Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the forces of the crash and shields your baby's head and neck. In a crash they also stop your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat. This can result in serious injuries, or even death.
All toddlers and infants must ride rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of the car seat's manufacturer. This includes both infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically designed for newborns and smaller infants.
A rear-facing infant car seat is a type of child seat that only has a rearward-facing position. These seats are designed to hold infants and smaller infants with a maximum weight of 35 pounds. They also have a narrower base than other car seats. They are ideal for small cars and make it easier to store them on the back seat. Additionally, the majority of infant car seats can be converted into strollers to make 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 bigger and are more well-fitted than standard car seats, which are difficult to get in and out of for very small babies. The infant car seat offers more head and cervical support than a rear-facing car seat. This can to protect infants and small babies in the event of a collision.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children should remain rear-facing 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 the child is more able to strengthen in this position and can prevent injuries to the spine. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind that infants and younger children are more prone to suffering serious injuries from front-facing collisions.
In the event of a crash, the rear-facing infant seat absorbs the majority of the force generated by the collision, protecting the baby's head, neck and spine. When a child sits in a chair that faces forward, their heads may be dropped into the console or dashboard of the vehicle, which can cause serious injury.
Many parents believe that their child is ready to get an adult booster seat or a forward-facing one at around the age of two. However, this is a huge mistake. Recent studies published in BMJ injury prevention have shown that it is safer for children to remain 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 it is that their cervical vertebrae mature and develop ossification.
They are easy to set up and take down.
Most rear-facing infant car seats include a snap-on base that can be removed from your vehicle when not in use. This is a great feature that allows parents to keep the child in their car seat without leaving the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or the night when it's more difficult. It is also simple to switch between vehicles and allow parents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
Once your child outgrows their car seat for infants in weight and height, it's time to move on to a booster or convertible. It is important to keep in mind that children are safer if they ride rear-facing for as long as is possible. In fact, it is highly recommended by safety experts that children ride rear-facing until their second birthday or at the height and weight limit of the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal crash, a baby riding rear-facing in a car seat absorbs majority of the forces in the event of a crash by absorbing them on their head, neck, and spine. When 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 are concerned about your child's safety when facing rearwards, make sure they are warm with blankets. Avoid placing a loose blanket behind or under them. Also, be cautious about wearing bulky clothing that could interfere with the tightness of the harness. Last but not least, make sure that the chest clip is positioned flat against the shoulder and the harness straps are free of slack.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children ride in rear-facing car seats for a longer period of time they'll be five times more secure in the event of a crash. This is because during a crash, children head-on - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - can be thrown forward with force that could otherwise be absorbed by their torsos and necks. Seats that face the rear provide cushioning for the head of the child and shield them from serious injuries.
They protect the head and neck of your child.
When a baby is in a rear-facing car seat their neck and spinal cord are held against the back of the safety seat in the event of a collision. This is crucial because in a frontal crash (the most common kind of car accident) infants who are facing forward in cars are thrown from the dashboard, which can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear facing seats are cradled and cushioned by their car seat's back while their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants are also able to breathe more easily when they're in a rear facing car seat because their chin is pushed against their chest. When children are in forward-facing car seats, their chins are often pulled down, which can block their airways and make it difficult to breathe. In reality, children who sleep in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely to be injured in the head than those who lie down in a rear-facing car seat.

Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's spine and brain are developing, which makes them more susceptible in the event of a crash. In a crash with an infant positioned forward and the head of the child may hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to be stretched, which can result in serious injuries or even death. It is crucial 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 an insert specifically designed to support the baby's head. When baby car seat www.pushchairsandprams.uk is no longer using it, the insert can be removed. In addition, a lot of car seats come with load leg or anti-rebound bar features that can help absorb the impact of the crash. This is important since it minimizes the impact to your child and may even stop them from being thrown from their seat.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. When they do it, they should be moved to convertible car seats or an all-in-one car seat that can be used rear facing and then converted to forward facing as they grow.
They 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 are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems or strollers for errands on the go. They are also easy to clean. Many have machine-washable covers and removable parts that can be washed in a washer and dried. This is essential, particularly when you have children who are 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 are full of cartilage, and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. In the event of a collision, their head may snap backward and stretch their spinal cords, result in serious injuries. Many experts in car safety recommend that children stay rear-facing for as long as they can.
While it's tempting to transition your child into booster seats when they're ready but every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they have in a crash. In a frontal collision, the child's head could be dropped to the side and could possibly hit the plastic shell or dashboard. This increases the chance of injury. Idealy, children should be riding rearwards until they reach their rear-facing seat's maximum weight or maximum height or up to 2 years old.
If you are unsure whether your child is moving out of an rear-facing seat, consult a CPST certified in your area for advice. They can assist you in determining when your child is ready to turn around and make sure they are riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents think that their child is no anymore a baby car seat when they reach their maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. There are many factors to consider including the dimensions of your vehicle and the unique shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is not over the top of the seat. Make sure to check the instructions on your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle for more details on safe recline.