Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under the age of one year shouldn't ride facing forward. In the event of a crash weak neck muscles can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF when your child is at the maximum weight of their current seat or height (or the minimum required for the new car seat). Follow the directions for your car seats by age seat carefully.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to protect the neck and head of your child in the event of an accident. The forward facing position can also prevent your child from hitting their head on the back of the car seat which could result in serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward come with five-point harnesses that ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening, and the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved impact protection. Some have an umbrella that protects from the sun.

The best car seats infant infant car seats include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you choose the right angle for your child's head to stop them from flopping over in a collision. The top tether strap is attached to the vehicle's tether anchor and is positioned from the top rated infant car seats. It is important to remember that you might not have to switch your child to an forward-facing car seat until he or attains the maximum weight and height specified in the instruction manual for the seat.

It's time to switch when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if involved in an accident. They are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal crash (the most frequent and severe type). When children younger than 1 year ride rear-facing their head is protected by the car seat, and protected from sudden movements that could cause neck strain.

If children are moving to an forward-facing car seat they should still use a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a high rear-facing weight and height limit. They shouldn't be pushed to a booster seat until they meet the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements typically at around the age of 4 or 5. These crash videos will help you understand the differences between carseats. However, keep in mind that the video has been slowed down. Children can be injured if they move too quickly.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your baby safe and comfortable during an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from impact. The seat also features a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening and an adjustable center front adjuster to ensure your child is correctly positioned. A retractable sun canopy can shield your baby from the sun. The seat can be secured to the seat belt of your vehicle for safety. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle secure when the seat isn't being used.

If your child complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward during sleep the seat's angle might be too low for the child. You can remedy this by placing tightly folded towels underneath the front of the car seat newborn insert seat to lift it higher. If this doesn't help, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us assess the angle of their car seat.

It is vital to keep in mind that children are not ready to face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't strong enough to withstand the force that would be applied to them by a collision in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that allows their babies to move rearwards until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This lets parents benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing seat for a longer period of time. It can also make it easier for parents as they can easily change their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when their child is out of it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gives your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lbs) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, without re-threading.

Convenience

When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing infant car seat can be a great choice. This lets you see your child as you drive and the rest of your family members can enter the car without disturbing your toddler or lightweight baby car seat. This type of car seats can be used in conjunction with strollers, making it easier to get your child in and out of the vehicle when you go to the store or doing other tasks.

Even even if your child is the age at which they can change their car seat to one that faces forward it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you can. From the perspective of crash tests, a child’s head is more secure in a crash if they face backwards. This is because the entire body -- including the head neck, torso, and head is supported by the car seat's back when they're facing in this direction.

Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate the seat of your child. You will find that they have the maximum height and weight limit, and also specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap position. These limits are designed to protect your child as they grow.

Another thing to consider is whether you have an automobile with tether anchors for your car seat. If so, make sure that the tether strap is properly installed and secured to the anchor points of your vehicle according to the instruction in the manual of the 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 can affect how they're restrained during the event of a crash.

A convertible car seat is a great choice for parents with multiple children or who plan to have more children. This is a complete car seat that starts by being an infant car seat facing rear before moving your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat.

Style

You spent a lot time and effort deciding on the right car seat for your child. As your child grows and outgrows their infant car seat, you may wonder if it is time to turn the seat around.

While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be exciting, there are important safety considerations you should be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their specific car seat.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. Don't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you believe they have reached their maximum length. It may seem that a child is larger in a rear-facing car seat, but this does not mean that it's safe to turn your child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats have a built-in alarm to remind you to keep your child rear-facing until they're one year old. This is due to the fact that children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force which could result in serious spinal injuries.

Many infant car seats are not just safe, but also easy to use. Some include bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your child from the car to a stroller and then back. They are usually part of an overall travel system.

If you're ready to move your baby to forward-facing convertible car seats make sure you do it correctly by following the manufacturer's guidelines and then examining the car seat for tightness. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side or from front to back, when properly installed. The harness straps should be placed over the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions, talk to a certified car seat safety technician in your area or contact the manufacturer of your car seat.