Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant seat absorbs the force of an impact during a crash, and protects your child's head and neck. They also prevent your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat in the event of a crash, which could cause serious injuries or even death.
All infants and toddlers should be rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit of their car seat's manufacturer. This includes convertible seats as well as specific infant car seats.
Rear-facing infant car seat is specifically designed for infants and infants who are smaller.
A rear-facing infant car seat is a kind of child seat that is only rearward-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and small children usually up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than other car seats. They are ideal for cars with small trunks and make it easier to store them on the back of the car. Additionally, the majority of infant car seats can be snipped into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.
Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are also advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are larger and better fitted than standard car seats which can be difficult to get into and out of for very tiny babies. The infant car seat provides more neck and head support than a rear-facing car seat, which could help to protect preemies and infants from injury during a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear facing until they reach the maximum weight and height for their car seat, which is about two years old. This is due to the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to strengthen in this position, which may prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to note that children and infants are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they are facing forward.
In the event of a crash, the rear-facing infant seat absorbs most of the force of impact and protects the baby's head, neck and spine. When children are in a forward-facing seat their heads that are disproportionately large can be thrown against the console or dashboard of the vehicle and cause serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready for the transition to the booster seat or forward-facing car seat around two years old. This is a huge error. Recent research published in BMJ Injury Prevention show that it is more secure for children to be rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child stays rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae grow and ossify.
Installation and removal is easy.
The majority of rear-facing infant car seats have an easy-to-install base that can be placed in your vehicle and can be easily removed when not needed. This is a convenient feature and lets parents secure the child in their car seat without getting out of the car, particularly during bad weather or night when it is more difficult. It is also easy to switch between vehicles and allow grandparents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
Once your child outgrows their infant car seat in terms of weight and height, it's time to move to a booster or convertible. However, it's important to keep in mind that children are safer when they remain in the rear-facing car seat as long as possible. Many safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until their second birthday or the maximum weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
In a frontal collision, a child riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs the majority of the impact forces in a crash by absorbing them around their neck, head, and the spine. In contrast, when children ride forward-facing their head is being pushed forward by the force of the crash. This could cause a stretch in their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.
If you are concerned about your child's comfort rear-facing, keep them warm by wrapping them in blankets. Avoid placing a blanket that is loose behind or under them. Be careful not to dress them in bulky clothes since this could compromise the snugness and fit of the harness. Make sure that the chest clip is flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are tight with no slack.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children are in rear-facing car seats for longer, they'll be five times safer in the event of a crash. In a crash head injuries to children's heads who are larger than their bodies are able to be thrown off with force that isn't absorption by their necks and their torsos. Seats that face the rear provide cushioning for the head of the child and protect them from serious injuries.
They safeguard the neck and head 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 secured by the back of the seat. In a frontal accident (the most frequent) infants who are in car seats that face forward are being thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries or even death. Children in rear-facing seats are held and cushioned by the back of their car seat and their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants also have a significantly easier breathing experience when they are positioned in a rear-facing car seat since their chins are raised against their chest. In forward-facing car seats the chin may be pulled down and this can make it difficult for children to breathe. Kids who doze off in a car seat that faces the front are seven times more likely than those who sleep in a rear facing car seat to sustain injuries to their heads.
Another important factor to consider is that the brain and spine are still developing, which makes them more susceptible in the case of a crash. In a forward-facing crash, an infant's head can hit the dashboard or buckle of the seat belt and it could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or even death. This is why it's important to keep your child in the rear-facing car seat for as long as is possible, until they've reached the height and weight limit of their infant car seat.
Some infant car seats have a special insert to support the head of the infant. It can be removed when a child outgrows it. In addition, a lot of car seats come with load bar or anti-rebound features that help absorb the force of an accident. This is crucial because it reduces the impact on your child and could stop them from being thrown from their seat.
NHTSA recommends keeping your child in the rear-facing infant seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. After Pushchairs And Prams , they can move to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing as they grow.
Rugs are easy to clean.
All car seats, regardless of whether they are convertibles or all-in-one car seats can be removed quickly and easily. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems and strollers to run errands while on the move. They are also easy to clean. Many have machine-washable covers and parts that are removable and can be cleaned in the washer and dried. This is crucial, especially for children who can be messy.
In the event of an accident the rear-facing position will cradle the child's neck and head. This is especially important for young children. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they possess a lot of cartilage. When they collide their head can move backwards and stretch their spinal cords and causing severe injuries. Many experts in car safety recommend that children remain in the rear for as long as is possible.
It's tempting to switch your child from a front-facing seat to a booster when they are ready, but each switch lowers their protection in the event of a crash. In a frontal crash the child's head could be dropped towards the side and possibly impact the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the chance of injuries. The ideal is for children to ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing weight or the maximum height for their seat, or until they turn 2 years old.
If you're not sure whether your child is transitioning out of the rear-facing seat, contact an CPST certified local to your area for advice. They can help you determine the best age for your child to turn around, and ensure that they're properly and safely in their seat.
Many parents think that their child is no longer a baby car seat when they reach their maximum rear-facing weight or height limit. However, there are a number of things to take into consideration in addition to the size of your car and the unique body shape of your child. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is no longer above the top of the seat. For more information on recline safety, refer to your car seat's manual as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle.