"Ask Me Anything:10 Answers To Your Questions About Newborn Car Seat
Choosing Between an Infant 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, is a way to protect babies from injury and death in car accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force over the body and head of the child, rather than the neck or spinal cord.
These seats 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 car seats for newborns offer the most complete protection for infants during crashes. They are designed to hold and support children, while protecting their neck, head, and spine. They also help reduce injuries by keeping the force of an accident from striking your child. 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 inside their car seat.
Parents should make sure that their child remains rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their car seat, as per the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around age 1, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and transition to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will put their child in the rear-facing seat until they turn two.
There are two primary kinds: infant-only car seats and convertible car seats. Both are safe and safe, but they each offer different advantages. infant car seats cheap-only seats, for example, are smaller and lighter. They also come with a quick-release base that can be easily removed from the vehicle and then attached to the stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, but they don't have a built-in base for strollers.
It is essential to use the back seat, regardless of the seat type. You can also place a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch straps and your child to ensure that the harness is tight. Check that the lower anchors of your car seat are securely installed, and that they are connected to the lower attachment points on the lower anchor bars.
Research shows that babies who sit in the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in a car accident. Baby car seats that face rear also experience less impact when they hit the front of the best car seats newborn, as opposed to the rear of the Car Seat for newborn seat, which could result in serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have given lots of consideration to their newborn car seat. It was a major item on the baby registry, and how you got your baby home from the hospital. Now that your child is getting older, you may be thinking about turning the car seat forward-facing. However, it's important be aware that children aren't quite ready for this until they reach the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
When your baby is at least 20 lbs and a year old, they should stay rear-facing. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles needed to withstand whiplash from being thrown in an accident. Additionally they are at a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on accidents.
You can buy a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that allows you to keep the child rear-facing until the child reaches the weight and height limit of 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 removed from the base and attached to strollers in order to form travel systems. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also buy a booster. These are typically fitted with a harness for younger kids and convert to a belt-positioning booster seat when your child is ready. The major benefit of this type of car seat is that it will remain in your vehicle throughout the childhood years, making it easy to transport your child from one vehicle to another.
No matter which car seat you select be sure to read the instruction manual and follow the installation guidelines. It is recommended to speak with a certified car safety technician to make sure that the child's car seat is properly installed and used in a safe manner. Car seat misuse is very frequent, and even the most well-meaning parents could cause harm to their children if they aren't aware of what they're doing. The best car seat way to prevent this is by reading the car seat instructions and following the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose a convertible newborn child car seat, as they can grow with their child and allow them to safely travel through toddlerhood and into infancy. These seats are cheaper than infant car seats and offer an extended lifespan. However, it is important to select a seat that is easy to install and fits your vehicle. Also, make sure that you buckle up your baby in the correct way each time.
Snug straps keep the head from shifting into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture that could result in strangulation or asphyxiation. Many infant carseats come with straps that are loose or not buckled and pose an extremely risky safety issue. Unbuckled straps can lead to an unbalanced neck, which is the cause of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle can also cause danger in the event that it is not secure enough to pass the pinch test. This test will determine whether the crotch buckle is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn from sliding in the seat, causing them to get trapped or cut.
Some convertible newborn car seats have adjustable torso height that lets you alter the height limit according to your child's growth. The minimum torso height must be the same as the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that can aid in raising your child up to the right height.
The ideal convertible car seat for infants should be snug, have cushioning that is comfortable and a small base so that you can install it easily into your vehicle. It should also come with an incredibly snug, secure harness that is able to pass the pinch test as well as a small, tightly rolled blanket or towel in the event of an accident. It should also come with a tether strap that attaches to the anchor points on your vehicle that can help reduce the risk of collision injuries by reducing the impact force on your infant. In addition, it should come with an infant travel system that includes an infant car seat that can be paired with a stroller, and comes with an handle that you can use to carry the baby from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
When choosing the right car seats for their infants parents must consider a myriad of aspects to consider. Car seats are a must-have for families with young children because using them can reduce the risk of fatal child collisions with motor vehicles by 71 . The choice between an infant car seat and a convertible seat comes down to several key elements, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and ease of use.
Car seats for infants are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is usually in the car, and the seat snaps into place. This makes it easy to move your baby from stroller to car, and back without disturbing them. They come with a crotch and harness built in to keep your child safe.
Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection, which is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the infant's head and neck. They have plastic, metal, and foam that absorbs energy and shields the head of the infant from direct contact with the frame or other objects in the event of a collision. Some include a specially designed pod on the side of the door that extends to protect the baby's head.
Another safety feature that's becoming more common 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 pinching or bending at the shoulders, which could put your baby at greater risk of injury. If you opt for a seat with this feature, make sure the chest clip is set at the armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby with heavy outerwear since it could cause interference with the harness.
Make sure that the car seat is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions regardless of the model you select. Check for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system comprising connectors that clip into a car's lower anchor points and the tether strap, which is attached to the top of the seat. It then connects to an anchor on your vehicle. If your car doesn't have LATCH, you may use the seat belt to secure the car seat.