Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In a crash, a rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of the crash and shields your baby's head and neck. They also prevent your child's legs from striking the front of the carseat in a crash, which could result in serious injuries or even death.
All toddlers and infants should ride rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit of the car seat's manufacturer. This includes both infant car seats and convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are designed for babies and infants who are smaller.
A rear facing infant car seat is a kind of car seat for children that is only available in an rear-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and small children usually up to 35 pounds. They also have a narrower base than other types of car seats. This makes them suitable for small vehicles and also helps make space in the back of the vehicle. Many infant car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a child more convenient.
Rear-facing infant car seats are also recommended for babies and preemies born prior to 37 weeks gestation. They offer more room 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 provides greater neck and head support than a standard front-facing car seat, which can help to protect preemies and infants from injuries during a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain in the rear until they attain their maximum weight and height for car seats or when they reach the age of two years old. This is due to the fact that the spine of children will be stronger in this position and prevent spinal injuries. Additionally, it is important to note that infants and younger children are more prone to suffering serious injuries in front-facing collisions.
In the case of a crash the rear-facing infant seat absorbs the majority of the force of impact and protects the infant's head, neck and spine. If a child is sitting in a seat that is facing towards the front, their heads could be dropped into the dashboard or console of the vehicle, causing serious injury.
Many parents believe that a child is ready for the transition to a 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 better for children to be rear-facing in their car seats until the age of three or four. The longer a child remains rear-facing in their car seat the more likely that their cervical vertebrae will grow and develop ossification.
Installation and removal is easy.
The majority of rear-facing infant car seats include a snap-on base that can be removed from the vehicle when not in use. This is a useful feature and allows parents to secure the child in their car seat without getting out of the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or night when it can be more difficult. It also makes it easier to change cars and give grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
When your child is outgrowing their infant car seat in weight and height and height, it's time to transition to a booster or convertible. However, it's important to remember that children are safer when they remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Many safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach their second birthday or the maximum weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
In a frontal collision, a baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the majority of the impact force absorption around the neck, head and spine. However, when a child rides forward-facing, their head is being pushed forward due to the force of the crash and could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.
If you're worried about your child's safety facing backwards, try keeping them warm with blankets and avoid putting a loose one behind or underneath them. Be cautious not to dress them in bulky clothing since this could compromise the tightness and fitting of the harness. Last but not least, make sure that the chest clip is positioned flat against the shoulder and that the harness straps are free of looseness.
Many child safety experts claim that rear-facing car seats will protect children five times better in a crash if they ride for longer. This is due to the fact that in a crash, kids head - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - could be thrown forward with force that could otherwise be taken up by their torsos and necks. With rear-facing seats the head of a child is supported by the seat's headrest and is cradled by their backs in a crash, protecting them from the most serious injuries.
They guard the head and neck of your child.
In the event of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child sitting in a rear-facing car seat is secured by the back of the seat. In a frontal accident (the most frequent) infants in car seats that face forward are being thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are cradled by the back of their car seat and their heads are padded and supported by the headrest.
Infants are also able to breathe easier when they are in a rear-facing car seat, as their chin is pushed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the chin can be pushed down and it can be difficult for children to breathe. Children who fall asleep in a front-facing car are 75% more likely than kids who doze off in a rear-facing car seat to suffer an injury to their head.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's brain and spine are still developing, which makes them more susceptible in the case of an accident. In a crash with an infant facing forward the head of the child may hit the buckle on the dashboard or seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to become stretched and could result in serious injuries or even death. It's important to keep your infant in a rearward-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat.
Some infant car seats have a special insert to support the head of the baby. When a child is no longer using the insert, it can be removed. Many car seats also have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb impact of a collision. This is crucial since it minimizes the impact on your child, and may even prevent him from being ejected.
The recommendation of NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the height and weight limit of their car seat. Once car seat inserts for newborns reach that point, they should transition to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats that can be used rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing as they increase in height.
They are easy to clean.
All car seats, whether they are convertibles or all-in one car seats are able to be removed quickly and easily. In many cases, they snap directly into frame strollers and travel systems to run errands while on the move making life much simpler! They are also easy to clean. A lot of seats have covers that can be removed and parts that are removable, which can be cleaned and dried in the washing machine. This is particularly important since children can be messy!
The rear facing position can protect a child's head and neck in the event of a crash that is crucial for children who are just starting out. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they possess a lot of cartilage. In the event of a collision their head can move backwards, stretching their spinal cords, result in serious injuries. Many experts in car safety recommend that children stay rear-facing for as long as they can.
Although it's tempting to put your child to booster seats when they appear ready but every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in the event of a collision. In a front-facing crash their heads could be thrown forward, and could be struck by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, increasing the risk of injury. It is recommended that children 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 are unsure whether your child is transitioning from the rear-facing seat, contact a CPST certified in your area for help. They can help you determine the ideal age at which your child can turn around, as well as ensure that they're properly and safely in their car seat.
Many parents believe that their child has outgrown their car seat when they grow out of the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. There are many factors to consider including the size of your car and your child's unique shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that will let you know when your child's neck is no more over the top of the seat. For more information about recline safety, refer to your car seat's manual as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle.