Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of the impact and shields your baby's head and neck. They also protect your child's legs from striking the front of the car seat in the event of a crash, which can cause serious injury or even death.
All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing when they reach the maximum weight or height of the car seat manufacturer. This applies to infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are designed for babies and infants who are smaller.
A rear-facing infant car seat is one kind of child car seat that is only rearward-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and small children, typically up to 35 pounds. They also have a wider base than other types of car seats. This makes them perfect for small vehicles and also helps reduce the space needed in the back of the car. Additionally, the majority of infant car seats can be snapped into strollers to make travel with a baby a lot easier.
Rear facing infant car seats are also recommended for preemies and babies born prior to 37 weeks gestation. They provide more space and more comfort than standard car seats, which can be difficult for a small baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat gives more head and cervical support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can help protect preemies or smaller babies in the event of a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their car seat, or about two years old. This is due to the fact that the spine of the child is more able to strengthen in this position, and help prevent injuries to the spine. In addition, it is important to note that children who are infants or younger are more likely to sustain severe injuries in front-facing crashes.
In the event of an accident, the rear-facing seat will absorb the majority of the collision, thereby protecting the baby's neck, head, and spine. When a child rides in a forward-facing seat, their heads, which are large, can be thrown against the vehicle's dashboard or console which can cause serious injuries.
Many parents believe that their child is ready to move to an adult booster seat or a forward-facing car seat at around the age of two. But this is a major mistake. Recent studies published in BMJ injury prevention show that it is more secure for children to sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child stays rear-facing in their car seat, the more likely it is that their cervical vertebrae will mature and develop ossification.
Installation and removal is easy.
Most rear-facing infant car seat include a snap-on base that can be removed from the vehicle when not in use. This is a great feature that allows parents to keep the child in their seat without having to get out of the vehicle, particularly in bad weather or at night when it can be more difficult. It also makes it easy to change cars and to give grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
Once your child outgrows their infant car seat in height and weight then it's time to transition to a convertible or booster. It's crucial to remember that children are much safer when they are in the rear-facing car seat as long as they can. Many safety experts suggest that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach their second birthday, or the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal collision the baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs most of the force from the collision by absorbing it at the neck, head and the spine. If 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 worried about your child's safety when facing rearwards, make sure they are warm by wrapping them in a blanket. Avoid placing a blanket that is loose behind or beneath them. Be cautious not to dress them in bulky outerwear since this could compromise the tightness and fitting of the harness. Make sure that the chest clip is flat against their shoulder and that the harness straps are snug with no gaps.
Many child safety experts say that rear-facing car seats protect children five times better in the event of a crash, if they ride for longer. This is due to the fact that during a crash, children' heads - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - can be thrown forward by force that is normally absorbent by their torsos as well as necks. Seats that face the rear cushion the child's head and shield them from serious injuries.
They will protect your child's head and neck.
In the case of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child who is in a rear-facing car seat will be secured by the back of the seat. In a frontal crash (the most frequent) infants in forward-facing car seats are thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, and even death. Children in rear-facing seats are held and padded by their car seat's back while their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants also have a significantly easier breathing experience when they are placed in a rear-facing seat as their chins are raised against their chest. When children are in forward-facing car seats, their chins are frequently downwards, which could block their airways and make it difficult to breathe. In fact, children who lie down in a car seat that is forward-facing are 75% more likely to suffer head injury than those who doze in a rear-facing car seat.
A baby's spine and brain are still developing. This makes them more prone to accidents. In the event of a crash that involves an infant positioned forward the head of the child could hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This can cause the spinal cord to become stretched, which can result in serious injury or even death. It's important to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat.
Some infant car seats come with an insert specifically designed to support the head of a baby. This can be removed once a child outgrows it. Additionally, many car seats have load leg or anti-rebound bar features that can help absorb the energy of an accident. This is important since it lessens the impact on your child, and could prevent them from being ejected 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 for their specific car seat. Once they reach that point, they should transition to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seats that can be used rear-facing and then converted to forward facing as they increase in height.
They are easy to clean.
If you purchase an infant car seat that attaches to a base within your vehicle, or a convertible or all-in one car seat that are all designed to be easy and quick removal. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems and 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 removable parts that can be washed in the washer and dried. This is especially important as children are messy!
In the case of an accident, the rear-facing position will cradle a child's neck and head. This is especially crucial for children who are just starting out. Their heads are full of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. In the event of a collision the head could snap backward and stretch their spinal cords, causing severe injuries. This is the reason why many car safety experts recommend keeping kids rear-facing as long as possible.
It's tempting to move your child from a front-facing seat to a booster once they are ready, but each switch lowers their protection in a crash. In a frontal crash the child's head would be turned to the side and possibly hit the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the chance of injuries. Ideally, children should ride backwards until they reach the weight limit of their rear-facing seat or maximum height or until they reach 2 years of age.
If you are unsure whether your child is moving out of a rear-facing seat, ask an CPST certified in your area for help. They can assist you in determining the appropriate age for your child to turn around, and ensure that they're properly and safely in their car seat.
Many parents believe that their child is no longer a baby car seat when they reach their maximum rear-facing weight or height limit. There are best car seats for infants of things to consider, including the size of your car and the unique shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in recline indicators that show you when your child's head isn't extended beyond the top of their seat. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle for more details on safe recline.