Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under the age of one year should not ride facing forward. In the event of a crash neck muscles that are weak can stretch and cause serious injuries.

Switch to FF instead of FF once your child is at their current seat's maximum weight or height (or the minimum for a new car seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

Infant car seats are made to protect the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position also stops your child from hitting their head against the hard back of the seat which could cause serious injuries.

All infant car seats that face forward have five-point harnesses to ensure the child's safety with just one pull tightening. Additionally, the shell of the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for enhanced impact protection. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun.

The Best Infant Car Seat infant car seats will include an adjustable angle adjuster and an angle indicator. This lets you determine the right angle for your child's neck to stop it from slipping over in the event of a collision. The seat also has an upper tether strap that connects to the top of the car seat and hooks onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. You should keep in mind that you might not have to change your child's seat to a forward facing car seat until is at the maximum weight and height listed in the manual of the seat.

It's the time to switch to a different model when your child is 20 pounds and a year. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash in the event of a crash. They are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal collision (the most common and severe type). When children younger than 1 year are rear-facing their heads are protected by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that can strain their necks.

If children are moving to a forward-facing car seat, they should use a convertible seat or an all-in-one that has a strong rear-facing weight and a height limit. The child shouldn't be placed in an adult booster until they meet the height and age requirements for a high-back booster, which is usually around the age of 4 or 5 years old. You can see the difference in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, however, remember that the footage is reduced in speed. If a kid moves too fast, they may be injured.

Comfort

A forward-facing infant car seat allows your infant to ride in comfort and be secure in an accident. The seat has a soft headrest, a body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your child from any impact. The seat also comes with a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening and a movable front center adjuster that ensures your child is in the right position. A retractable canopy shields your child from sun. The seat can be secured to the belts of the vehicle for safety. It also comes with a clip to lock the buckle in place when the seat is not being used.

If your child complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to slump forward when they sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle could be too low for them. You can fix this by placing tightly folded towels underneath the front of the car seat to raise it up more. If this doesn't help, you can bring your child to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their car seat.

Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are a year old. Their necks are not strong enough to stand up to the force of a collision should they be thrown to the side on their own. Some experts suggest staying a bit longer, since the bones and muscles of children are more malleable.

Many parents opt to purchase a convertible car seat that allows their children to be backwards until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. This allows parents to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing seat for a longer amount of time. It also makes it easier for them because they can easily switch their child's seat from rear-facing to forward-facing when the child grows out of it.

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use in just one seat, ranging from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness with high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to install using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the headrest and harness together, with no re-threading.

Convenience

When traveling with a young baby, a forward-facing car seat is the best option. This allows you to see your child's face while driving and the rest of your family members can get into the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller making it much easier to carry your little one in and out of your car to go to the supermarket or other errands.

Even when your child is at the age where they can change to a car seat that faces forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you can. If you view it from the perspective of crash test results, a child's head is safer in a frontal crash if they are facing backwards. This is because the whole body -- including the head as well as neck and torso is held by the car seat's back when they are facing in this direction.

Review the directions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate your child's seat. There will be the weight and height limit that you shouldn't go over as well as specific rules for things like crotch buckles. These restrictions are designed to protect your child's safety as they grow.

It is also important to consider whether your vehicle has anchors for tethers. If so, make sure the strap is properly fitted and tied to the vehicle's anchor points according to the instruction in the manual for your seat. Additionally, you'll need to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are just above your child's shoulders and not too high or low, as this will affect how well they are secured in the event of a crash.

A good choice for parents with several children or are planning to have more, is a convertible car seat. It is a one-stop car seat that can start by being an infant car seat best car seat that faces rearwards before moving your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit of the rear-facing position of the car seat.

Style

The baby car seat newborn seat was a must-have for your child and you've spent much time deciding the best one. However, as they age and start outgrowing their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's time to switch them around.

While the idea of facing your child forward is thrilling, there are a few important safety considerations to keep in mind. Children should be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. You shouldn't base your decision solely on a particular date on the calendar or if you believe they have reached their maximum length. It may appear that a child is taller in a rear facing car seat, but that doesn't mean that it's safe to turn the child around. Their spine and bones haven't yet fully developed.

Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one don't have strong enough neck muscles to withstand the force of a frontal collision which could cause serious spinal injuries.

In addition to being safe and secure, many infant car seats come with practical features that make them easy to use. Some include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your baby from the car to a stroller, and back. They are often part the travel system.

If you're ready to switch your baby from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, be sure to follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and check the tightness of your car seat. The car seat newborn insert seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side, or front to rear when it is installed correctly. The harness straps must also be at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns about the fitting of your car seat, you can contact a certified safety technician in your area or the car seat manufacturer.