Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant seat suppresses the force of an impact in a crash and protects your child's neck and head. They also keep your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat during a crash, which can cause serious injury 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 infant car seats and convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specially designed for babies and smaller infants.
A rear facing infant car seat is a specific kind of car seat for children that is only available in a rear-facing position. These seats are designed for newborns and smaller babies generally up to 35 pounds. The base of these seats is narrower than that of other car seats. They are perfect for small cars and make it easier to store them on the back of the seat. In addition, most infant car seats can be snipped into strollers to make traveling with a baby much easier.
Rear-facing infant car seats are recommended for preemies and babies born before 37 weeks gestation. They offer more room and a better fit than standard car seats, which can be difficult for a small baby to get into and out of. The infant car seat offers more head and cervical 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 in the rear until they reach their maximum weight and height for the car seat, or at around two years old. This is based on the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to strengthen in this position, which could prevent injuries to the spine. It is important to keep in mind that infants and children are more prone to suffer severe injuries when facing forward.
In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant seat absorbs the majority of the impact's force, protecting the baby's head, neck and spine. When a child is seated in a chair that faces forward, their heads may be thrown into the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injury.
Many parents believe that their child is ready to get an adult booster seat or a forward-facing one around the age of two. However, this is a major mistake. It is safer for children to stay rear facing in their car seat until they reach three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae can mature and ossify.
They are simple to put in and take down.
Most rear-facing infant car seats have a snap-on base which can be removed from the vehicle when not in use. This feature is convenient and allows parents to ensure their child is in the seat without having to get out of the vehicle, especially in stormy weather or at night when it is more difficult. It is also simple to switch between cars and give grandparents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
When your child has outgrown their car seat for infants in weight and height and height, it's time to move on to a booster or convertible. It's crucial to keep in mind that children are safer when they are in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible. Many safety experts suggest that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach their second birthday or the maximum weight and height limit set by the car seat manufacturer.
In a frontal crash, a baby riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs majority of the forces in a crash by absorbing them around their head, neck, and the spine. If a child is rear-facing in a car seat the force of crashing could cause their head to be thrown forward leading to serious injuries or death.
If you're concerned about your child's safety while rear-facing, try to keep them warm with blankets and avoid putting a loose one behind or underneath them. Be cautious when wearing bulky clothing that could interfere with the tightness of the harness. Also, ensure that the chest clip sits flat against their shoulder and the harness straps are secure with no looseness.
Many child safety experts claim that rear-facing car seats will safeguard children five times better in a crash when they are riding for longer. This is due to the fact that during a crash, children' heads - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - could be thrown forward using force that could otherwise be absorbed by their torsos and necks. With rear-facing seats the head of a child is supported by the seat's headrest and is held by their backs during an accident, shielding them from the most significant injuries.
They protect the head and neck of your child.
If a child is in the rear-facing car seat their neck and spinal cord is cradled against the back of the child's safety seat in the event of a collision. In a frontal crash (the most frequent), infants in forward-facing car seats are thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are cradled by the back of their car seats, and their heads are supported and cushioned by the headrest.
Infants also have a significantly easier breathing experience when they are sitting in a rear-facing car seat since their chins are raised 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 for them to breathe. In fact, children who lie down in a car seat that is forward-facing are 75% more likely be injured in the head than those who doze in a rear-facing car seat.
The brain and spine of a newborn are still developing. This makes them more vulnerable to a crash. In a crash with an infant facing forward 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, which can result in serious injury or even death. This is why it's so important to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as is possible, until they've reached the weight and height limits of their infant car seat.
Some infant car seats have a special insert to support the head of the baby. When a child has outgrown it, the insert can be removed. Many car seats also have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb the energy from a crash. This is important because it reduces the impact on your child and may even keep them from being thrown from their seat.
NHTSA recommends keeping your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat. After that, they can move to an all-in-one or convertible car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing as they grow.
The rugs are easy to clean.
No matter if you choose an infant car seat that is attached to a base within your vehicle or a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that are all designed to be easy and quick removal. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems and strollers to run errands while on the move. pushchairsandprams are also easy to clean. A lot of seats have covers that can be removed and parts that can be washed and dried in the washing machine. This is important, especially when you have children who are messy.
The position that is rear facing is where a child's head is cradled in the neck in the event of a collision, which is critical for young children. Their heads contain a lot of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than those of adults. During a collision the head could move backwards and stretch their spinal cords and leading to serious injuries. Many car safety experts suggest that children stay rear-facing for as long as is possible.
Although it's tempting to move your child to booster seats when they seem ready but every front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll have in a crash. In a frontal crash, the child's head will be turned to the side and could possibly hit the plastic shell or dashboard. This increases the risk of injuries. Ideally, kids should ride rear-facing until they have reached the maximum weight rear-facing or height limit for their seat, or until they turn 2 years old.
If you're unsure if your child is able to transition out of their rear-facing seat, consult a certified CPST in your area that can assist. They can assist you in determining the appropriate age for your child to turn around, and ensure they're riding correctly and safely in their seat.
Many parents mistakenly believe that they have outgrown their car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. However, there are a number of factors to consider in addition to the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is no longer over the top of the seat. For more information about safe recline, consult your car seat's manual as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle.