Rear Facing Infant Car Seat
A rear-facing infant seat absorbs the force of a collision in a crash and shields your child's neck and head. They also prevent your child's legs from hitting the front of the carseat in the event of a crash, which can cause serious injuries or even death.
All infants and toddlers must be rear-facing when they reach the maximum weight or height of the car seat manufacturer. This applies to infant car seats as well as convertible seats.
Rear-facing infant car seats are specially designed for babies and smaller infants.
A rear facing infant car seat is a kind of child car seat that only has an rear-facing position. These seats are designed to hold newborns and smaller infants usually up to 35 pounds. They also have a narrower base than other car seats. This makes them perfect for small vehicles and also helps save space in the back seat. In addition, most infant car seats can be converted into strollers, making traveling with a baby much easier.
Rear-facing infant car seats are recommended for preemies and babies born before 37 weeks gestation. They are bigger and are more well-fitted than standard car seats that can be difficult to access and out of for small infants. The infant car seat provides more cervical and head support than a car seat that is forward-facing. This can help to protect infants and small babies in a crash.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in the rear until they attain the maximum weight and height for their car seat, which is around two years old. This is due to the fact that there is more time for the child's spine to develop strength in this position, which can prevent spinal injuries. It is also important to note that children and infants are more likely to sustain severe injuries when they are facing forward.
In the event of an accident, the rear-facing seat will absorb most of the force of the impact, protecting the baby’s head, neck and spine. When children are in a forward-facing seat their disproportionately large heads can be thrown against the console or dashboard of the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Many parents believe that a child is ready for the transition to the booster seat or forward-facing car seat at around age two. This is a big mistake. Recent studies published in BMJ injury prevention have shown that it is safer for children to sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach the age of three or four. The longer a child is rear-facing in their car seat, the more likely that their cervical vertebrae will grow and ossify.
Installation and removal is easy.
Most rear facing infant car seats come with a snap-on base that is fitted into your car and can be removed when no longer needed. This feature is practical and allows parents to secure their child in the seat without needing to leave the vehicle, especially during bad weather or during nights when it is more difficult. It is also easy to switch between cars and let grandparents or other caregivers access the child's car seat.
When your child is outgrowing their car seat for infants in terms of weight and height then it's time to move on to a booster or convertible. However, it's important to keep in mind that children are much safer when they remain in a rear-facing car seat as long as is possible. In fact, it's recommended by many safety experts to have children use rear-facing car seats until their second birthday or when they reach the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer of the car seat.
In a frontal crash, a baby in a rear-facing car seat absorbs the bulk of the force from the collision by absorption around the neck, head and spine. However, when children ride forward-facing their head is moved forward due to the force of the collision and could cause a stretch in their spinal cord and cause serious injury or death.
If you're worried about your child's safety while rear-facing, make sure to keep them warm with a blanket and avoid placing loose ones between them or under them. Be sure to not dress them in bulky outerwear since this could compromise the tightness and fitting of the harness. Also, make sure that the chest clip is flat against the shoulder and the harness straps are free of gaps.
Many experts in child safety believe that if children ride in rear-facing car seats longer they'll be five times safer in the event of a crash. This is due to the fact that during a crash, children' heads - which are disproportionately large for their bodies - could be thrown forward by force that could otherwise be taken up by their torsos and necks. Rear-facing seats cushion the child's head and protect them from serious injuries.
They protect your child's head and neck.
In the event of an accident the neck and spinal cord of a child who is in a rear-facing car seat is cradled by the back of the seat. This is important because in a frontal collision (the most frequent kind of car accident), babies in forward-facing cars are forcefully thrown into the dashboard, which can cause neck injuries or even death. Infants in rear-facing seats are held and padded by their car seat's back, while their heads are supported by the headrest.
Infants also have an easier breathing experience when they are sitting in a rear-facing car seat because their chin is placed against their chest. In forward-facing car seats the chin may be pulled down, which can make it difficult for children to breathe. Kids who doze off in a front-facing car are 75% more likely than those who sleep in a rear-facing seat to sustain an injury to their head.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is that the spine and brain are developing, making them more prone to injury in the case of a crash. In a crash with an infant facing forward, the head of the child may hit the dashboard buckle or the seat belt. This could cause the spinal cord to be stretched, which can result in serious injury or even death. This is why it's important to ensure that your child is in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, until they reach the height and weight limit of their infant car seat.
Some infant car seats have an insert specifically designed to support the head of the baby. When a child is no longer using the insert, it can be removed. Many car seats also have anti-rebound bars or load leg features that absorb energy from a crash. This is important because it minimizes the impact to your child and could keep them from being thrown from their seat.
The recommendation from NHTSA is to keep your child in the rear-facing infant car seat until they reach the height and weight limit for their particular car seat. Once they reach that point, they should transition to a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat that can be used with rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing as they grow.
They are easy to clean.
All car seats, whether they are convertibles or all-in one car seats are able to be removed easily and quickly. Often, they can also click directly into frame strollers and travel systems for on-the-go errands and make life much simpler! They are also easy to clean. A lot of seats have covers that can be removed and parts that can be washed and dried in the washing machine. This is essential, particularly when you have children who can be messy.
The position that is rear facing is where a child's head is cradled in the neck in the event of a crash, which is critical for young children. Their heads contain a lot of cartilage, and their spinal cords are more flexible than adults. During a collision, their head may be able to snap backwards and stretch their spinal cords, leading to serious injuries. Many car safety experts recommend that children remain in the rear for as long as possible.
It may be tempting to switch your child's front-facing seat to a booster when they are ready, but every switch decreases their safety in a crash. In a frontal collision, the child's head would be thrown to the side and possibly impact the plastic shell or dashboard. This increases the risk of injuries. The ideal scenario is for children to ride rearwards until they reach the maximum weight of their rear-facing car seat or maximum height or until they reach two years old.
If you're not sure if your child is able to transition out of their rear-facing car seat, consult an accredited CPST in your area that can assist. They can help you determine the appropriate age at which your child can turn around, as well as make sure they're riding properly and safely in their car seat.
Many parents assume that their child is no anymore a baby car seat when they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit or height. There are forward facing infant car seat to consider, including the size of your car and your child's unique shape. A lot of infant car seats have built-in indicators that will let you know when your child's neck is not above the top of the seat. Check your car seat instructions and the owner's manual for more details on safe reclining.