Keep Your Child in an
Infant Car Seat Rear FacingThe most secure method to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be able to switch to a forward-facing car seat once they outgrow the weight and height limits of their current seat.
Remember that body paragraphs are structured like a hamburger. The introduction and concluding sentences are like the top and bottom buns. The supporting body paragraphs are the main part of your essay.
Safety Benefits
Utilizing a car seat for infants rear facing is safest for newborns and babies because it cradles and supports their neck and head. Purva Grover MD director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that as their spines are not yet formed, it is vital to keep the force from an accident away from their necks and heads. In a frontal crash, the baby's head will strike the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that can be severe or even fatal. However, in the rear-facing car seat the impact is absorbed by the seat and then dissipated by the back of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. In addition the child's legs are tucked into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward by the rear of the seat or any other surface of the vehicle. "This prevents them from hitting their own body, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.
Many parents are against ERF because they are afraid that their child will become bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been bored or uncomfortable. In fact Lukas prefers riding backwards because the recline feature lets him sit on his legs and read a book or watch TV.
However, if you have an older child who is resistant to being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or any other reason try convincing them that it's the safest method of travel for them. Explain that the child is able to remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat so long as the height or weight limit is not exceeded.
Be sure to secure your child in a rear-facing seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing, such as winter coats as they can be compressed during a crash, causing the harness straps to loosen, putting your child at risk for injuries. Make sure to use the Pinch Test when fitting your child's harness.
Convenience
Many parents prefer keeping
infant car seat swivel car seats rear-facing for as long as they can, because they are less cumbersome and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, he or she may need to be put in a bassinet or crib at nap or time to sleep. This could result in waking the sleeping child, which is not ideal. The safety advantages of rear-facing far outweigh this inconvenience, but.
Preemies and newborn babies are smaller than full-term infants, so the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip on the harness is below or at the shoulders, and not at the neck. This is particularly important for premature babies, who have weaker bones, and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.
The rear-facing position lets you see your baby better than a forward-facing position. This lets you monitor their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. The majority of infant car seats come with a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so you can view your child from any angle.
You can choose a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the recommended weight or height limit. Some have even higher rear-facing limits than rear-only cars, meaning they can be used longer.
Convertible or all-in-one car seats are known for their flexibility. They can be used in forward-facing, rear-facing, or as belt positioning boosters. They usually also have a large base in the back of your vehicle which makes them easy to set up and remove. They are more expensive than the infant car seats that can be used once, but they will last longer and save you money over the course of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer or at least 2 years old. old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat by the time they reach the age of two. But, it's always better to hold off until they reach the age of two.
Weight Limits
It is important to know that all infant car seats have weight and height restrictions. The majority of infant car seats have a weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and a height limit of around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child reaches these limits, it's the time to move on to the next stage of safety: either a convertible car seat that can be switched between forward and rear facing, or an all-in-one seat that lets your kiddo ride rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
Apart from the weight and height limit, there are also other indicators that show your child is ready to move on to the next step in a car seat, including their level of comfort when riding rear facing. You can check for these indicators by observing your child's behavior and looking at other children in their carseats. You can also seek help from certified child safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is often run by local government or community-based organizations.
Keeping your infant rear facing as long as possible is the
best car seat for newborn option for them, and it's easy to see why so many parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're fully grown. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and don't change to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even when their weight or height is close to the limits of their existing seat.
If you're uncertain whether your child is prepared for the next car seat stage or you're worried you might not be installing the car seat correctly Contact a certified child safety technician. These experts are available through community groups such as hospitals, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search online for one near you or contact your local public health department or safety agency. There are also car seat check events that are mobile that can visit your workplace or at home to ensure that you have the proper equipment and are making use of it properly.
Installation
The correct installation of a car seat is crucial to its effectiveness. The NHTSA has found that more than half of car seats are set up incorrectly. This includes rear-facing seats. The best method to make sure that your child's car seats are properly installed is to go through the instructions, and then have them checked by an accredited car safety technician.
The first step when installing a rear-facing infant car seat is to test the angle. Check that the base of the car seat is in a safe position for the weight of your baby that is visible on the the back of the base or in its user manual.
You should also be sure that your baby's head is placed at the correct angle in the seat. Babies have big heads and soft necks and a forward-facing position can put pressure on their neck and spine in the event of a collision. In a rearward-facing collision, a car seat's back absorbs the majority of the collision force. This protects the baby’s neck and spinal cord.
When your child has reached the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, it is time to switch to a convertible seat or all-in-one seat. These seats can be used in a rear-facing orientation until the front-facing limit.