Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A newborn car seat or infant safety seat, or a baby car seat, helps protect infants from injury and even death from car accidents. They are fitted with harnesses that distribute the restraint forces across the head and body of the child rather than the spinal cord and neck.
They can be rear-facing or convertible and are available in a range of heights and weight limits. These seats can also be part of a travel set 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 cradle and support children, protecting their head, neck, and spine. They also aid in reducing injuries by preventing the force of an accident from striking your child. This is because the child's body doesn't hit the seat of the vehicle, or front passenger seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned surface within their car seat.
Parents should ensure that their child is facing rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the car seat, as per the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). car seat newborn of children will outgrow their infant carseat around the age of one and are able to transition to a convertible car seat that can face forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear-facing seat until they turn two.
There are two kinds of rear-facing car seats that are convertible and infant-only car seats. Both are safe, but each offers different conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats are lighter and smaller. They also come with a quick-release base that can easily be detached from the vehicle and then attached to the stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, but they do not come with an integrated base for strollers.
Whatever seat you choose it is essential to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines and to always place the seat in the back seat of your vehicle. It is also recommended that you put tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch strap and your child to make sure that there is no slack in the harness. Check that the lower anchors of your car seat are securely installed and are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars.
There is a lot of debate about the length of time a baby can be rear-facing, research has shown that babies up to 12 months old are less likely to be injured in car accidents when they are facing the rear of the car. Babies in rear-facing car seats also experience a lesser impact when they hit the front of the car, as opposed to the rear of the car seat, which can cause serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have spent a lot of time into their infant car seat. It was a major item on the baby registry and how you got your baby home from the hospital. You might think about changing the car seat to face forward when your child grows older. It is important to keep in mind that your child's not ready until they've reached the weight and height limits that are set by the car seat manufacturer.
As long as your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and a year old, they should stay rear-facing. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles required to resist whiplash resulting from being involved in an accident. They also face a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can buy a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat that allows you to keep your child facing forward until the child reaches the weight and height limit of the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant car seats that connect to a base for placement in your vehicle. The base can then be detached and attached to strollers to form a travel system. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also purchase a booster seat. These seats come with a harness, and can be transformed into a booster that lets your child wear a seat belt once they are ready. The major benefit of this type of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle throughout the childhood years making it easy to move your child from one vehicle to another.
No matter which car seat you pick, read the instructions and adhere to them. It is recommended to consult a certified car seat safety technician to make sure that your child's seat is installed and used in a safe manner. It is common for parents to misuse car seats, and even well-intentioned parents can cause injury to their children. The best way to avoid this is to follow the instructions for your car seat and following the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose to purchase convertible infant car seats since they can develop with your child which allows them to travel safely from infanthood to toddlerhood. These seats are less expensive than infant seats and offer a longer lifespan. However, it's important to choose a seat that is easy to install and will fit in your vehicle. Also, make sure to protect your baby by buckling them up properly every time.
Snug straps keep the head from moving into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture, which can cause asphyxiation or strangulation. Many infant car seats have straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a serious safety issue. Straps that are not buckled can result in an unbalanced neck, which has been the cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap has not been tightened enough to pass the pinch test, it may be a risk. This test will determine whether the crotch strap is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn from sliding in the seat and causing them to be cut or trapped.
Some convertible newborn car seats have adjustable torso height that allows you to adjust the height limit according to your child's development. The torso's minimum height should be equal to 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 best convertible newborn car seat should have a comfortable fit, comfortable padding and a slender base to allow you to install it in your vehicle. It should also come with a snug, tight harness that passes the pinch test, and a short, tightly-rolled towel or blanket for emergencies. It should also include an anchor tether that connects to the anchor points of your vehicle, which can reduce injuries in a crash by reducing impact force. Additionally it should be equipped with a travel system, which includes a car seat that pairs with a stroller and a handle you use to carry the baby from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
Parents must take into consideration when selecting the appropriate car seat for their babies. Car seats are a crucial purchase for families with new children and their use can reduce the likelihood that children will be the victim of an fatal motor vehicle crash injury by 71 percent. The decision between a child's car seat and a convertible model is based on a variety of factors, such as safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and convenience.
Car seats for infants are designed with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat 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 strap that 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. Plastic, metal and foam absorb energy and protect the baby's face from direct contact with a vehicle's frame or any other object in a collision. Some even have a special pod on the door's side that extends to shield the head of the infant.
A chest clip is a different safety feature that is becoming more common on infant car seats. It keeps the straps of the harness flat against the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from slipping or twisting at the shoulders, which can expose your baby to greater risk of injuries. If you choose a seat that has this feature, make sure the chest clip is at armpit height. Also, you should not dress your child in bulky clothing that could interfere with the harness's fit.
Verify that the car seat is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, regardless of what type you choose. 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 in the vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure the car seats.