Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat
Children younger than one year should not ride facing towards the forward. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injury.
Instead change to FF at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of their current seat (or the minimums for the new seat). Follow www.pushchairsandprams.uk for your car seat carefully.
Safety
Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position could also prevent your child from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.
All infant seats with a forward-facing feature five-point harnesses, which secure the child by simply pulling the straps. The carrier shell is lined with energy-absorbing foam EPS to offer better protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.
The most effective infant car seats come with an adjustable angle adjustment and an angle indicator. This allows you to determine the right angle for your child's neck to prevent it from flopping over in the event of collisions. The top tether strap is attached to the tether anchor of the vehicle and comes from the top. It is important to keep in the mind that your child may not require a switch to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual of the seat you are using.
It's time to change when your child is 20 pounds and one year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year have soft, loose muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and common type), they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year ride rear-facing, their head is protected by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.
When children transition to a forward-facing car seat, they need a convertible or an all in-one that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements which is usually about age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these seats when you watch these crash videos but remember that the footage is slowed down. A child can be injured in the event that they move too fast.
Comfort
A forward facing infant car seat allows your infant to ride comfortably and stay secure during the event of a crash. The seat has a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from any impact. The seat is equipped with five points of safety harness that can be tightened with one pull and a front-center adjuster. This will ensure your child is positioned correctly. A retractable sun canopy will protect your child from the sun. The seat can be locked to the vehicle seat belt to ensure security. It also includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle fastened even when the seat isn't being used.
If your child complains of discomfort or seems to slump forward when sleeping It could be due to the angle of the car seat is too low. You can remedy this by putting tightly rolled towels under the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't work, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat.
It is important to remember that children are not ready to face forward until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand a force that is applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend taking longer to wait since the muscles and bones of young children are more malleable.
Many parents opt to purchase a convertible seat which allows their infants to be rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows parents to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It also makes it easier for them because they can easily switch their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing as the child grows out of it.
The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for 10 years. It can be converted from a rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lbs) and then to an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to put in. You can move the headrest and harness together without having to re-thread.
Convenience
A forward facing infant car seat is a great option for traveling with a child who is young. It allows you to watch your child's face while driving and the other members of your family can get into the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can be used with strollers which makes it easier to get your child in and out of your car for trips to the supermarket or other errands.
But remember that even if your child is old enough to move to an forward-facing car seat, it's better to keep them rear-facing the longest time possible. From the point of view of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a crash when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that when facing backwards the entire body, including the head, neck and torso, is cradled in the car seat's rear.
Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see how you can rotate your child's seat. There will be an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't exceed, as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These guidelines are designed to safeguard your child as they grow.
Another thing to consider is whether you own a vehicle that has Tether anchors for your car seat. If you do, make sure the tether strap is properly installed and tied to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual for your seat. Last but not least, make sure that the shoulder straps of the harness of your child are at or just below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This will affect how they are secured during an accident.
A convertible car seat is a good option for parents who have several children or who are planning to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts by being an infant car seat that faces rearwards, then move your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing position in the car seat.
Style
You've spent a lot of time and effort choosing the right car seat for your child. As your child gets older and outgrows their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's time to flip the seat around.
While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.
Remember that children vary in size and age. Don't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum legroom. A child might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to turn them around, as their bones and spine haven't fully developed yet.
Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind you to keep your child facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which can result in serious spinal injuries.
In addition to being safe, many infant car seats have practical features that make them simple to use. Some of these include bases that snap in and out of the car and allow you to transport your baby from the car to a stroller and then back. They are typically part of a travel system.
If you're about to transition your child to a forward-facing convertible car seat ensure that you follow all of the manufacturer's instructions and then examining the car seat for tightness. If it's installed correctly the car seat should not move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back and the harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or contact the car seat manufacturer.