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Why You Should Consider a Forward Facing Infant Car Seat Children younger than one year old are NOT supposed to ride in a forward-facing. In the event of a crash, their neck muscles may weaken and stretch and cause serious injuries. Instead switch to FF at the time your child reaches the height or weight maximums of the seat they are currently in (or the minimums for a new seat). Please review your instructions for your car seat. Safety Infant car seats are made to safeguard the head and neck of your child in the event of an accident. The forward-facing position will also prevent your child from slamming their head against the back of the seat which can cause serious injuries. All infant car seats that face forward come with five-point harnesses that hold the child in place with just one pull, tightening the strap. the shell of the car is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved protection from impact. Some have a canopy to provide shade from the sun. The best infant car seats feature an angle indicator and an adjustable angle adjuster that allows you to determine the ideal angle for your child's head to prevent the car seat from slipping over in a collision. The car seat also comes with an upper tether strap that comes from the top of the car seat and connects onto the tether anchor inside your vehicle. It's important to keep in mind that your child might not require switching to a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that is stated in the instruction manual of the seat you're using. It's the time to switch to a different model when your child weighs 20 pounds and a year. Infants and toddlers younger than one year old have loose, soft muscles in their necks that can cause whiplash if they are involved in an accident. They are more prone to suffer serious neck injuries when they travel in a frontal crash (the most frequent and serious type). When children younger than 1 year are backwards, their head is protected by the car seat and shielded from sudden movements that could cause neck strain. When children transition to a forward facing car seat, they still need a convertible or an all in-one that has a heavy rearward weight and height limit. They shouldn't be moved to a booster seat until they have met the high back or backless booster seat age and height requirements which is usually about age 4 or 5. It is evident the difference in these car seats when you look at these crash videos, but remember that the video is slowed down. A child can be injured if they move too quickly. Comfort A forward-facing infant car seat will keep your child safe and secure during an accident. The seat comes with a soft headrest and a body support cushion and an EPS energy-absorbing shell to protect your child from collision. The seat also has a five-point harness with easy one-pull tightening, and an adjustable front center adjuster that ensures your child is correctly positioned. A retractable canopy helps protect your child from direct sunlight. The seat can be locked to the belts of the vehicle for safety. It also has an locking clip that keeps the buckle secure even when the seat isn't being used. If your child complains of discomfort while traveling or seems to slump forward during sleep or sleeping, the seat's angle might be too low for the child. You can correct this by placing tightly rolled towels underneath the front of the car seat to lift it higher. If this isn't working, take your baby to Rockridge Kids and we will test the angle of the car seat. It is vital to keep in mind that children aren't yet ready to take on the world until they are at least 20 pounds and one year old (their necks aren't strong enough yet to withstand a force applied to them in a crash in the event of falling forward on their own). Some experts suggest waiting longer, since the bones and muscles of young children are more malleable than those of adults. Many parents choose to buy a convertible car seat, which allows their babies to travel in a rear-facing position until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the seat. This allows them to enjoy the benefits of a rear-facing car seat for longer and is more convenient for parents because they can simply shift their child from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position once their child is no longer in the position. The Graco 4Ever Convertible car seat is a four-in-one convertible car seat that allows your child to use the seat for up to 10 years. It converts from rear-facing infant (up to 40 lbs) to a forward-facing harness and high-back seat (30-100 lbs), to an unbelt-positioning seat that is backless (40-120 lbs). The Smart Fit system makes it easy to set up. You can move the harness and headrest together without the need to re-thread. Convenience A forward-facing infant car seat is a fantastic option for traveling with a child who is young. It lets you see your child while driving and allows all of your family members to get into the vehicle without disturbing your baby or toddler. This type of car seat can also be used with strollers making it much easier to take your toddler in and out of your car for trips to the supermarket or other tasks. Even when your child is at the age that they are able to change their car seat to one that is facing forward, it is safer to keep them in a rear-facing position for the duration you can. When infant car seats best look at it from the perspective of crash tests, children's head is safer in a frontal collision when they are facing backwards. This is due to the fact that the entire body — including the head neck, torso, and head is supported by the back of the car seat when they are facing in this direction. Check the instructions of the manufacturer to see when you can rotate the seat of your child. You'll find that they have an upper and lower limit, as well specific guidelines regarding things like the crotch strap's position. These limits are meant to ensure the safety of your child as they develop. It is also important to consider whether your vehicle comes with Tether anchors. If yes, you must make sure that the strap is correctly installed and connected to the vehicle's anchor points as per the instructions in the seat's manual. Last but not least, ensure that the shoulder straps of your child's harness are at or just below their shoulders, and not too high or low. This can affect how they're secured in the event of the event of a crash. A great option for parents with multiple children or are planning to have more children is convertible car seats. This is an all-in-one car seat that starts by being a rear-facing infant car seat, then move your child to a forward-facing position when they are old enough and have reached the height or weight limit for the rear-facing position in the car seat. Style The baby car seat was a must for your child, and you spent a lot of time choosing the best one. As your child gets older and outgrows their infant car seat you might wonder if it's time to flip the seat around. While the idea of having your child face forward can be exciting, there are some important safety considerations that you should keep in mind. Kids should remain in the rear until they reach the maximum height and weight limits for their specific car seat. You should also be aware that children are very different in terms of size and age so you should never base when to switch to forward-facing on a specific date on the calendar, or if they've reached their limit of legroom. A child may appear bigger in the rear-facing car seat but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe to turn around, as their spine and bones aren't fully developed yet. Some infant car seats have an alarm built-in to remind that your child to remain facing rear until they're at least one year old. This is because children under one year old do not have enough neck muscles that can take a direct hit which could result in serious spinal injuries. Many infant car seats are not only safe, but they are also simple to use. Some of them have bases that snap in and out of the car, allowing you to carry your child from the car to a stroller, and back. They are typically part of an overall travel system. If you're ready to switch your child from a rear-facing convertible seat to a forward facing one, ensure that you adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and check the fit of the car seat. When installed properly, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch from side to side or from front to back, and the harness straps must be placed at or above the shoulders of your child. If you have questions or concerns regarding the installation of your car seat, contact an accredited safety technician in your community or the manufacturer of your car seat.