that their child is ready to get a booster or forward-facing seat at around the age of two. This is a huge error. It is safer for children to be rear-facing in their car seat until they reach three or four years old, as per recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child is rear-facing in their car seat the more likely it is that their cervical vertebrae mature and ossify.
Installation and removal is simple.
The majority of rear facing infant car seats have a snap-on base which is placed in your vehicle and can be easily removed when not needed. This is a useful feature and allows parents to keep the child in their car seat without getting out of the car, particularly in bad weather or at night when it is more difficult. It is also easy to change between vehicles and allow grandparents or other caregivers access to the child's car seat.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat in weight and height and height, it's time to transition to a booster or convertible. But, it's important to keep in mind that children are much safer when they're in a rear-facing car seat for as long as is possible. In fact, it is recommended by many safety experts that children use rear-facing car seats 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 baby riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the forces in a crash by absorbing them around their neck, head and spine. When the child is facing forward, their head is moved forward by the force of the crash and could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or even death.
If you're worried about your child's comfort while rear-facing, make sure to keep them warm with blankets and avoid putting a loose one behind or underneath them. Be careful not to dress them in bulky clothing as this could interfere with the tightness and fit of the harness. Also, ensure that baby car seat is positioned flat against the shoulder and the harness straps do not have gaps.
Many child safety experts claim that rear-facing car seats will protect children five times more in the event of a crash when they are riding for longer. In a crash head injuries to children's heads - which are disproportionately larger than their bodies can be thrown with force that isn't absorption by their necks and torsos. With rear-facing seats the head of a child is cushioned by the seat's headrest and cradled by their backs during the event of a crash, shielding them from the most severe injuries.
They guard the head and neck of your child.
In the event of an accident, the neck and spinal cord of a child sitting in a rear-facing car seat are held by the back of the seat. In a frontal collision (the most frequent), infants in car seats that face forward are being thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the back of their car seat, and their heads are cushioned and supported by the headrest.
Infants can also breathe much more easily when they're in a rear-facing car seat, as their chins are placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the chin may be pulled down and it can be difficult for children to breathe. In fact, children who doze in a car seat that is forward-facing are 75% more likely suffer head injuries than those who lie down in a rear-facing car seat.
A baby's spine and brain are still developing. This makes them more prone to a crash. In a crash with an infant who is facing forward and the head of the child could hit the buckle on the dashboard or the seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to become stretched and can lead to serious injuries or even death. It is crucial to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat.
Some infant car seats have a special insert to support the head of the baby. This can be removed after the child is no longer using it. Many car seats also have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb 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 they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. Once they reach that point then, they should move to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat that can be used rear facing and converted to forward facing as they grow.
The rugs are easy to clean.
All car seats, whether they are convertibles or all-in one car seats are able to be removed quickly and easily. They are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems or strollers for on-the go errands. These seats are also easy to clean. Many of them have covers that are removable and parts that are removable, which can be cleaned and dried in the washing machine. This is particularly important since children can be messy!
In the event of an accident the position of the rear will protect the child's neck and head. This is especially important for infants and young children. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they have lots of cartilage. When they collide their head can move backwards and stretch their spinal cords and causing severe injuries. This is one reason why many auto safety experts suggest keeping children rear-facing as long as possible.
Although it's tempting to put your child to booster seats when they appear ready however, every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they'll have in the event of a collision. In a frontal crash, the child's head will be dropped towards the side and possibly hit the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the risk of injury. The ideal scenario is for children to ride rearwards until they reach their rear-facing seat's maximum weight or the height limit, or until 2 years of age.
If you are unsure whether your child is moving out of an rear-facing seat, consult an CPST certified in your area for advice. They can help you determine the time when your child is ready to turn around and make sure they are riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents mistakenly assume they have outgrown their car seat when they grow out of the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. However there are a variety of factors to consider such as the size of your car and child's unique body shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in recline indicators that show you when your child's head is no longer extended beyond the top of their seat. Make sure to check the instructions on your car seat and vehicle owner's manual for more information on safe reclining.