Why Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Is A Lot More Dangerous Than You Realized

Why Infant Car Seat Rear Facing Is A Lot More Dangerous Than You Realized

Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing

The most secure method to ensure your child is in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be transferred to the car seat facing forward when they reach the limit of their weight and height in their existing seat.

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Safety Benefits

Using an infant car seat rear facing is the safest option for babies and infants because of the way it supports and cradles their head and neck. Purva Grover MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, explains that since their spines are not yet fully ossed, it is crucial to keep the force of a crash away from their necks and heads. In a frontal collision the baby's head can hit the seat infront of them. This can cause a whiplash that is severe or even fatal. In the rear-facing car seat the impact is taken up by the seat and dissipated by the back of the vehicle. "It's like hugging," says Adele. In addition the child's legs are secured into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown forward by the rear of the seat or other vehicle surfaces. "This keeps them from colliding with their bodies, which can cause internal injuries," she explains.

Many parents avoid ERF because they believe their child is bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. He prefers sitting in the rear since the seat reclines, which allows him to read a book or watch a show while doing so.

If you have children who are reluctant to be rear-facing because of their leg length or other reasons, convince them that this is the safest option. Explain that they are able to stay in their convertible or all-in-one seats in the event that they don't exceed the height and weight limits that are set by the seat's manufacturer.

Also, make sure to buckle your child in a rear-facing car seat using the lower anchor system or seat belt. Don't let them wear bulky clothing such as winter coats. These can compress during a crash, causing the straps of the harness to loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always make use of the Pinch Test to ensure a secure fit.

Convenience

Many parents prefer keeping their infant car seats rear-facing for as long as is possible, as they are simple to use and are more portable than convertible car seats. If you keep your child rear-facing, they might need to be put in a crib or bassinet at nap or time to sleep. This could wake the child who is sleeping, which is not ideal. The benefits of rear-facing outweigh this inconvenience, but.

Preemies and newborns are smaller than full-term infants and therefore the headrest of their car seats is lower. This helps to reduce the impact of an accident. It also ensures that the chest clip of the harness is below or at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is particularly crucial for premature babies who have weaker bones and haven't ossified from pregnancy or birth.

Additionally the rear-facing position gives an excellent view of your child than facing forward. This allows you to observe their behavior, and ensure they are content and happy. Many infant car seats have a built-in mirror that can be adjusted so that you can see your child at any angle.

When your baby is outgrowing their car seat for infants, or attains the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer of their seat you can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear facing until they are at least two years old. Some even have higher rear-facing limits than the rear-only seats, meaning they can be used for longer.


Convertible car seats or all-in-ones are renowned for their flexibility. They can be used backward facing or forward facing and as a belt-positioning booster. They usually also have a larger base in the back of your vehicle making them easier to install and remove. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats however they last longer than an infant seat and can save you money in the long run.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing until the maximum height and weight limit that are set by the manufacturer of their car seat or until they reach at least two years old. It's common for children to outgrow their rear-facing infant car seat by the time they reach the age of two. However, it's best to hold off until they reach the age of two.

Weight Limits

All baby car seats have weight and height limits that you need to keep in mind. Most have a maximum weight of 30 to 35 pounds, and a height limit of 30 inches or so, based on the model. When your child has reached the limits, you can move to the next level of safety. You can choose a convertible seat that permits your child to be forward or rear-facing, or an all-in-one car seat.

There are other factors apart from the weight and height limit, that can tell you whether your child is ready to go up a level in a car seat. One of these is their level of comfort when riding backwards. You can check for these signs by watching your child's behavior and comparing them to other children their age in their car seats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety specialists at a car-seat inspection station, which is typically operated by local government or community groups.

Keep your infant rear-facing for as long as you can is safest for them, and it's easy to see why a lot of parents are hesitant to turn their children back until they're fully grown. You can avoid this temptation if you make sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and don't switch to a front-facing seat before they are ready, even the weight or height is close to the limits of their existing seat.

If you're uncertain whether your child is ready for the next car seat stage or you're concerned that you may not be installing their current car seat in a correct manner Contact a certified child passenger safety technician. These experts are available through community organizations, hospitals, local government offices, and child passenger safety programs. You can search for one near you or contact your local public safety agency or health department. Mobile car seat check-in events can be held at your office or home to ensure you have the correct equipment and are using them correctly.

Installation

The correct installation of a car seat is vital to ensure its safety. Sadly it is the case that the NHTSA reports that almost half of car seats are incorrectly installed (and this includes rear facing). The best way to make sure that your infant car seats are correctly installed is to read the manual, and after that, have them checked by an accredited car safety technician.

The first step to install an infant rear facing car seat is to check the angle. Make sure the car seat base is in a safe position for your baby's weight that is visible on the indicator on the base of the base or in its user's manual.

You should also be sure that your baby's head is at the right angle in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks, and a forward-facing posture could put pressure on their neck and spine during a crash. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of a car seat absorbs the majority of the crash force. This helps protect the baby's neck and the spinal cord.

When your child is at the weight limit or height of the infant car seat, it's time to move to a convertible seat or an all-in-one car seat.  infant car seats best  can be used in a rear-facing configuration until the front-facing limit. Be sure to get a new infant car seat with more rear-facing capacity if you switch to this type of car seat, because older models have lower limits.

If you choose an infant car seat that can be removed from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is an ideal option for parents who need to transport their infants in and out of the car regularly. The only downside to this is that it could be a hassle and time-consuming to get the stroller and car seat in and out of your car every time, particularly with a newborn. This is a great option for a lot of families, who are willing to invest the time to make it happen each time. Plan ahead and pick a day that you have plenty of time.