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Infant Car Seat – What You Need to Know Most baby car seats can be dismantled from their base and slid into a stroller compatible with them to make it easy to transport. This feature makes them popular with parents who intend to take frequent trips out of town. No matter which car seat you select make sure your child is dressed in clothes that allow the harness straps to comfortably fit over their shoulders and hips. Large blankets or clothing can interfere with a snug harness fit. Rear-Facing Infant car seats (also called convertible car seats that have a rear-facing position) are designed to support infants and children up to the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer. These car seats typically come with an infant insert to ensure that a newborn's head is comfortably inside the shell of the seat. The AAP and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend that children remain rear-facing until they reach the weight limit or height limit of their car seat. Some convertible and all-in-one car seats let your child ride rear-facing for longer up to about age 4 or 5. The majority of car seat manufacturers offer a reclining angle which can be adjusted to stop the baby's back from slipping forward when the car stops. You can read the manual for your car seat to find out how to adjust the angle, or watch a video by an influencer of your car seat. It is also important to avoid wearing your child in bulky clothing such as coats or blankets as they could hinder a snug harness fit and cut off airflow around the baby's chest and neck. Many parents are reluctant to let their children change from rear-facing to forward-facing because they worry the impact force could eject the baby's legs and feet or that their head and neck might be thrown violently forward in a side collision. It is important to remember that rear-facing offers a greater level of protection than forward-facing. A video posted by an influencer of car seats shows an infant in a forward-facing car seat being violently tossed around in the crash simulator. The head injury that follows is awe-inspiring. The video of the same crash from the rear-facing seat is not as bad because the child's head is cradled by the shell. If your state law requires you to turn your child's face forward, ignore it! This is not in line with the best practices, which is why the AAP and NHTSA now agree that children should remain rear-facing until they hit their maximum height or weight limit for the car seat, whichever is first. Forward-Facing Car seats for infants are designed for infants and newborns. Harnesses help secure them into the seat. Depending on the car seat model parents will be able to adjust the headrest and recline angle to suit their child's needs, as well as choose from a variety of attachments for their stroller. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight and height and the majority of children will outgrow them before they are ready to move to a forward-facing car seat. While it's understandable that parents want to get their child back as soon as possible however, the current norm states that children under one year of age must remain rear-facing in a car seat until they reach 20 pounds and one year old. This is because infants' neck muscles aren't strong enough for the force of the rear-end crash which happens when a baby is pushed forward during a crash. If a baby's neck is moved forward in a frontal accident the spinal cord may stretch and tear, which could result in paralysis or even death. If a child is facing backwards in a car, their neck bones are held together and secured by the harness, preventing this kind of injury. Rear-facing infants are also less likely to be in the back of the vehicle in an accident. In best car seats , they're less likely to get injured by a seat belt that runs across their chests, instead of their necks. Parents must ensure that their child is using the right car seat for his or the size. Take a look at the instructions for your car seat from the manufacturer as well as your vehicle's owner's manual before making a choice. You can also seek out professional advice from a car seat technician who is certified in your region. When a baby grows out of their car seat, they can upgrade to convertible car seats. These seats are designed to start in the rear-facing mode and then switch to forward-facing once they reach their weight and height limits. They can then upgrade to a booster seat that has a lap-sash adult seatbelt once they've reached their recommended weight and age. Convertible Many new parents are confused when it comes to deciding between a car seat for infants and convertible seats. Both have their benefits, but which one is best for your family? A convertible car seat is an excellent option for a durable car seat for infants. As your child grows, convertible infant car seats can be changed from front-facing to rear-facing. Based on the model, they can be used for children as young as late elementary school. Certain rear-facing car seats come with larger weight and size restrictions than the infant car seats, allowing for longer use. If you choose to purchase convertible infant car seats, be sure to check whether it comes with removable infant inserts that help to ensure a snug and secure fit for your baby. The firm padding raises the infant's body so that they can get to the smallest slots in the straps, and it pushes them forward a bit to stop their head from flopping back against the straps of their harness or the seat's crotch buckle (which puts them at risk for positional asphyxia). Some infant car seats come with a handle that makes it easier to move between vehicles. Some can be plugged into strollers, creating a transport system. This feature lets you easily transfer your car to a stroller without waking up your baby. At some point your child will outgrow their infant car seat, either by reaching their weight limit or height limit. The majority of experts agree that it's time to upgrade to convertible car seats when your child's head is within one inch of the top edge of the seat. Check the instruction manual to ensure that your child is in the right place. Convertible car seats might seem more expensive than the infant car seats initially, but they can be more affordable over time since they can be used for a number of years. Certain models also come with lower anchors which allows for a simpler installation. This can reduce injuries during the event of a crash. Safety Ratings When you are shopping for an infant car seat, safety is the top priority. All car seats for infants are required to comply with federal safety standards. However, some go beyond the minimum requirements to provide parents with additional security. Premium features, such as adjustable harnesses with no-rethread straps and bars that prevent rebounding, can aid in ensuring that your child is secured properly and securely. Other helpful tools, like load legs that brace the bottom of the seat and help reduce the force of a crash, are also available. A good way to determine how secure an infant car seat is before buying it is to look up its crash test ratings and reviews. It is important to remember that the usage of an infant car seat will determine how secure it is. According to our conversations, the majority of accidents involving infant car seats are caused by misuse — either unsafe installations or improper restraints of the child. If you'd like to be certain that you are using your infant car seat correctly make sure you choose one that has an easy-to-read manual, plenty of indicators that the seat is level and secure, and bubbles on the bottom of the seat that show EXACTLY where to place it. When installing the seat, tighten the straps around the baby's abdomen and chest. The ratcheting sound it makes when you tighten is a good indicator. Also, when you're out and about with your infant in a car seat, never leave the car seat unattended, even if you're just going to the store or a quick visit to the park. It's not just risky in a car crash and leaving your infant carrier or car seat on a hard surface can cause injuries and falls. Car seats that are prone to tipping over or roll could cause injuries to babies or, worse yet they could even suffocate them. You will need a booster car seat at some time. Consider a convertible car seat or an all in one seat to save money over the long term. These seats will provide more options and last longer than infant car seats.