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Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year are not allowed to ride forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their weak neck muscles could be stretched and cause serious injuries. Instead change to FF when your child is at the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums required for a new seat). Follow the directions for your car seat carefully. Safety In the case of a collision, infant car seats are designed to protect your child's neck and head. The forward facing position also helps prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries. All forward-facing infant car seats come with five-point harnesses that secure the child with one pull tightening. Additionally, the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for better protection against impact. Some models have a canopy that provides shade from the sun. The best infant car seats will include an angle indicator as well as an adjustable angle adjuster, which lets you determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The seat also comes with the top tether strap, which connects to the top of the car seat and connects to the tether anchor within your vehicle. Be aware that you might not have to move your child from a forward facing car seat until he / she reaches the maximum weight and height specified in the manual of the seat. When your child is 20 lbs and a year old is over, it's time to make the switch. Infants and toddlers younger that one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks, which can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. In frontal collisions (the most serious and frequent type), they are more likely to sustain serious neck injuries. Rear-facing car seats protect the neck of children under one year old by cushioning their head. When children move to a forward-facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all-in-one that has a heavy rearward weight limit and a high. They shouldn't be pushed to an adult car seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements which is usually at around the age of 4 or 5. These crash videos will demonstrate the differences between the carseats. But remember, the footage has been slowed. A child could be injured when they move too fast. Comfort A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your child safe and comfortable in the event of an accident. The seat features a soft headrest, a body support cushion, and an EPS energy-absorbing foam shell that will keep your child safe from any impact. The seat has a five-point safety harness that can be adjusted with a single pull and a center front adjuster. This will ensure that your child is positioned correctly. A retractable canopy helps protect your baby from the sunlight. To ensure safety the seat is designed to be secured by the vehicle's seat belt and includes an locking clip that keeps the buckle securely fastened when not in use. If your infant complains of discomfort during a trip or seems to lean forward during sleep, the angle of the seat may be too low for your child. You can correct this by placing tightly folded towels on the front of the car seat to lift it up more. If this does not work, bring your child to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat. It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't ready to stand up and face forward until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds and one year old (their necks are not strong enough to withstand the force that is applied to them in a crash if they were to fall forward on their own). Some experts recommend waiting even longer, as the bones and muscles of children are more flexible than those of adults. Many parents choose to buy convertible car seats that lets their infants be rear-facing until they reach their maximum weight or height limits. This lets them benefit from the advantages of a rear-facing car seat for much longer and is more convenient for parents because they can simply move their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing one when their child is no longer in the position. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers your child 10 years of car seat use with only one seat, from rear-facing infant (4-40 lb) to forward-facing 5-point harness and high-back booster (30-100 lb) to a belt-positioning booster that is backless (40-120 lbs). It is simple and easy to set up using the Smart Fit system that allows you to move the harness and headrest together, with no re-threading. Convenience A forward-facing infant car seat is a great option if you're traveling with a young child. It lets you see your child's view while driving, and allows everyone else in the family to ride in the car without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with strollers making it much easier to take your toddler in and out of your car to go to the store for groceries or other chores. Even if your child has reached the age that they are able to change their car seat to one that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for as long as you are able to. From the point of view of crash tests, a child's head is more secure in a crash if they face backwards. This is because the entire body — head neck, torso, and head is held by the car seat's back when they're facing in this direction. You should check the manufacturer's instructions for how to turn your child's car seat around. There will be the weight and height limit that you shouldn't exceed as well as specific rules regarding things like crotch buckle position. These guidelines are designed to protect your child's health as they develop. Another thing to think about is whether you own a vehicle that has an anchor for tethering your car seat. If so, ensure that the tether is correctly installed and tied to the anchor points on your vehicle according to the directions in the manual. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, and not too low or high. This will affect how they are secured during a crash. A great option for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more children is convertible car seats. This is a convertible car seat that can be used as an infant rear-facing car seat and then moved to a forward-facing car seat when your child reaches the weight or height limits of the rear-facing position. Style You spent a lot time and effort in choosing the best baby car seat for your child. As your child grows older and outgrows their infant car seat, you might wonder if it's time to turn the seat around. While the idea of letting your baby face forward may be thrilling, there are important safety considerations that you should be aware of. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight of their car seat and height limits. It is important to remember that children differ in terms of size and age so you should never base when to switch to forward-facing on an exact date on the calendar, or if they've reached their legroom limit. best car seat for newborn might appear larger in a rear-facing car seat, however, that doesn't mean it's safe to turn them around, since their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet. Some infant car seats come with an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain rear-facing until they're one year old. This is because children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can be able to withstand a collision with a frontal force, which could result in serious spinal injuries. In addition to being safe, many infant car seats are equipped with convenient features that make them simple to use. These include bases that stay attached to the car and snap in and out to allow you to transport your baby from stroller to car or back and often with a frame stroller to form part of the travel system. If you are ready to transition your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward-facing one, be sure to adhere to all the instructions given by the manufacturer. Also, make sure you check the fit of the car seat. The car seat shouldn't move more than an inch from side to side, or from front to back, when installed correctly. The harness straps should 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 contact the car seat manufacturer.