Your Worst Nightmare About Newborn Car Seat Come To Life

Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat A car seat for newborns or infant safety seat or a baby car seat, protects infants from injury and even death in vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force to the child's body and head instead of the neck or spinal cord. They are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and with a range of weight and height limits. They are also a part of a travel set that snaps into the base of a stroller. Rear-facing Rear-facing newborn car seats offer the most complete protection for infants during crashes. They are designed to cradle and support children, while protecting their head, neck, and spine. In addition, they help to disperse the impact of a crash to prevent your child's body from being hit, reducing injuries. This is because the child's body does not hit the seat of the vehicle or the front passenger seat. Instead, it is an upholstered, soft surface within their car seat. Parents should keep their child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their 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 transition to a convertible car seat that can face forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear seat until their child turns two. There are two primary types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats and convertible car seats. Both are equally safe however they offer distinct advantages. For instance, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter, and come with a quick release base that is able to be removed from the car, and then reattached to a stroller base. Convertible car seats are larger and heavier, and do not have an integrated stroller base. It is crucial to use the back seat regardless of the type of seat. You can also place a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch harness and your child to ensure that the harness is securely secured. Check that the lower anchors of your car seat are properly installed, and that they are connected to the lower attachment points on the lower anchor bars. While there is much debate over the length of time a baby can be rear-facing, research has shown that infants up to 12 months old are less likely to suffer injuries in car accidents when they're facing the back of the car. best car seats for infants www.pushchairsandprams.uk -facing car seats allow babies to experience less impact when they strike the front of the car, in contrast to the rear which could result in serious injuries. Forward-facing Most parents have spent a lot of time into their baby car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry and the method you used to bring your baby home from the hospital. Now that your child is getting older, you might be considering turning the car seat facing forward. It's important to keep in mind that your child isn't ready until they reach the weight and height limits established by the car seat manufacturer. As long as your baby weighs at least 20 lbs and one year old, they should be rear-facing. Children younger than one year do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash when thrown in an accident. Additionally they are at a higher risk of suffering spinal injuries in head-on collisions. You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in-one one that lets you keep your child facing forward until the child reaches the weight and height limits of the seat. These seats are typically bucket-style infant car seats that attach to a base for placement in your vehicle. The base can then be removed and connected to strollers as a travel system. However, they typically have lower maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seat. You can also buy a booster. These seats are equipped with a harness, and can be converted into a booster seat that lets your child wear a seat belt when they are ready. The primary benefit of this type of car seat is that it will remain in your vehicle through the early years of life, making it easy to move your child from one place to another. Whatever car seat you choose, always read the manual and follow the installation instructions. It's also a good idea to consult a certified car safety technician to make sure that the child's car seat is properly installed and is used correctly. It is typical for parents to make mistakes with car seats, and even well-intentioned parents can cause injury to their children. It is best to study the instructions on the car seat and follow the recommendations of a CPST. Convertible Many parents opt for a convertible newborn child car seat, as they can grow with their baby and enable them to travel safely through toddlerhood and into infancy. They are cheaper than infant car seats and offer a long lifespan. However, it is important to select a seat that is simple to install and will fit in your vehicle. Also, make sure to ensure your child's safety by buckling them up properly every time. Snug straps keep the head from shifting to the risky chin-to-chest position that can cause strangulation or asphyxiation. A majority of infant car seats have straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a serious security issue. Unbuckled straps may cause a neck to hang, which is the cause of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle could pose a risk if it is not tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines if the crotch strap is secure enough to stop the legs of a newborn from slouching in the seat, causing them to get cut or trapped. Some convertible newborn car seats include an adjustable torso that lets you alter the height limit based on your child's development. The minimum torso must be equal to the height of the shoulders of your infant, or an inch lower. Some models include an infant insert to bring your child up to the proper height for the seat. The best convertible car seat for babies should be comfortable, with comfortable padding and a narrow base to allow you to fit it into your vehicle. It should also have a snug, tight harness that passes the pinch test, and a small, tightly rolled blanket or towel in the event of an accident. It should also come with a tether strap which is connected to the anchor points of your vehicle and can reduce crash injuries by reducing the force of impact on your baby. It should also come with the travel set that includes a stroller and car seat that can be used to move your baby from the car to the stroller. Safety features Parents must consider when they're choosing the appropriate car seat for their newborns. Car seats are an essential purchase for families with new children, as their correct use can reduce the chance that children will be the victim of a fatal motor vehicle accident injury by 71 percent. The decision between an infant car seat and a convertible seat comes down to some key factors such as safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and ease of use. Car seats for infants are designed with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The seat's base is usually located in the car, and the seat snaps into its place. This makes it simple to transfer your baby from stroller to car, and back without disturbing them. They also have built-in harnesses and a crotch belt to keep your baby secure. Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection that disperses the force of a crash away from the newborn's neck and head. Foam, metal, and plastic absorb energy and shield the baby's face from direct contact with a vehicle frame or any other object in an accident. Some have a special sock that extends from the door to protect the head of the child. Another safety feature that's becoming more prevalent in newborn car seats is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps flat across your newborn's chest. The straps aren't strained or twisting around shoulders which can put your child at risk of injury. If you decide to purchase a car seat that has this feature, ensure that the chest clip is placed at armpit height. You should also avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothes that could interfere with the harness's fit. No matter what kind of car seat you pick ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. This system consists of connectors that clip into the lower anchor points of your vehicle and the tether which is attached to an anchor inside the vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a belt can be used to secure car seats.