Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In a crash, a rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of the collision and shields your baby's neck and head. 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 infants and toddlers should be rear-facing until they reach the weight or height limit of the car seat's manufacturer. This includes both convertible seats and special infant car seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically designed for newborns and smaller infants.
A rear-facing infant car seat is one kind of child seat that has only a rearward-facing position. These seats are specifically designed for babies and infants, usually up to 35 pounds. They also have a smaller base than other car seats. They are great for small cars and make it easier to store them on the back of the seat. Additionally, the majority of baby car seats can be snipped into strollers to make travel with a baby a lot easier.
Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are also advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are more spacious and better fitted than standard car seats, which can be difficult to get into and out of for very tiny babies. The infant car seat offers more head and cervical support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can protect babies and preemies in the event of a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children should remain rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight and height for car seats or at around two years old. This is because the spine of children is more able to strengthen in this position and prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that infants and children are more prone to suffer severe injuries when they are facing forward.
In the case of a crash the rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the bulk of the impact's force and protects the baby's head, neck and spine. However, when a child rides in a forward-facing seat their disproportionately large heads can be thrown at the dashboard or console of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents think that their child is ready for a booster seat or a seat facing forward at around the age of two. This is a big mistake. It is safer for kids to remain rear-facing in their car seat until they are three or four years old, based on recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child is rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae can mature and develop ossification.
They are simple to put in and take down.
Most rear facing infant car seats come with an easy-to-install base that can be installed in your vehicle and can be easily removed when not needed. This is a great feature and allows parents to secure the child in their seat without leaving the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or night when it can be more difficult. It is also easy to change between vehicles and give grandparents or other caregivers access to the child's car seat.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat in height and weight then it's time to transition to a booster or convertible. It's crucial to keep in mind that children are safer when they're 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 weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal crash the baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the majority of the force from the collision by absorption around the neck, head and spine. However, when children ride forward-facing, their head is moved forward due to the force of the crash. This could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.
If you are worried about your child’s comfort when rear-facing, keep them warm by wrapping them in blankets. Avoid placing a blanket on top of or underneath them. Be cautious when dressing them in bulky clothes that might interfere with the tightness of the harness. The last thing to do is make sure that the chest clip is positioned flat against the shoulder and the harness straps have no gaps.
Many child safety experts claim that rear-facing car seats will protect children five times more in a crash if they ride for longer. This is due to the fact that in a crash, kids' heads are huge for their bodies - can be thrown forward using force that would otherwise be taken up by their torsos and necks. With rear-facing seats children's heads are cushioned by the seat's headrest and is cradled by their backs in a crash, protecting them from the most serious injuries.
They protect your child's head and neck.
In the event of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child in a rear facing car seat will be cradled by the back of the seat. In a frontal crash (the most frequent), infants in forward-facing car seats are being thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the rear of their car seat, and their heads are padded and supported by the headrest.
Infants are also able to breathe more easily when they're in a rear-facing car seat, as their chin is pushed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the face can be pushed downwards, which can make it difficult for children to breathe. Kids who doze off in a front-facing car are seven times more likely than kids who sleep in a rear-facing seat to suffer a head injury.
Another important factor to consider is that the spine and brain are still developing, which makes them more prone to injury in the event of an accident. If a collision occurs with an infant who is facing forward and the head of the child could hit the buckle on the dashboard or the seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to be stretched and could result in serious injury or even death. This is why it's important to ensure that your child is in a rear-facing car seat for as long as is possible, until they reach the height and weight limit of their infant car seat.
Some infant car seats come with an insert specifically designed to in supporting the head of a child. When a child has outgrown the insert, it can be removed. In addition, many car seats feature load bar or anti-rebound features that help absorb the impact of an accident. This is important as it reduces impact on your child and could even keep the child from being ejected.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in a rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limit for their particular car seat. Then, they can change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing when they grow.
They are easy to clean.
No matter if you choose an infant car seat that attaches to a base within your vehicle, or a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that are all designed to be easy and quick removal. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems or strollers to run errands while on the move. These seats are also easy to clean. They have covers that can be washed in the machine and parts that are removable and can be washed in a washing machine and dried. This is essential, particularly for children who are messy.
The position of the rear cradles a child's head and neck in the event of a crash, which is critical for children who are just starting out. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they have lots of cartilage. During a collision, their head may snap backward, stretching their spinal cords and causing serious injuries. Many car safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing for as long as possible.
Although it's tempting to move your child to booster seats when they seem ready but each front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in a crash. In forward facing infant car seat -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. Ideally, kids should ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight rear-facing or the maximum height for their seat, or until they reach the age of 2.
If you're unsure if your child should be moving out of an rear-facing seat, consult an CPST certified person in your area for assistance. They can assist you in determining the moment when your child is ready to change seats and make sure they are riding safely in their car seat.
Many parents mistakenly assume their child is outgrowing their infant car seat once they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. But there are a myriad of factors to consider such as the size of your car and your child's unique body shape. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is no longer above the top of the seat. For more information about safe reclining, check your car seat manual and the owner's manual of your vehicle.