7 Small Changes You Can Make That'll Make A Big Difference In Your Newborn Car Seat
Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A newborn car seat is also known as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It protects babies against injury and death during vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force over the child's body and head instead of the neck or spinal cord.
These seats can be either front-facing or convertible, and are available in a range of heights and weight limits. They can also be part of a set for travel that can be converted into a stroller base.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats offer unbeatable protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to hold and support children, ensuring their neck, spine, and head. They also help to disperse the impact of a collision to prevent your child's body from being hit which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the child's body does not collide with the vehicle seat or the front passenger seat. Instead, it's a soft, cushioned area within their car seat.
According to the AAP as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, parents should keep their child rear-facing until they reach their car seat's maximum weight or height limit. At around the age of 1, children will outgrow the infant car seat and move on to a convertible car seat that can face forward. However, many parents want to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat until they turn 2.
There are two main types: infant-only car seats and convertible car seat. Both are equally safe but offer different conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter and come with a quick release base that can be easily detached from the car and then reattached to a stroller base. Convertible car seats are heavier and more spacious. They also don't come with a stroller base.
Whatever seat you select, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and to always place the seat in the back seat of your vehicle. You can also place a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch straps and your child to ensure the harness is tight. In addition, make sure that the lower anchors are anchored to the lower attachment points of your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is correctly installed and buckled.
Research shows that babies who face the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in a car crash. Car seats that are rear-facing allow infants to be less impacted when they strike the car's front as opposed the the back which could result in serious injuries.
Forward-facing
car seat newborn insert of parents have given lots of attention to their baby's car seat. It was a major item on the baby registry and the way you brought your child home from the hospital. You might think about changing the car seat to face forward as your child gets older. However, it's important remember that children aren't ready for this until they reach the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
When your baby is at least 20 pounds and one year old, they should be rear-facing. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles needed to withstand whiplash when thrown in an accident. They are also at greater risk of suffering from spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can buy a convertible car seat or an all-in-one one that lets you keep the child rear-facing until the child reaches the weight and height limits of the seat. These are usually bucket-style infant car seats that attach to a base for placement in your vehicle. The base can then be removed and attached to strollers as a system for travel. They tend to have lower weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also purchase an extra booster. These are usually equipped with a harness designed for smaller children, and then convert to a belt-positioning seat once your child is ready for it. The major benefit of this type of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle through the early years of life, making it easy to transport your child from one place to another.
Whatever car seat you choose, always read the manual and follow the instructions for installation. It is also a good idea to consult a certified safety technician for your seat to make sure that your child's seat is set up and used in a safe manner. Incorrect use of a car seat is common, and even well-meaning parents could injure their children if they don't know what they're doing. It is best to study the instructions on the car seat and follow the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents opt for a convertible newborn car seat because they grow with your child and allow them to safely travel from infancy to toddlerhood. They are less expensive than infant seats and have longer life span. It is important to choose one that fits your vehicle and is simple to install. Also, make sure you secure your baby in the correct way each time.
Snug straps prevent the head from shifting to the risky chin-to-chest position that could result in strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats come with straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a serious safety concern. Straps that aren't buckled can cause an unbalanced neck which has been the source of many accidents. If the crotch strap is not enough tight to pass a pinch test, it could cause danger. This test determines whether the crotch buckle is close enough to prevent a newborn's legs from slouching down in the seat and leading to them getting cut or trapped.
Some convertible car seats for newborns include an adjustable torso, which lets you adjust the height limit to suit your child's growth. The minimum torso height should be the same as the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that will help you raise your child to the proper height.
The best convertible newborn car seat should have a comfortable fit, comfortable padding, and a slender base that allows you to install it easily in your vehicle. It should also have a tight, snug harness that passes the pinch test as well as an incredibly small, tightly-rolled blanket or towel in case there is an accident. It should also include a tether strap that attaches to the anchor points on your vehicle that can help reduce the risk of collision injuries by reducing the force of impact on your baby. In addition it should include an infant travel system that includes a car seat that is paired with a stroller, and comes with a handle you use to move the infant from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
When it comes to choosing the best car seats for their babies parents must consider a myriad of aspects to consider. Car seats are an essential purchase for new families because correctly using them reduces the chance of fatal child collisions with motor vehicles by 71 . The decision between a child's car seat and a convertible model is dependent on several factors, such as safety features, compatibility of your vehicle, and the ease of use.
Car seats for infants are created with the fragile body 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 move your baby from stroller to car and back without disturbing them. They also come with harnesses built-in and a crotch strap to ensure your baby's safety.
Some infant cars come with side-impact protection that distributes the force of the collision away from a newborn's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic and foam that absorbs energy and protects the head of the infant from direct contact with the frame of the vehicle or other objects involved in a collision. Some include a special pod that extends beyond the door to protect the child's head.
A chest clip is a different safety feature that is becoming more popular in car seats for newborns. It keeps the harness straps flat against the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from pinching or twisting around shoulders which can expose your child to the risk of injury. If you choose a seat with this feature, make sure the chest clip is set at the armpit height. Do not dress your baby in heavy outerwear since it could interfere with the harness.
No matter what type of car seat you choose ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle as per the manufacturer's instructions. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. This system comprises an attachment that clips onto the lower anchor points of your car and a tether that hooks onto an anchor inside the vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure the car seats.