Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A car seat for newborns is also referred to a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It is designed to protect infants against injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents. portable infant car seat are fitted with harnesses that distribute the restraint forces across the head and body of the child instead of the spinal cord and neck.
They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, and come with an array of weight and height limits. These seats can also be a part of a set for travel that can be converted 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 hold and support children, protecting their neck, spine, and head. They also help to disperse the force of a crash from hitting your child's body and minimizing injuries. This is because your child's body is not hitting the car seat or the front seat, but rather a soft, padded surface inside of their car seat.
Parents should keep their child facing rear until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of their car seat, as per the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Most kids will outgrow their infant carseat around age 1 and can transition to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will leave their child in the rear seat until their child turns two.
There are two main types of rear-facing car seats that are convertible and infant-only car seats. Both are equally secure, however they offer distinct advantages. Infant-only seats, for example are smaller and lighter. They also have the quick-release base which can be removed from the vehicle and then attached to a stroller. Convertible car seats are larger and heavier, and do not come with a built-in stroller base.
Regardless of which type of seat you pick regardless of the type, you must adhere to the instructions of the manufacturer and always use the seat in the back seat of your vehicle. It is also recommended that you put tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch straps and your child to ensure there is no gap in the harness. In addition, make sure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is properly installed and secured.
Research shows that babies who face the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in an accident. Babies in rear-facing car seats also experience less impact when they crash into the front of the car, as opposed to the rear of the car seat which can cause serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Many parents have given plenty of thought to their infant's car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry and the method you used to bring your baby home from the hospital. Now as your child gets older, you might be thinking about changing the car seat facing forward. However, it's important be aware that children aren't quite ready until they reach the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
As long as your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and a year old, they should remain rear-facing. This is because children younger than one year old don't have enough neck muscles to handle the whiplash that can result from being forced forward in an accident. Moreover, they are at greater chance of suffering spinal injuries from head-on accidents.
You can buy convertible or all-in-one seat that allows you to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the height and weight limit for the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant car seats that are attached to a base for placement in your vehicle. The base can then be detached and attached to strollers as a system for travel. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than standard car seats.
If you prefer, you can purchase a booster seat. These seats are equipped with a harness and can be converted into a booster seat 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 early years of life, making it easy to transport your child from one place to another.
It doesn't matter which car seat you choose follow the directions and adhere to them. Get a certified safety technician to ensure that your child's car seat has been installed and used properly. It is common for parents to make mistakes with car seats, and even well-intentioned parents could cause harm to their children. The best way to avoid this is to follow the car seat instructions and following the advice of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose convertible infant car seats because they grow with your child and allow them to safely travel from the time of infancy until toddlerhood. These seats are also less expensive than infant car seats and offer longevity for a long time. But, it's crucial to choose a model that is easy to install and will fit in your vehicle. Also, make sure you secure your baby correctly every time.
Snug straps keep the head from slipping into the dangerous chest-to-chin position that could lead to strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have straps that are unbuckled or loose and pose a major safety risk. Straps that aren't buckled can cause an unbalanced neck that is the cause of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle may be a danger if it is not tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch buckle is close enough to prevent a newborn's legs from sliding down the seat and result in them being cut or trapped.
Some convertible car seats for newborns include an adjustable torso, which lets you adjust the height limit based on the growth of your child. The torso's minimum height should be the same as the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert to help you raise your child to the right height.
The ideal convertible car seat for babies should be snug, have comfortable padding and a narrow base so that you can put it in your vehicle. It should also come with a tight, snug harness that can pass the pinch test as well as a small, tightly rolled blanket or towel in the event of an accident. It should also come with an tether strap that is attached to your vehicle's anchor points that can help reduce the risk of collision injuries by reducing the force of impact on your baby. In addition it should be equipped with the travel system, which comprises an infant car seat that can be paired with a stroller and an attachment that allows you to carry the baby from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
When it comes to choosing the best car seats for their newborns parents face a variety of factors to consider. Car seats are an essential purchase for new families because correctly using them reduces the risk of fatal child collisions with motor vehicles by 71 percent. The decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat is based on a few key factors, including safety features and compatibility with your vehicle, and ease of use.
Car seats for infants are designed with a newborn's fragile physiology in mind. The base of the seat is usually located 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 keep your child secure.
Some infant cars also come with side impact protection, which disperses the force of a crash away from the infant's head and neck. They have plastic, metal and foam that absorbs energy and protects the baby's head from direct contact with the frame of the vehicle or other objects in the event of a collision. Some have a special sock that extends from the door to shield the head of the child.
A chest clip is another safety feature that is becoming more popular in car seats for newborns. It keeps the harness straps firmly against the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from slipping or bending at the shoulders, which can expose your baby to higher risk of injuries. If you choose a car seat with this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at armpit level. It is also important to be sure to avoid dressing your child in bulky clothing that could interfere with the fit of the harness.
Make sure that the car seat is fitted according to the instructions of the manufacturer regardless of the model you choose. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system that consists of a connector that clips into the lower anchor points on a car and the tether strap, which is attached to the top of the seat. It then connects to an anchor in your vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, you may use a seat belt to secure your car seat.