Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant car seat absorbs the force of an impact during a crash, and protects your child's head and neck. They also keep your child's legs from striking the front of the car seat during a crash, which could result in serious injuries or even death.
All toddlers and infants should be rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of the car seat's manufacturer. This includes both convertible seats as well as dedicated infant car seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specifically designed for newborns and infants who are smaller.
A rear facing infant car seat is a kind of child car seat that only has an rear-facing position. These seats are made to accommodate infants and smaller infants, typically up to 35 pounds. The seat's base is narrower than that of other car seats. They are ideal for cars with small spaces and can make it easier to store them on the back of the seat. In addition, many baby car seats can be snapped into strollers to make travel with a child much more convenient.
Preemies and newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation are recommended to use rear-facing infant car seats. They are more spacious and offer a better fit than standard car seats, which can be difficult for a small baby to get in and out of. The infant car seat gives more cervical and head support than a forward-facing car seat. This can protect babies and preemies in the event of a collision.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight for their car seat, which is approximately two years old. This is due to the fact that rear-facing provides more time for the child's spine to develop strength in this position, which may prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to remember that children and infants are more likely to sustain severe injuries when facing forward.
In the event of a crash the rear-facing infant seat absorbs most of the force of impact, thereby protecting the baby's neck, head and spine. When a child sits in a chair that faces forward, their heads can be dropped into the dashboard or console of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready to transition to the booster seat or forward-facing car seat by age two. However, this is a big mistake. Recent studies published in BMJ injury prevention show that it is safer for children to be rear-facing in their car seats until the age of three or four. The longer a child is 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 take down.
Most rear facing infant car seats have an easy-to-install base that can be installed in your vehicle and can be removed when not needed. This is a useful feature and allows parents to secure the child in their seat without having to get out of the vehicle, particularly during bad weather or night when it is more difficult. It also makes it easy to switch between cars and to give grandparents and other caregivers access to the child's seat.
When your child has outgrown their infant car seat in weight and height and height, it's time to move on to a convertible or booster. It's important to keep in mind that children are safer when they are rear-facing for as long as is possible. In fact, it's recommended by many safety experts to have children ride rear-facing until their second birthday or at the weight and height limit of the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a collision that is frontal the baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the bulk of the impact force by absorbing it at the neck, head and spine. When a child is rear-facing in a car seat the force of crashing could cause their head to be thrown forward leading to serious injuries or death.
If you are concerned about your child's comfort rear-facing, keep them warm by wrapping them in a blanket. Avoid placing a loose blanket behind or underneath them. Be cautious when dressing them in bulky clothes which could hinder the tightness of the harness. Also, ensure that the chest clip is flat against their shoulder and the harness straps are snug with no gaps.
Many child safety experts believe that if children sit in rear-facing car seats longer, they'll be five times safer in the event of a crash. In a crash head-on, children's heads who are larger than their bodies – can be thrown around with force that isn't absorbed by their necks and the torsos. Rear-facing seats protect the child's head and shield them from serious injuries.
They protect your child's neck and head.
When an infant is riding in a rear-facing car seat their neck and spinal cord are cradled against the back of the child safety seat in the event of a crash. In a frontal accident (the most common) infants in forward-facing car seats are thrown against the dashboard. This can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held by the rear of their car seat, and their heads are cushioned and supported by the headrest.
Infants are also able to breathe more easily when they're in a rear-facing car seat, as their chins are pressed against their chest. When children are sitting in forward-facing car seats, their chin is often pushed down and this can block their airways and make it difficult for them to breathe. In fact, children who doze in a car seat that is forward-facing are 75% more likely be injured in the head than those who sleep in a rear-facing car seat.
The brain and spine of a baby are still developing. good infant car seats makes them more susceptible to accidents. In the event of a crash that involves an infant positioned forward, the head of the child could hit the buckle on the dashboard or seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to become stretched, which can result in serious injuries or even death. It's important to keep your infant in a rearward-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit of their car seat.
Some infant car seats have an insert specifically designed to support the head of a baby. When a child has outgrown it, the insert can be removed. Some car seats also come with anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb energy of a crash. This is important since it lessens the impact on your child and could keep them from being thrown from their seat.
NHTSA suggests that you keep your child in the rear-facing infant seat until he or she reaches the weight and height limit of their car seat. Then, they can change to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. These seats can be used with rear-facing and then changed to forward-facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
Whether you buy an infant car seat that attaches to a base inside your vehicle, or a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, they're all designed to be easy and quick removal. They are often able to be plugged directly into travel systems or strollers for on-the go errands. They are also easy to clean. Many have machine-washable covers and removable parts that can be cleaned in the washing machine and dried. This is particularly important since children are messy!
In the event of an accident, the rear-facing position will cradle a child's neck and head. This is especially important for infants and young children. Their heads are stuffed full of cartilage, and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. When they collide, their head may move backwards and stretch their spinal cords, leading to serious injuries. Many car safety experts recommend that children remain rear-facing for as long as they can.
While it's tempting to transition your child to booster seats when they seem ready but every front-facing car seat switch reduces the amount of protection they'll receive in the event of a collision. In a front-facing collision, their heads could be thrown forward, and could be hit by the plastic shell of the car seat or the dashboard, increasing the chance of injury. It is recommended that children ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight rear-facing or height limit of their seat or until they reach the age of 2.
If you're unsure whether your child is ready to transition from their rear-facing car seat, talk to a certified CPST in your area who can help. They can help you determine the moment when your child is ready to change seats and ensure that they're safe in their car seat.
Many parents mistakenly assume their child has outgrown their car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit. But, there are a number of factors to consider in addition to the size of your vehicle and the unique body shape of your child. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that let you know when your child's neck is no longer above the top of the seat. Review the instructions for your car seat and vehicle owner's manual for more information about safe recline.