Choosing Between infant car seat in front seat and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A car seat for newborns is also referred to as an infant safety seat, or a baby car seat, protects infants from harm and death in vehicle accidents. They are fitted with harnesses that distribute the force of restraining over the head and body of the child rather than the spinal cord and neck.
These seats are rear-facing or convertible and come in a variety of sizes and weight limits. They can also be part of a set for travel that snaps into the base of a stroller.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing newborn car seats offer the best protection for infants in crashes. They are designed to hold and support children, protecting their spine, neck and head. Additionally, they assist to disperse the force of a crash from hitting your child's body which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the child's body doesn't collide with the vehicle seat or the front seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned area within their car seat.
Parents should make sure that their child remains rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around the age of one, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and move on to a convertible seat that can face forward. Many parents will put their child in the rear seat until they turn two.
There are two kinds: infant-only car seats and convertible car seats. Both are safe, but offer different conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats are lighter, smaller, and come with an easy release base that can be easily detached from the car, and then reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seats are larger and heavier, but they do not have a built-in base for strollers.
It is important to use the back seat, regardless of the seat type. You can also place a blanket that is tightly rolled or washcloth between the crotch harness and your child to ensure the harness is securely secured. Also, ensure that the lower anchors are attached to the lower attachment points of your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is properly installed and secured.
Research suggests that babies who face the rear of the car are less likely to get injured in an accident. Car seats with rear-facing seats allow babies to feel less stress when they strike the front of the car, in contrast to the rear, which can lead to serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have given lots of thought to their infant's car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry as well as the method you used to bring your child home from the hospital. Now as your child gets older though, you might be considering turning the car seat forward-facing. But, it's important to remember that children aren't ready until they reach the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
As long as your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and a year old, they should remain rear-facing. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash from being involved in an accident. They also have a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can purchase a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, which will allow you to keep your child rear-facing until they meet the height and weight limit for the seat. These are typically bucket-style infant seats that come with an installation base that can be inserted into your car and can be separated from the base and reattached to strollers to form travel systems. However, they typically have lower maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seats.
Alternatively, you can get a booster seat. These seats are fitted with a harness and can be transformed into a booster seat which allows your child to wear a seat belt when they are ready. The primary benefit of this type of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle throughout the child's life which makes it simple to transport your child from one vehicle to another.
Whatever car seat you select, always read the manual and follow the installation instructions. Consult a certified car safety technician to make sure that your child's car seat is installed and is used in a safe manner. It is common for parents to misuse car seats, and even well-intentioned parents could cause harm to their children. It is best to read the instructions on the car seat and follow the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose to purchase convertible infant car seats because they can grow with your baby, allowing them to travel safely from the time of infancy until toddlerhood. They are also less expensive than car seats for infants and have longevity for a long time. However, it's important to choose a model that is simple to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Additionally, be sure to protect your baby by securing them properly every time.
Snug straps keep the head from slipping into a dangerous chin-to-chest position which could lead to strangulation or asphyxiation. Many infant car seats come with straps that are not buckled or loose. This is a major safety issue. Straps that aren't buckled can cause a dangling neck that has been the cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap has not been tightened enough to pass a pinch test, it may be a risk. This test will determine if the crotch strap is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn from slouching in the seat which could cause them to be injured or trapped.
Some convertible car seats for newborns have adjustable torso height that allows you to adjust the height limit based on your child's growth. The minimum torso height should be the same as the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that can help bring your child up to the correct height for the seat.
The best convertible car seat for newborns should be comfortable, with cushioning that is comfortable and a small base so that you can fit it into your vehicle. It should also have a snug, tight harness that can pass the pinch test, and a small, tightly rolled towel or blanket in case there is an accident. It should also include a tether strap that attaches to your vehicle's anchor points that can help reduce the risk of collision injuries by cutting down the impact force on your infant. In addition it should be equipped with the travel system, which comprises a car seat that is paired with a stroller and a handle you use to move the infant from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
When selecting the right car seats for their newborns, parents have many aspects to consider. Car seats are an essential purchase for families who are just starting out because using them reduces the chance of fatal collisions in motor vehicles by 70 percent. The decision between an infant car seat and a convertible seat comes down to several key elements that include safety features, compatibility with your vehicle and user-friendliness.
Infant car seats are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. They typically have an attached base that remains in the car and an infant carrier that snaps into place, making it easy to transfer your baby from the car to stroller and back without disturbing them. They also come with built-in harnesses and a crotch belt to keep your baby secure.
Some infant cars also come with side impact protection that is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the baby's head and neck. They come with metal, plastic and foam that absorbs energy and shields the head of the infant from direct contact with the frame or other objects involved in a collision. Some even have a special pod on the door side that extends to shield the head of the infant.
Another safety feature that is becoming more prevalent in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps flat across the chest of your baby. This prevents the straps from slipping or bending at the shoulders, which can place your baby at a higher risk of injuries. If you choose a car seat that has this feature, ensure that the chest clip is placed at armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothing as it can hinder the harness.
Make sure that the car seat is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions regardless of the type you choose. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system, which consists of connectors that clip into the lower anchor points on a car and a tether strap that attaches to the top of the seat. It then connects to an anchor on your vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, you can use the seat belt to secure your car seat.