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 a baby car seat, is a way to protect babies from injury and death from car accidents. The harness distributes the restraint force across the body and head of the child, rather than the neck or spinal cord.
They are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and with an array of weight and height limits. They may also be part of a travel system that clicks into and out of the base of a stroller.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats for newborns provide unbeatable protection in accidents for infants. They are designed to cradle and support children, while protecting their neck, head and spine. In addition, they help to reduce the force of a crash from hitting your child's body which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the child's body does not collide with the vehicle seat or the front passenger seat. Instead, it's a soft, cushioned surface within their car seat.
Parents should keep their child facing rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The majority of children outgrow their infant carseat around the age of one, at which point they can move to a convertible car seat that can face forward. Many parents will put their child in the rear seat until their child turns two.
There are two primary types: infant-only car seat and convertible car seat. Both are equally secure, but have different features. Infant-only seats, for instance, are smaller and lighter. They also have an easy-release base that can be easily removed from the vehicle and then attached to a stroller. Convertible car seats are larger, heavier, and do not come with a built-in base for strollers.
It is important to use the back seat regardless of the type of seat. You can also put a blanket that is tightly rolled or washcloth between the crotch straps and your child's harness to ensure the harness is tight. Also, ensure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is correctly installed and secured.
Research has shown that babies who are facing the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in an accident. Car seats with rear-facing infants also experience less impact when they strike the front of the car, in contrast to the rear of the car seat which can cause serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have given lots of attention to their baby's car seat. It was one of the most important items on the baby registry, and how you got your little one home from the hospital. Now as your child gets older though, you might be thinking about changing the car seat facing forward. But, it's important to be aware that children aren't quite ready for this 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 least 20 pounds and reaches the age of one year. Push Chairs & Prams is because babies younger than one year don't have enough neck muscles to withstand the whiplash caused by being forced forward in an accident. Additionally they are at greater risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can buy a convertible car seat or an all-in-one one that will allow you to keep the child rear-facing until the child reaches the weight and height limits of the seat. These are typically bucket-style infant seats that come with a base to install in your car and can be separated from the base and reattached to strollers to create travel systems. They typically have lower weight and height restrictions than standard car seats.
You can also purchase a booster seat. These are typically fitted with a harness designed for smaller children, and then convert into a belt-positioning booster seat once your child is ready for it. This kind of car seat has the primary benefit of being used in your car for the duration of your child's life, making it easier to move the child from one vehicle to another.
No matter what car seat you select, always read the manual and follow the installation guidelines. Get a certified safety technician to ensure your child's car seat is properly installed and is used in a safe manner. It is not uncommon for parents to abuse car seats, and even well-intentioned parents could cause harm to their children. It is best to read the instructions on the car seat and follow the advice of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose to purchase convertible infant car seats because they develop with your baby and allow them to safely travel from infanthood to toddlerhood. These seats are less expensive than infant seats and have an extended life. It's important to select one that fits your vehicle and is easy to install. Also, make sure that you buckle up your baby correctly every time.
Snug straps prevent the head from slipping into a dangerous chin-to chest position that could lead to strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant carseats have loose or unbuckled straps, and this is a serious safety risk. Unbuckled straps may cause a neck to hang and cause of a lot of accidents. The crotch buckle can also pose a risk if it is not tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch buckle is tight enough to prevent a baby's legs from sliding down the seat and causing them to be trapped or cut.
Some convertible car seats for newborns include an adjustable torso that lets you alter the height limit based on the growth of your child. The minimum torso height should be equal to the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that can assist you in raising your child to the proper height.
The ideal convertible infant car seat should have a comfortable fit, comfortable padding and a small base to allow you to put it in your car. It should also come with an incredibly tight, snug harness that passes the pinch-test and a small tight-rolled blanket or towel to use in an emergency. It should also come with an attachment tether to the anchor points of your vehicle, which could minimize injuries from an accident by reducing the impact force. In addition it should include an infant travel system that consists of 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 selecting the right car seats for their newborns parents must consider a myriad of factors to consider. Car seats are an important purchase for new families because their proper use reduces the risk that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71. The choice between an infant car seat and a convertible seat comes down to several key elements such as safety features that are compatible with your car and user-friendliness.
Car seats for infants are designed with the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is usually located in the car and the infant carrier snaps into the position. This makes it easy 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 secure.
Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection, which is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the newborn's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic and foam that absorbs energy and protects the baby's head from direct contact with the vehicle frame or other objects in 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 keeps the harness straps straight across the chest of your baby. This prevents the straps pinching or twisting around shoulders, which could expose your child to the risk of injury. If you opt for a seat that has this feature, ensure that the chest clip is placed at armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby with bulky clothing as it can cause interference with the harness.
Verify that the car seat is installed according to the instructions of the manufacturer regardless of the model you select. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. The system is comprised of a connector which clips into the lower anchor points of your car, and the tether which is attached to an anchor in the vehicle. If your vehicle does not have LATCH, a belt can be used to secure the car seats.