Rear Facing Infant Car Seat

A rear-facing infant seat suppresses the force of an impact during a crash, and protects your child's neck and head. In a crash, they also stop your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat. This can cause serious injuries or even death.

All toddlers and infants must be rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit set by their car seat's manufacturer. This includes convertible seats and dedicated infant car seats.

Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically made for babies and infants who are smaller.

A rear-facing infant car seat is a specific kind of child car seat that only has the rear facing position. These seats are designed to hold infants and smaller infants usually 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 help to save space on the back of the seat. Additionally, the majority of infant car seats can be converted into strollers to make travel with a baby much easier.

Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are recommended to use rear-facing infant car seats. They offer more room and more comfort than standard car seats which can be difficult for a very tiny baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat provides more neck and head support than a front-facing car seat, which could assist in protecting preemies as well as infants from injury during a crash.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear facing until they attain the maximum height and weight limit for their car seat, or around two years old. This is based on the fact that there is more time for the spine of the child to strengthen in this position, which can prevent injuries to the spine. It is also important to note that infants and children are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they are facing forward.

In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the bulk of the force generated by the collision, protecting the baby's neck, head and spine. When a child is seated in a chair that faces forward, their heads may be placed in the dashboard or console of the vehicle, causing serious injury.

Many parents believe that a child is ready for the transition to an adult booster seat or a forward-facing car seat around age two. But this is a major mistake. Recent research published in BMJ injury prevention show that it is better for children to sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child remains rear-facing in their car seat the more likely it is that their cervical vertebrae will grow and develop ossification.

They are easy to install and remove.

Most rear-facing infant car seats include a snap-on base that can be removed from your vehicle when not in use. This feature is practical and lets parents keep their child in the seat without having to get out of the vehicle, especially in bad weather or at nights when it can be difficult. It is also easy to switch between vehicles and allow grandparents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.

Once your child outgrows their car seat for infants in terms of weight and height and height, it's time to transition to a booster or convertible. But, it's important to remember that children are safer when they are in the rear-facing car seat as long as possible. Many safety experts suggest that children remain rear-facing in their car seats until their second birthday, or the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.

In a frontal collision, a baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the majority of the impact force taking it in around the neck, head and spine. When children ride forward-facing, their head is moved forward due to the force of the crash and can stretch their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death.

If you are worried about your child's safety when facing backwards, keep them warm with a blanket. Avoid placing a blanket on top of or beneath them. Be sure to not dress them in bulky clothing because this can compromise the snugness and fit of the harness. Last but not least, make sure that the chest clip is positioned flat against the shoulder and that the harness straps do not have looseness.

Many child safety experts claim that rear-facing car seats will protect children five times more in a crash when they are riding for longer. This is because in a crash, children head are huge for their bodies - may be thrown forward by force that could otherwise be absorbed by their torsos and necks. With rear-facing seats the head of a child is supported by the seat's headrest and cradled by their back in a crash, protecting them from the most significant injuries.

They protect the head and neck of your child.

In the event of an accident, the neck and spinal cord of a child sitting in a rear facing car seat are secured by the back of the seat. This is vital because in a frontal crash (the most common type of car accident), babies in forward-facing cars are forcefully thrown into the dashboard, which could cause neck injuries and even death. Children in rear-facing seats are cradled and padded by the back of their car seat while their heads are supported by the headrest.

Infants are also able to breathe more easily when they're in a rear facing car seat because their chin is pushed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats, the chin may be pulled down and it can be difficult for children to breathe. In fact, kids who lie down in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely suffer head injury than those who lie down in a rear-facing car seat.

The brain and spine of a baby are still developing. This makes them more prone to crashes. If a collision occurs with an infant facing forward the head of the child could hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to become stretched, which can result in serious injury or even death. This is why it's important to keep your child in the rear-facing car seat for as long as you can, up to the point that they outgrow the weight and height limits of their infant car seat.

Some good infant car seats car seats come with an insert specifically designed to support the head of the baby. It can be removed when the child has outgrown it. In addition, many car seats feature load leg or anti-rebound bar features that can help absorb the force of a crash. This is crucial because it minimizes the impact to your child, and could stop them from being thrown from their seat.

The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seats cheap car seat until they reach the height and weight limit for their specific car seat. When they do it, they should be moved to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat that can be used rear facing and then converted to forward facing as they grow.

They are easy to clean.

No matter if you choose an infant car seat that attaches to a base within your vehicle, or a convertible or all-in one car seat, they're all designed to be easy and quick removal. In many cases, they connect directly to frame strollers and travel systems for errands on the go, which makes life so much simpler! These seats are also very easy to clean. Many have machine-washable covers and removable parts that can be cleaned in the washing machine and dryer. This is especially important as children can be messy!

The rear facing position cradles a child's head and neck in the event of a crash, which is critical for children who are just starting out. Their heads are stuffed full of cartilage and their spinal cords are more flexible than adult ones. In the event of a crash, their head might be slammed backwards and stretch their spinal cords, resulting in severe injuries. Many car safety experts suggest that children remain rear-facing for as long as is possible.

While it's tempting to transition your child into booster seats when they seem ready but every car seat that is front-facing reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in the event of a crash. In a front-facing crash, their heads would be thrown forward and possibly struck by the plastic shell of the seat or the dashboard, thereby increasing the chance of injury. Ideally, children should be riding rearwards until they reach the maximum weight of their rear-facing car seat or maximum height or up to 2 years old.

If you are unsure whether your child is transitioning out of the rear-facing seat, contact an CPST certified local to your area for assistance. They can assist you in determining the time when your child is ready to turn around and ensure that they're riding safely in their car seat.

Many parents mistakenly believe that their child has outgrown their infant car seat once they have reached the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. There are many things to consider, including the size of your car and your child's unique shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is no more over the top of the seat. For more information about recline safety, refer to your car seat's manual as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle.