This Is The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Newborn Car Seat
Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat A newborn car seat is also referred to a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It helps protect babies against injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents. They come with a harness that distributes the force of restraining over the head and body of the child rather than the neck and spinal cord. They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, and come with a range of weight and height limits. These seats are also a part of a travel set that can be converted into the base of a stroller. Rear-facing Rear-facing car seats for newborns provide unmatched protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to hold and support children, while protecting their head, neck, and spine. They also aid in reducing injuries by keeping the force of an accident from hitting your child. This is because the child's body does not hit the seat of the vehicle or the front seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned surface in their car seat. According to the AAP as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Parents should keep their child facing rearwards until they reach their car seat's maximum weight or height limit. Around the age of one, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and transition to a convertible seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will leave their child in the rear seat until they turn two. There are two main kinds: infant-only car seats and convertible car seat. Both are equally safe and safe, but they each offer different features. For example, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter and come with an easy release base which can be easily removed from the car and then reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seats are heavier and more spacious. They also do not include a stroller base. Regardless of which type of seat you select, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and to always place the seat in the back of your vehicle. You can also put an enveloping blanket or washcloth between the crotch harness and your child to ensure that the harness is secure. Check that the lower anchors of your car seat are correctly installed and are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars. While there is much disagreement about the length of time a baby can be rear-facing, research has shown that infants as young as 12 months old are less likely to be injured in car accidents if they are facing the back of the car. Rear-facing car seats allow babies to be less impacted when they hit the car's front, as opposed the the back which can result in serious injuries. Forward-facing The majority of parents have invested a lot of thought into their infant car seat. It was a major item on the baby registry, and how you got your child home from the hospital. Now as your child gets older, you might be considering turning the car seat facing forward. But, it's important to be aware that children aren't quite ready until they reach the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat. Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at minimum 20 pounds and is at the age of one year. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash from being thrown in an accident. They also have a higher risk of spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions. You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in-one one that lets you keep the child rear-facing until the child is at the weight and height limit of the seat. These are typically bucket-style infant seats that come with the base that you can install in your vehicle. They can also be detached from the base and attached to strollers in order to form travel systems. However, they usually have smaller maximum weight and height limits than a standard convertible car seat. You can also buy an extra booster. These seats are equipped with a harness, and can be transformed into a booster that lets your child wear a seat belt when they are ready. This type of car seat has the primary advantage that it can be used in your vehicle throughout the duration of your child's childhood making it simpler to transport the child from one vehicle to another. Whatever car seat you pick make sure you read the instructions and follow the instructions for installation. It's recommended to consult a certified car seat safety technician to make sure that the child's car seat is properly installed and used in a safe manner. It is typical for parents to make mistakes with car seats, and even well-intentioned parents can cause injury to their children. The best way to avoid this is to follow the car seat instructions and following the recommendations of a CPST. Convertible Many parents choose a convertible newborn car seat because they can expand with your child, allowing them to safely travel from infancy to toddlerhood. They are cheaper than car seats for infants and have a long lifespan. However, it is important to select a seat that is easy to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Also, make sure to keep your baby safe by buckling them up properly every time. Snug straps stop the head from shifting to a dangerous chin-to chest position that could lead to strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a major safety issue. Straps that are not buckled can cause necks to hang and is the reason of a lot of accidents. The crotch buckle may cause danger when it isn't tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch buckle fits enough to prevent a newborn's legs from sliding around in the seat, causing them to be cut or trapped. Some convertible newborn car seats come with an adjustable torso height, which lets you adjust the height limit to suit the growth of your child. The minimum torso height should be at least the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert that will help you raise your child to the proper height. The best convertible car seat for babies should be comfortable, with cushioning that is comfortable and a small base that allows you to install it easily into your vehicle. It should also have a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch test and a small, tightly-rolled towel or blanket for an emergency. It should also include a tether strap that attaches to your vehicle's anchor points that can help reduce the risk of collision injuries by decreasing the impact force on your baby. In addition it should include the travel system, which comprises a car seat that pairs with a stroller and has an handle that you can use to transport your baby from the car to the stroller. Safety features When selecting the right car seats for their babies, parents have many things to take into consideration. Car seats are an essential purchase for new families because correctly using them reduces the risk of fatal collisions in motor vehicles by 71 percent. The decision between a child's car seat and a convertible model is based on a variety of factors, including safety features, 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 in the car and the infant carrier snaps into the position. This makes it easy to move your baby from stroller to car and back without disturbing them. They also come with built-in harnesses and a crotch strap to ensure your baby's safety. Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection that is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the infant's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic, and foam that absorbs energy and shields the head of the infant from direct contact with the frame or other objects in the event of a collision. Some include a special pod that extends from the door to protect the head of the child. Another security feature that's becoming more common in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps straight across your newborn's chest. This prevents the straps pinching or twisting around the shoulders which can expose your child to the risk of injury. If you opt for a seat that has this feature, make sure that the chest clip is placed at armpit height. You should also be sure to avoid dressing your baby in bulky outerwear that could interfere with the fit of the harness. No matter what type of car seat you choose ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Look for car seat newborn insert and Tethers for Children system. This system comprises connectors that clip into the lower anchor points of your car and an tether that is attached to an anchor in the vehicle. If your car does not have LATCH, a belt can be used to secure car seats.