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Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat

Children under one year should not ride facing in the direction of forward. In a crash their neck muscles may weaken and be stretched and cause serious injuries.

Instead change to FF when your child reaches the weight or height limits of their current seat (or the minimums required for the new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position can also help prevent your baby from crashing their head against the back of the car seat which could cause serious injuries.

All forward-facing infant seats feature five-point harnesses. They ensure the child's safety by simply pulling the straps. The shell of the carrier is lined with energy-absorbing EPS for better impact protection. Some models also come with a canopy that provides shade from the sun.

The best infant carseats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster, that allows you to choose the right angle for your child's head to stop them from falling over in a collision. The seat also has a top tether strap that is attached to the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor in your vehicle. It is important to keep in the mind that your child may not require switching to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height that is listed in the instruction manual for the seat you're using.

It's time to switch when your child is 20 pounds and one year old. Babies and toddlers under one year old have loose, soft neck muscles that can cause whiplash when they are in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most severe and frequent type) they are more likely to suffer serious neck injuries. When kids under 1 year are rear-facing their heads are cushioned by the car seat and protected from sudden movements that can stress their necks.

When children transition to a forward-facing car seat they should use a convertible or all-in-one seat that has a strong rear-facing weight and a height limit. They should not be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirement, which usually means around age 4 or 5. You can notice the differences in these seats when you watch these crash videos however, remember that the video is reduced in speed. If a child moves too fast, they could be injured.

Comfort

A forward facing infant car seat allows your child to ride in comfort and stay secure during a crash. The seat features a soft headrest, body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell to protect your child from a collision. The seat has a five-point safety harness which can be tightened with a single pull and a center-front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is in the right position. A retractable sun canopy helps shield your baby from the sun. For safety the seat is designed to lock with the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the latch buckle secure when not in use.

If your child complains of discomfort during a journey or seems to slump forward when sleeping the seat's angle may be too low for the child. This can be corrected by placing a towel that is tightly folded underneath the front of your car seat. If this doesn't work then you can bring your baby to Rockridge Kids to have us check the angle of their carseat.

Keep in mind that children shouldn't face forward until they weigh at 20 pounds and are one year old. Their necks are still not strong enough to take the force of a collision, if they were to fall forward on their own. Some experts suggest waiting longer, as the bones and muscles of young children are more flexible than those of adults.

Many parents opt to purchase convertible car seats that lets their infants move rearwards until they reach maximum weight or height limits. This allows them to benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer, and makes it more convenient for parents since they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position.

The Graco 4Ever Convertible Car seat is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40lbs) to a forward-facing harness as well as a high-back seats (30-100 lb) and then to a belt-positioning backless seat (40-120 lbs). It's simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest in tandem, without having to re-thread.

Convenience

A forward facing infant car seat is a fantastic option for traveling with a child who is young. It lets you view your child's view while driving, and allows all of your family members to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with a stroller making it much easier to take your child in and out of your car to go to the grocery store or other errands.

Even when your child is at the age where they can change to a car seat that is forward-facing it is best to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. From the point of view of crash tests, children's head is safer in the event of a crash if they face backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body -- head as well as neck and torso is held by the back of the car seat when they face in this direction.

Check the instructions of the manufacturer to determine when you can rotate your child's seat. There will be an upper weight and height limit you shouldn't go over, as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These limits are designed to safeguard your child as they grow.

Another thing to consider is whether you have a vehicle that has tether anchors for your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is correctly installed and tied to your vehicle's anchor points according to the directions in the manual. Additionally, you'll need to make sure that the harness shoulder straps are placed at or just above the shoulders of your child and not too high or low because this can affect the way they are secured in the event of an accident.

A convertible car seat is a good option for parents with more than one child or who intend to have more children. It is a one-stop car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat in front seat car seat, then move your child to a forward-facing position once they are old enough and have reached the weight or height limit for the rear-facing car seat.

Style

The baby car seat was a must-have for your child and you've spent much time deciding the best one. However, as they age and begin to outgrow their car seat for infants, you might be wondering if it's the right time to switch them around.

While the idea of facing your child forward is exciting, there are several important safety aspects to be aware of. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their particular car seat.

Keep in mind that children vary in size and age. You shouldn't base your decision on a specific date on the calendar or if you think that they have reached their maximum length. It may appear that a child is bigger in a rear-facing car seat, but this does not mean that it's safe to turn the child around. Their bones and spine aren't fully developed.

Some infant car seats come with an alarm that reminds that your child to remain rear-facing until they're one year old. This is because children younger than one do not have strong enough neck muscles that can withstand a frontal impact that could cause serious spinal injuries.

Many rotating infant car seat car seats are not just safe, but also easy to use. Some of these include bases that snap into and out of the car which allows you to take your child from the car to a stroller and back. They are typically part of an overall travel system.

If you're about to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, make sure you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer and check the fit of the car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side, or front to rear when properly installed. The harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have any concerns or questions ask an accredited car seat safety technician in your area or call the car seat manufacturer.