Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The safest way to ensure your child remains in a rear-facing infant car seat is to keep them there. Children should only be switched to a forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limits of their current car seat.

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Safety Benefits

Using an infant car seat rear facing is the safest option for newborns and babies because it supports and cradles their neck and head. "Since their spines aren't been ossified yet, it's vital to keep the force of a crash off their necks and heads," says Purva Grover, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments. In a frontal collision the baby's head will strike the seat in front of them. This can cause whiplash that can be severe or even fatal. However, with a rear-facing car seat, the impact is taken up by the seat, and dissipated through the rear of the vehicle. Adele says, "It feels like a hug." The child's legs can also be tucked in the car seat to prevent them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other vehicle surface. "This prevents a collision with their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents avoid ERF because they fear their child will be bored or uncomfortable. Neither has been true for my son, Lukas. In fact Lukas prefers to ride rear-facing because the seat's recline feature lets him sit on his legs and read an article or watch TV.

If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing due to their leg length or for other reasons you can convince them that this is the best infant carrier car seat option. Explain that your child can remain in the convertible or all-in one car seat so long as the weight or height limit is not exceeded.

Also, make sure to buckle your child in the rear-facing car seat securely using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Avoid letting them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They could compress when a collision occurs, which can cause the harness straps to become loose. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a tight fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping infant car seats rear-facing as long as they can, because they are more user-friendly and more mobile than convertible car seats. However placing your child in a rear-facing car seat could mean that they need to be taken out of the bassinet or crib at times of nap or at time of bed. This could result in waking the sleeping child and this isn't a good idea. However, the security advantages of rear facing far outweigh any discomfort.

The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term babies. This helps reduce the force of an impact and also ensures that the harness's chest clip is at or below their shoulders rather than at their necks. This is particularly important for premature babies who have weaker bones and aren't fully ossedified from pregnancy or birth.

The rear-facing position allows you to see your baby much better than the forward-facing position. This lets you monitor their behavior, and ensure they are happy and comfortable. The majority of infant car seats come with a built-in mirror that can be adjusted to ensure that you can observe your child from any angle.

When your child is no longer in their infant car seat, or attains the weight or height limit suggested by their seat manufacturer, you can switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that will allow them to remain rear-facing until they are at least two years old. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only seats which allows them to be used for a longer period of time.

Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are known for their versatility. They can be used in forward-facing or rear-facing positions or as belt positioning boosters. They are also easier to install and remove because they have a large base at the back of your vehicle. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however, they last longer than an rotating infant car seat seat and will save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limits allowed by their car seat manufacturer, or until they are at minimum two years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat before they turn two years old. However, it's best to wait.

Weight Limits

All infant car seats come with weight and height limits that you have to keep in mind. The majority of them have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of 30 inches or so, depending on the model. When your child has reached the limits, you can move to the next level of safety. You can opt for a convertible seat that permits your child to ride either forward or rear-facing or an all-in-one car seat.

Apart from the weight and height limit, there are also other indicators that show your child is prepared for the next stage of car seats, such as their level of comfort when riding rear-facing. You can check for these signs by watching your child's behavior and looking at other children in their carseats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is often operated by local governments or community-based organizations.

Remaining rear-facing for your infant for as long as is possible is the best car seat newborn option for them, and it's easy to see why a lot of parents are hesitant to turn their children around until they're mature. You can ward off this temptation if you make sure your child's car seat is properly installed and don't switch to a front-facing seat before they're ready even when their weight or height is near the limits of their existing seat.

Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have any concerns about your child's readiness for the next stage of car seats or if you are worried that you might not install the car seat correctly. These specialists are available through community groups, hospitals local government offices, and child safety programs. You can locate one close to you by looking online or by contacting your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that will visit your workplace or home to make sure you have the right equipment and are making use of it properly.

Installation

A car seat needs to be installed correctly in order to be efficient. Unfortunately the NHTSA reports that almost 50% of car seats are installed incorrectly (and this includes rear-facing). The best way to make sure that your child's car seats are installed correctly is to read through the manual, then have them professionally assessed by a certified vehicle safety technician.

Checking the angle is the first step in installing a rear-facing infant car seat. You can check the angle of the base on the side or in the manual to ensure it is safe for your child's weight.

It is also important to ensure that your baby's head is placed at the right angle when in the seat. The forward-facing position can create pressure on the neck and spine of babies due to their hefty heads and soft necks. If a rear-facing collision occurs, the car seat's back absorbs the majority of the crash force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord.

Once your baby has reached the weight limit or height of their infant car seat, it is time to transition to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, which can be used in the rear position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat, ensure that the new model has a greater rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits.

If you opt for an infant car seat that is able to be removed from the car and then reattached to the stroller, it is a great choice for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car frequently. It can be difficult and time-consuming to move your car seat and stroller into and out of your vehicle on a regular basis, especially in the case of a newborn. If you're willing to take the extra time each time to get it right, this can be a good alternative for many families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.