Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash, a rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the forces of the impact and protects your baby's neck and head. They also protect your child's legs from hitting the front of the carseat in a crash, which could cause serious injury or even death.
All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing when they reach the maximum weight or height of their car seat manufacturer. This includes both infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seat is specifically designed for infants and infants who are smaller.
A rear-facing infant car seat is a specific type of child car seat that only has a rear-facing position. These seats are specifically designed for babies and infants typically up to 35 pounds. They also have a wider base than other types of car seats. This makes them suitable for small vehicles and can help save space in the back seat. In addition, many infant car seats can be snipped into strollers to make travel with a baby a lot easier.
Rear facing infant car seats are also recommended for preemies and babies born before 37 weeks gestation. They provide more space and more comfort than standard car seats, which can be difficult for a very small baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat gives more head and cervical support than a forward-facing car seat. This can protect babies and preemies in the event of a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their car seat, or approximately two years old. This is based on the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to develop strength in this position, which could protect against spinal injuries. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that children and infants are more prone to suffering serious injuries in front-facing collisions.
In the event of an accident the rear-facing seat will absorb the majority of the impact, protecting the baby's neck, head and spine. However, when the child is in a forward-facing seat their heads that are disproportionately large can be thrown at the dashboard or console of the vehicle which can cause serious injuries.
Many parents think that their child is ready for an adult booster seat or a forward-facing one at the age of two. This is a huge error. It is better for children to be rear-facing in their car seat until they are three or four years old, as per recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. car seat newborn insert is rear-facing, the more their cervical vertebrae can mature and develop ossification.
They are easy to install and take down.
The majority of rear facing infant car seats have an easy-to-install base that can be placed in your vehicle and can be removed when not needed. This feature is convenient and allows parents to secure their child in the seat without having to get out of the vehicle, especially in bad weather or at nights when it can be difficult. It also makes it simple to change cars and give grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
Once your child has outgrown their infant car seat either in terms of weight or height it's time to upgrade to a booster or convertible. It's important to keep it in mind that children are safer if they ride rear-facing for as long as they can. Many safety experts suggest that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach their second birthday or the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal crash infants in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the bulk of the impact force by absorbing it at the head, neck and spine. However, when children ride forward-facing, their head is thrown forward by the force of the crash. This could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.
If you are concerned about your child’s comfort when facing backwards, keep them warm with blankets. Avoid placing a blanket that is loose behind or underneath them. Be cautious when wearing bulky clothing which could hinder the tightness of the harness. Lastly, make sure that the chest clip sits flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are snug with no looseness.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children are in rear-facing car seats for a longer period of time, they'll be five times more protected in the event of a crash. In a crash head injuries to children's heads - which are disproportionately larger than their bodies can be thrown with force that isn't absorbed by their necks and their torsos. With rear-facing seats children's heads are cushioned by the seat's headrest and is cradled by their backs in the event of a crash, shielding them from the most severe injuries.
They safeguard the head and neck of your child.
In the event of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child in a rear facing car seat will be cradled by the back of the seat. This is important because in a frontal crash (the most common kind of car accident) infants who are facing forward in cars are forcefully thrown into the dashboard, which can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held and cushioned by their car seat's back while their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants can also breathe much more easily when they're in a rear facing car seat, as their chins are pressed against their chest. When children are sitting in forward-facing car seats, their chins are frequently downwards, which could block their airways and make it difficult to breathe. Children who fall asleep in a car seat that faces the front are seven times more likely than those who doze off in a rear-facing car seat to sustain a head injury.
The brain and spine of a baby are still developing. This makes them more prone to a crash. 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, causing serious injury or even death. It is essential to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat.
Some infant car seats have an insert specifically designed to support the baby's head. It can be removed when a child outgrows it. Some car seats also come with anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb impact of a collision. This is important since it reduces the impact on your child, and could stop them from being thrown from their seat.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limit for their specific car seat. Once they reach that point, they should transition to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat which can be used rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
Whether you buy an infant car seat that connects to a base in your vehicle or a convertible or all-in one car seat that are all designed to be quick and easy to remove. They are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems or strollers to run errands while on the move. These seats are simple to clean. Many come with machine-washable covers as well as parts that are removable and can be washed in the washer and dried. This is important, especially if you have children who are messy.
The position of the rear cradles a child's head and neck in the event of a crash that is crucial for children who are just starting out. Their heads are stuffed full of cartilage, and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. In the event of a crash, their head might be slammed backwards and stretch their spinal cords, resulting in severe injuries. This is why many car safety experts advise keeping children facing rear for as long as is possible.
Although it's tempting to move your child into booster seats when they're ready, each front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll have in a crash. In a frontal crash, the child's head would be thrown to the side and could possibly impact the plastic shell or dashboard. This increases the risk of injury. Ideally, children should ride backwards until they reach their rear-facing seat's maximum weight or the height limit or until they reach two years old.
If you're unsure if your child should be transitioning from a rear-facing seat, ask an CPST certified in your area for assistance. They can help you determine the ideal age at which your child can turn around, and also ensure they're riding correctly and safely in their car seat.
Many parents believe that their child is no anymore a baby car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. There are a myriad of factors to consider including the size of your car as well as the unique shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is no longer over the top of the seat. Check your car seat instructions and vehicle owner's manual for more information on safe reclining.