7 Small Changes That Will Make A Big Difference In Your Newborn Car Seat

Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat A newborn car seat is also known as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It is designed to protect infants from injury and death in vehicle accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force to the child's body and head instead of the neck or spinal cord. They are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and with the option of varying weights and height limits. They can also be a part of a travel set that snaps into the base of a stroller. Rear-facing Rear-facing newborn child car seats provide unmatched protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to support and cradle children, while protecting their head, neck, and spine. Additionally, they assist to disperse the impact of a collision to prevent your child's body from being hit which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the body of your child is not colliding with the vehicle seat or the front seat, but rather a soft, padded surface inside of their car seat. According to the AAP as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, parents should keep their child rear facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Most kids will outgrow their infant car seats around the age of one, at which point they can move to convertible car seats that is able to face forward. However, many parents want to keep their child in a rear-facing seat until their 2nd birthday. There are two main types of rear-facing car seats convertible car seats. Both are safe, but have different features. For example, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter, and have an easy release base that is able to be removed from the car and then reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seats are larger and heavier. They also do not include a stroller base. It is crucial that you always use the back seat, regardless of the type of seat. It is also recommended to place tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch straps and your child to ensure that there is no slack in the harness. In addition, make sure that the lower anchors are attached to the lower attachment points of the lower anchor bars of your vehicle and that the car seat is properly fitted and secured. Research suggests that babies who are facing the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in a car crash. Car seats that are rear-facing allow infants to experience less impact when they strike the car's front, as opposed the the back which could result in serious injuries. Forward-facing Many parents have put a lot of thought into their infant car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry and the method you took your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is getting older though, you might be thinking about changing the car seat around to facing forward. infant car seat travel to keep in mind that your child's not ready until they reach the weight and height limits set by their car seat manufacturer. Until your baby is at least 20 lbs and a year old, they should stay rear-facing. Children younger than one year don't have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash from being hit in a crash. They also have an increased risk of suffering spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions. You can purchase convertible or all-in-one seat, which will allow you to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the weight and height limits for the seat. They are usually bucket-style infant seats that have the base that you can install in your car and can be removed from the base and attached to strollers to form travel systems. They tend to have lower weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat. You can also purchase an extra booster. These are typically fitted with a harness for younger kids and convert to a belt-positioning seat once your child is ready for it. The major benefit of this type of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle through the childhood years, making it easy to move your child from one vehicle to another. Whatever car seat you pick, always read the manual and follow the installation instructions. Contact a certified car safety technician to ensure your child's car seat has been installed and used correctly. The misuse of car seats is common, and well-meaning parents could cause harm to their children if they don't understand what they're doing. It is best to read the instructions on the car seat and follow the recommendations of a CPST. Convertible Many parents choose a convertible infant car seat because they can expand with their child and allow them to travel safely through infancy and toddlerhood. These seats are cheaper than infant seats and have longer life span. However, it's important to select a seat that is simple to install and fits your vehicle. Also, make sure that you secure your baby correctly every time. Snug straps prevent the head from shifting to a dangerous chin-to chest position that could result in strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have unbuckled or loose straps. This is a serious safety issue. Unbuckled straps may cause necks to hang and is the reason of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle can also cause danger in the event that it is not secure enough to pass the pinch test. This test will determine whether the crotch strap is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn baby from slouching in the seat which could cause them to be injured or trapped. Some convertible newborn car seat come with an adjustable torso-height that allows you to adjust the height limit based on the development of your child. The minimum torso should be at least the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert that can aid in raising your child to the right height. The best convertible car seat for babies should be snug, have cushioning that is comfortable and a small base that allows you to put it in your vehicle. It should also have an incredibly tight, snug harness that passes the pinch test as well as a small, tightly-rolled towel or blanket for emergencies. It should also include a tether that attaches to the anchor points of your vehicle, which could minimize injuries from a crash by reducing impact force. It should also come with the travel set that includes a stroller and car seat that can be used to move your infant from the vehicle to the stroller. Safety features When selecting the right car seats for their babies parents must consider a myriad of aspects to consider. Car seats are an important purchase for families with new children, as their correct use reduces the risk that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71 percent. The decision between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat is based on some key factors that include safety features and compatibility with your vehicle, and ease of use. Car seats for infants are created with the delicate physiology and physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is typically in the car and the infant carrier snaps into the position. This makes it simple to transfer your baby from stroller to car and back without causing any disturbance. They also come with built-in harnesses and a crotch belt to ensure your baby's safety. Some infant cars also come with side impact protection, which is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the infant's neck and head. They have plastic, metal, and foam that absorbs energy, and protects the head of the infant from direct contact with the frame of the vehicle or other objects involved in a collision. Some have a special sock that extends from the door to shield the head of the child. Another safety feature that is becoming more prevalent in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that holds the harness straps straight across your newborn's chest. This stops the straps from pinching or twisting around the shoulders, which could put your baby at higher risk of injuries. If you choose a seat that has this feature, make sure the chest clip is set at the armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothing as it can hinder the harness. Whatever kind of car seat you pick ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle as per the instructions of the manufacturer. Check for the lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system comprising an attachment that clips onto the lower anchor points of a car and an tether strap that is attached to the top of the seat. It then connects to an anchor on your vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure car seats.