Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat

A car seat for newborns, also known as an infant safety seat or a baby car seat, is a way to protect infants from injury and even death in vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraint force over the child's body and head instead of the neck or spinal cord.

These seats are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, and with a range of weight and height limits. These seats can also be part of a set for travel that can be converted into a stroller base.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing newborn child car seats provide unbeatable protection in accidents for infants. They are designed to support and cradle children, protecting their head, neck, and spine. In addition, they help to disperse the impact of a crash from hitting your child's body which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the body of your child is not hitting the car seat for newborn (Mykindadoctor blog article) seat or the front passenger seat, but instead a soft, padded surface inside their car seat.

According to the AAP, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that parents keep their child rear facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight or height limit. The majority of children outgrow their infant car seat around the age of 1, at which point they are able to transition to convertible car seats that can be oriented forward. But, many parents prefer to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat until their 2nd birthday.

There are two kinds of rear-facing car seats convertible car seats. Both are equally safe, but each offers different features. For example, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter and come with a quick release base that can be easily detached from the car, and then reattached to a stroller base. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, but they do not come with an integrated stroller base.

Whatever seat you pick it is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions and always use the seat in the back of your vehicle. You can also place a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch straps and your child's harness to ensure the harness is tight. Ensure that the lower anchors of your car seat are securely installed and are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars.

There is a lot of debate over how long a baby should ride rear-facing, research shows that babies up to 12 months old are less likely to be injured in car accidents if they are facing the back of the car. Car seats with rear-facing seats allow babies to feel less stress when they strike the car's front instead of the rear which can result in serious injuries.

Forward-facing

The majority of parents have given a lot of attention to their baby's car seat. It was one of the most important items on the baby registry and was the method you used to get your baby home from the hospital. Now that your child is older though, you might be thinking about turning the car seat around to facing forward. It's important to keep it in mind that your child's not ready until they reach the weight and height limits that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat.

As long as your baby weighs at least 20 lbs and a year old, they should remain rear-facing. This is because babies younger than one year don't have neck muscles that can withstand the whiplash caused by being thrown forward in an accident. They are also at a higher risk of spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions.

You can buy a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows your child to remain rear-facing until they reach the height and weight limit for the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant seats that come with the base that you can install in your vehicle. They are also detached from the base and attached to strollers to form travel systems. However, they tend to have smaller maximum weight and height limits than a standard convertible car seat.

Alternatively, you can get a booster seat. These seats are fitted with a harness and can be converted into a booster seat which allows your child to wear a seat belt when they are ready. The primary benefit of this kind of car seat is that it will remain in your vehicle through the childhood years, making it easy to transport your child from one vehicle to another.

No matter which car seat you pick be sure to read the instruction manual and follow the installation guidelines. Consult a certified car safety technician to ensure your child's car seat is properly installed and is used in a safe manner. Car seat misuse is very frequent, and even the most well-meaning parents can injure their children if they don't understand what they're doing. It is recommended to read the instructions on the car seat and follow the guidelines of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents choose to purchase convertible infant car seats because they can expand with your baby and allow them to travel in a safe manner from the time of infancy until toddlerhood. These seats are cheaper than infant seats and have a longer lifespan. It's important to select the right model that is compatible with your vehicle and is easy to install. Additionally, be sure to keep your baby safe by securing them properly every time.

Snug straps keep the head from slipping to a risky chin-to-chest stance which could lead to strangulation or asphyxiation. Many infant carseats come with straps that are loose or not buckled, and this is a serious safety risk. Unbuckled straps may cause necks to hang and cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap isn't enough tight to pass the pinch test, it could cause danger. This test determines if the crotch buckle is close enough to stop a baby's legs from slouching down in the seat and causing them to be injured or trapped.

Some convertible car seats for newborns come with an adjustable torso height, which lets you adjust the height limit to suit the growth of your child. The torso's minimum height should be equal to the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert that will aid in raising your child to the right height.

The best car seats infant convertible newborn car seat should have a snug fit, comfortable padding and a slender base that lets you put it in your vehicle. It should also have an incredibly snug, secure harness that passes the pinch test as well as a short, tightly rolled blanket or towel in case there is an accident. It should also have an tether strap that is attached to your vehicle's anchor points, which can reduce crash injuries by decreasing the force of impact on your infant. Additionally it should include an infant travel system that consists of an infant car seat that can be paired with a stroller and a handle you use to carry the baby from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

Parents have a lot to consider when they're choosing the right car seat for their newborns. Car seats are an important purchase for families who are starting a new life and their use can reduce the likelihood that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle accident injury by 71. The decision between an portable infant car seat car seat and a convertible car seat is based on some key factors such as safety features, compatibility with your vehicle and the ease of use.

Car seats for infants are created with the delicate body of a newborn in mind. They usually come with a base that stays in the car and the carrier snaps into place, making it easy to move your baby from car to stroller and back again without causing any disturbance to them. They also have built-in harnesses and a crotch strap to keep your baby secure.

Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection, which is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the baby's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic and foam that absorbs energy and shields the head of the infant car seat travel from direct contact with the vehicle frame or other objects in the event of a collision. Some come with a special pod that extends from the door to shield the child's head.

Another security feature that's becoming more prevalent in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps flat across the chest of your baby. The straps aren't strained or bending around shoulders, which could put your child at risk of injury. If you choose a car seat that has this feature, ensure the chest clip is set at armpit level. Do not dress your baby in bulky outerwear as this could interfere with the harness.

Regardless of which type of car seat you pick, check that it's installed in your vehicle in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer. Look for the lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system, which consists of a connector that clips into a car's lower anchor points and an tether strap that is attached to the top of the seat and connects to an anchor inside your vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a seatbelt can be used to secure car seats.