“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 baby car seat, is a way to protect infants from injury and even death in vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraint force to the body and head of the child instead of the spinal cord or neck. They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, as well as with the option of varying weights and height limits. They may also be part of an entire travel system that snaps into and out of a stroller base. Rear-facing Rear-facing newborn child car seats provide unmatched protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to hold and support children, protecting their neck, head, and spine. In addition, they help to disperse the force of a crash to prevent your child's body from being hit, reducing injuries. This is because your child's body isn't colliding with the vehicle seat or the front passenger seat, but rather a soft, padded surface inside of their car seat. Parents should make sure that their child remains rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The majority of children outgrow their infant car seat around the age of 1, at which point they are able to transition to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. But, many parents prefer to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat until their 2nd birthday. There are two types of rear-facing car seat: infant-only seats and convertible car seats. Both are safe, but offer different conveniences. For instance, infant-only chairs are smaller, lighter, and come with a quick release base that can be easily detached from the car and then reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seat are heavier and more spacious. They also do not come with a stroller base. 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 harness and your child's harness to ensure the harness is secure. In addition, make sure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of the lower anchor bars of your vehicle and that the car seat is properly fitted and buckled. Research suggests that babies who are facing the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in a car accident. Car seats with rear-facing infants also experience a lesser impact when they hit the front of the car, as opposed to the back of the car seat, which can cause serious injuries. Forward-facing The majority of parents have given a lot of attention to their baby's car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry, and was the method you used to get your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is older, you may be thinking about turning the car seat around to facing forward. It's important to keep it in mind that your child isn't yet ready until they've reached the weight and height limits established by their car seat manufacturer. Until your baby is at least 20 lbs and one year old, they should be rear-facing. Children younger than one year do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash when thrown in an accident. They also have an increased risk of suffering spinal injuries in head-on collisions. You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in-one one that lets you 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 be detached and attached to strollers as a system for travel. They tend to have lower weight and height restrictions than standard car seats. best car seats newborn can also purchase a booster. These seats are fitted with a harness, and can be transformed into a booster that lets your child wear a seat belt when they are ready. The primary benefit of this type of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle all through the child's life making it easy to move your child from one vehicle to another. No matter what car seat you choose, always read the manual and follow the installation guidelines. Get a certified safety technician to ensure that your child's car seat has been installed and used properly. Incorrect use of a car seat is frequent, and even the most well-meaning parents could cause harm to their children if they don't understand what they're doing. It is best to study the instructions on the car seat and follow the recommendations of a CPST. Convertible Many parents opt for a convertible newborn child car seat, as they can grow with their baby and enable them to travel safely through infancy and toddlerhood. They are less expensive than infant seats and offer longer life span. However, it is important to choose a model that is easy to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Also, ensure that you secure your baby properly every time. Snug straps stop the head from moving into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture, which can cause asphyxiation or strangulation. Many infant car seats have unbuckled or loose straps. This is a serious safety issue. Straps that are not buckled can cause a neck to hang and cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap has not been tightened enough to pass the pinch test, it may pose a danger. This test determines whether the crotch buckle is close enough to prevent a baby's legs from sliding around in the seat, causing them to be cut or trapped. Some convertible newborn car seats have adjustable torso height that lets you alter the height limit based on the growth of your child. The minimum torso must be the same as the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert to raise your child to the proper height for the seat. The most suitable convertible infant car seat should be a snug fit, comfortable padding and a slender base that allows you to install it in your car. It should also feature a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch-test as well as a small tight-rolled blanket or towel for emergencies. It should also have an tether strap that is attached to your vehicle's anchor points, which can reduce crash injuries by decreasing the force of impact on your baby. Additionally it should include an infant travel system that comprises a car seat that pairs with a stroller, and comes with an handle that you can use to move the baby from the car to the stroller. Safety features When selecting the right car seats for their babies parents face a variety of factors to consider. Car seats are an important purchase for new families because their proper use can reduce the chance that children will be the victim of a fatal motor vehicle accident injury by 71 per cent. The decision between a baby car-seat and a convertible one is dependent on several aspects, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and the ease of use. Car seats for infants are designed with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is typically in the car, and the seat snaps into place. This makes it simple to transfer your baby from stroller to car, and back without disturbing them. They have a crotch and harness built in to ensure your child safe. Some infant cars are equipped with side-impact protection that distributes the crash force 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 or other objects in the event of a collision. Some come with a special pod that extends beyond the door to protect the head of the child. Another safety feature that is becoming more common in newborn car seats is a chest clip that holds the harness straps flat across the chest of your baby. This prevents the straps pinching or twisting around shoulders which can put your child at risk of injury. If you decide to purchase a car seat with this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at the armpit level. You should also avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothes that might interfere with the harness's fit. Regardless of which kind of car seat you pick ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. This system consists of an attachment that clips onto the lower anchor points of your car and an tether that is attached to an anchor inside the vehicle. If your car does not have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure the car seats.