Rear Facing Infant Car Seat

A rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of an impact in a crash and protects your child's neck and head. In the event of a crash, they also prevent your child's legs from hitting the front of the car seat. This could cause serious injury or even death.

All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing until 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 seat is specifically designed for babies and smaller infants.

A rear-facing infant car seat is one kind of child seat that is only rearward-facing position. These seats are designed for babies and infants, usually up to 35 pounds. The seat's base is narrower than other car seats. They are ideal for cars with small spaces and can make it easier to store them on the back of the car. In addition, many infant car seats can be snapped into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.

Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are recommended to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are larger and more comfortable than standard car seats, which can be difficult to access and out of for very tiny babies. The infant car seat provides more head and cervical support than a forward-facing car seat. This can to protect infants and small babies in the event of a crash.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children remain in the rear until they reach their maximum weight and height for car seats or when they reach the age of two years old. This is based on the fact that there is more time for the child's spine to develop strength in this position, which may help prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that children and infants are more prone to suffer severe injuries when facing forward.

In the case of a crash the rear-facing infant seat absorbs most of the impact's force, protecting the baby's head, neck and spine. In contrast, when children are in a forward-facing seat their heads that are disproportionately large could be thrown into the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.

Many parents believe that their child is ready to get an adult booster seat or a forward-facing one at the age of two. This is a big mistake. It is better for children to be rear-facing in their car seats until they reach three or four years old, as per recent studies published in BMJ Injury Prevention. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the more their cervical vertebrae can 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 feature is practical and allows parents to secure their child in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially in bad weather or at nights when it is more difficult. It also makes it simple to switch between vehicles and allows grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.

When your child is outgrowing their car seat for infants in height and weight and height, it's time to move on to a booster or convertible. However, it's important to keep in mind that children are more secure when they are in the rear-facing car seat as long as they can. In fact, it's recommended by many safety experts that children ride rear-facing until their second birthday or when they reach the height and weight limit of the manufacturer of the car seat.

In a frontal crash the baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs most of the force from the collision by absorbing it at the head, neck and spine. In contrast, when a child rides forward-facing, their head is thrown forward by the force of the crash and could stretch their spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.

If you are concerned about your child’s comfort when facing rearwards, make sure they are warm by wrapping them in blankets. Avoid placing a blanket that is loose behind or underneath them. Be cautious when dressing them in bulky clothes that might interfere with the tightness of the harness. The last thing to do is make sure that the chest clip is flat against the shoulder and the harness straps have no gaps.

Many child safety experts believe that rear-facing car seats protect children five times better in the event of a crash if they ride for longer. In an accident head-on, children's heads who are larger than their bodies – are able to be thrown off with force that is not absorbed by their necks and their torsos. With rear-facing seats children's heads are cushioned by the seat's headrest and is held by their backs during a crash, protecting them from the most significant injuries.

They safeguard the head and neck of your child.

If a child is in a rear-facing car seat their neck and spinal cord are held against the back of the safety seat in the event of a crash. In a frontal crash (the most common) infants in car seats that face forward are hit by the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries, or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are cradled and padded by the back of their car seat, while 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 because their chin is placed against their chest. When children are sitting in car seats that are forward-facing, their chins are frequently downwards, which can block their airways and make it difficult to breathe. In reality, children who doze in a forward-facing car seat are 75% more likely to be injured in the head than those who lie down in a rear-facing car seat.

The brain and spine of a newborn are still developing. This makes them more susceptible to accidents. If a collision occurs with an infant who is facing forward, the head of the child can 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 so important to ensure that your child is 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 the car seat they're in.

Some infant car seats come with an insert specifically designed to support a baby's head. When a child is no longer using it, the insert can be removed. A majority of car seats have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb energy from a crash. This is crucial as it reduces impact on your child and could even keep him from being thrown out.

NHTSA recommends keeping your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat. Then, they can change to an all-in-one or convertible car seat. These seats 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 best car seat newborn seat that attaches to a base in your vehicle or a convertible or an all-in-one car seats by age seat, they're all designed for quick and easy removal. They can often be clicked directly into travel systems and strollers for on-the go errands. They are also easy to clean. Many have machine-washable covers and removable parts that can be washed in the washer and dryer. This is crucial, especially when you have children who are messy.

In the case of an accident, the position that is facing back will support the head and neck of a child. This is especially important for infants and young children. Their heads and spinal cords are more flexible, and they also have lots of cartilage. In the event of a crash, their head might be slammed backwards and stretch their spinal cords, leading to serious injuries. This is the reason why many car safety experts suggest keeping children rear-facing for as long as they can.

Although it's tempting to move your child into booster seats when they appear ready however, every front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll have in the event of a crash. In a front-facing crash their heads would be thrown forward and hit by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, thereby increasing the risk of injury. Ideally, children should ride rearwards until they reach the maximum weight of their rear-facing car seat or maximum height, or until 2 years old.

If you're unsure if your child is ready to move from their rear-facing car seat, consult a certified CPST in your area who can help. They can assist you in determining when your child is ready to turn around and ensure that they are riding safely in their car seat.

Many parents mistakenly believe that their child is outgrowing their infant car seat once they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. There are a myriad of things to consider, including the size of your car as well as your child's unique form. Many infant car seats have built-in indicators that inform you when your child's neck is not above the top of the seat. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual for more details on safe reclining.