Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
In the event of a crash rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of the crash and protects your baby's head and neck. They also prevent your child's legs from striking the front of the carseat in a crash, which could result in serious injury or even death.
All toddlers and infants must be rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height of the car seat manufacturer. This includes infant car seats and convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seat is specifically designed for infants, smaller infants.
A rear facing infant car seat is a particular kind of child car seat that only has an rear-facing position. These seats are designed to hold newborns and smaller infants, typically up to 35 pounds. The seat's base is narrower than that of other car seats. They are perfect for cars with small trunks and make it easier to store them on the back of the seat. Additionally, the majority of baby car seats can be snapped into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.
Infants born before 37 weeks of gestation are also advised to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are more spacious and are more well-fitted than standard car seats that can be difficult to access and out of for very tiny babies. The infant car seat also provides greater neck and head support than a front-facing car seat, which could assist in protecting preemies as well as infants from injuries in a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight for their car seat, or around two years old. This is because the spine of the child is more able to strengthen in this position and can prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that infants and children are more likely to suffer severe injuries when they are facing forward.
In the event of an accident the rear-facing seat absorbs the bulk of the impact, protecting the baby's head, neck, and spine. If a child is sitting in a chair that faces forward, their heads may be placed in the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready to move to an adult booster seat or a forward-facing car seat at around two years old. However, this is a major mistake. It is safer for kids to remain rear-facing in their car seat until they reach three or four years old, according to recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child is rear-facing, the more cervical vertebrae will grow and become ossified.
They are easy to install and take down.
The majority of rear facing infant car seats come with a snap-on base that is fitted into your car and can be easily removed when no longer required. This feature is convenient and allows parents to keep their child in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially during bad weather or during nights when it may be more difficult. It also makes it simple to change vehicles and allows grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
Once your child has outgrown their infant car seat in terms of height or weight, it is time to upgrade to a booster or convertible. It is important to keep in mind that children are safer if they ride rear-facing for as long as they can. Many safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until their second birthday, or the maximum weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a collision that is frontal infants in a rear-facing car seat absorbs most of the force from the collision by taking it in at the neck, head and the spine. However, when the child is facing forward their head is being pushed forward due to the force of the crash and could cause a stretch in their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.
If you're worried about your child's safety while facing backwards, try keeping them warm with blankets and avoid placing loose ones under or behind them. Be cautious not to dress them in bulky clothing because this can compromise the tightness and fit of the harness. The last thing to do is ensure that the chest clip is level against the shoulder and the harness straps have no slack.
Many child safety experts believe that if children sit in rear-facing car seats for longer, they'll be five times more protected in the event of a crash. This is due to the fact that in a crash, kids' heads are huge for their bodies - can be thrown forward with force that could otherwise be absorbed 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 during a crash, protecting them from the most serious injuries.
They are designed to protect your child's head and neck.
When an infant is riding in a rear-facing car seat, their neck and spinal cord are cradled against the back of the safety seat in the event of a crash. In a frontal accident (the most common) infants in car seats that face forward are hit by the dashboard. This can result in neck injuries, and even death. Infants in rear facing seats are held and cushioned by their car seat's back and their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants also have a significantly easier breathing experience when they are positioned in a rear-facing car seat as their chins are raised against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the chin can be pushed down and it can be difficult for children to breathe. In fact, children who lie down in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely to be injured in the head than those who doze in a rear-facing car seat.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that a baby's spine and brain are still developing, which makes them more susceptible in the event of a crash. In the event of a crash that involves 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. It's important to keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat.
Some infant car seats come with an insert specifically designed to support the head of the baby. This can be removed after a child outgrows it. In addition, many car seats come with load bar or anti-rebound features that help absorb the force of the crash. This is important as it minimizes the impact on your child and could even keep him from being ejected.
NHTSA suggests that you keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until he or she is at the weight and height limits of their car seat. When they do, they should transition to an convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat that can be used with rear-facing and converted to forward facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
All car seats, whether they are convertibles or all-in one car seats can be removed easily and quickly. In many cases, they click directly into frame strollers and travel systems to run errands while on the move, which makes life so much simpler! infant car seat travel are also easy to clean. Many come with machine-washable covers as well as removable parts that can be washed in a washing machine and dryer. This is crucial, especially when you have children who are messy.
The position of the rear cradles a child's head and neck in the event of a collision that is crucial for young children. Their spinal cords and heads are more flexible, and they also have a lot of cartilage. When they collide the head could be able to snap backwards, stretching their spinal cords and leading to serious injuries. Many car safety experts recommend that children stay rear-facing for as long as is possible.
While it's tempting to transition your child into booster seats when they appear ready but each front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they have in the event of a crash. In a frontal collision, the child's head would be thrown to the side and possibly strike the dashboard or plastic shell. This increases the chance of injury. Idealy, children should be riding rearwards until they reach the weight limit of their rear-facing seat or maximum height, or until two years old.
If you're not sure if your child is able to transition out of their rear-facing seat, consult a certified CPST in your area who can assist. They can help you determine the moment when your child is ready to turn around and make sure they are riding 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. But there are a myriad of things to take into consideration, including the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in recline indicators that show you when your child's head is not extending past the top of their seat. For more information on safe reclining, check the manual for your car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle.