Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A newborn car seat 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. They come with a harness that distributes restraining forces over the child's body and head instead of the neck and spinal cord.
These seats are rear-facing or convertible and are available in a variety of sizes and weight limits. They may also be part of a travel system that clicks into and out of a stroller base.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats provide unbeatable protection in accidents for infants. They are designed to cradle and support children, protecting their head, neck, and spine. They also help to disperse the force of a crash from hitting your child's body and minimizing injuries. This is because the child's body does not hit the seat of the vehicle or the front passenger seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned surface inside 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. At around the age of 1, children will outgrow their infant car seat and transition to a convertible car seat that can face forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear-facing seat until their child turns two.
There are two main types of rear-facing car seat convertible car seats. Both are equally secure however, each has its own conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter, and have an easy release base that can be easily detached from the car and reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seat are heavier and more spacious. They also do not include a base for a stroller.
It is crucial to always use the back seat regardless of the type of seat. You can also put a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch straps 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 your vehicle's lower anchor bars and that the car seat is correctly installed and buckled.
Research shows that babies who sit in the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in a car crash. Car seats with rear-facing seats allow babies to be less impacted when they strike the car's front, in contrast to the rear, which can lead to serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have invested a lot of thought into their infant car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry and how you got your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is getting older, you may be considering turning the car seat around to forward-facing. It is important to keep in mind that your child isn't yet ready until they've reached the weight and height limits set by their car seat manufacturer.
Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at minimum 20 pounds and has reached the age of one year. This is because kids under one year old don't have neck muscles that can withstand the whiplash caused by being caught in a crash and thrown forward. They also face a higher risk of spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions.
You can buy a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, which will allow you to keep your child rear-facing until they meet the weight and height limit for the seat. These are typically bucket-style infant seats that come with an installation base that can be inserted into your vehicle. They can also be separated from the base and connected to strollers to create travel systems. They typically have lower weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also buy an extra booster. These seats are equipped with a harness and can be transformed into a booster that allows your child to wear a seat belt when they are ready. This kind of car seat has the main benefit of being used in your car for the duration of your child's life making it simpler to move them from one vehicle into another.
No matter which car seat you select, always read the manual and follow the instructions for installation. It's recommended to consult a certified safety technician to ensure that your child's seat is properly installed and used properly. Car seat misuse is very frequent, and even the most well-meaning parents could injure their children if they aren't aware of 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 convertible infant car seat since they can expand with their baby and enable them to travel safely through toddlerhood and into infancy. These seats are also less expensive than infant car seats and offer longevity for a long time. However, it's important to select a seat that is easy to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Additionally, be sure to keep your baby safe by buckling them correctly each time.
Snug straps stop the head from shifting into the risky chin-to-chest position that could result in strangulation or asphyxiation. A lot of infant carseats have straps that are unbuckled or loose and pose a major safety risk. Straps that are not buckled can result in an unbalanced neck which is the cause of numerous accidents. The crotch buckle can also be a danger if it is not tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test determines whether the crotch buckle fits enough to stop a baby's legs from sliding down the seat, causing them to be cut or trapped.
Some convertible car seats for newborns have adjustable torso-height, which allows you to adjust the height limit to suit your child's growth. The minimum torso height should be equal to the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert that can help you raise your child to the correct height.
The best convertible newborn car seat should have a comfortable fit, comfortable padding and a small base that lets you install it easily in your vehicle. It should also come with a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch test as well as a small tight-rolled blanket or towel for emergencies. It should also come with a tether strap that attaches to your vehicle's anchor points and can reduce crash injuries by decreasing the force of impact on your baby. It should also include the travel set that includes a car seat and stroller that can be used to move your infant from the vehicle to the stroller.
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When it comes to choosing the best car seats for their newborns parents must consider a myriad of things to take into consideration. Car seats are a crucial purchase for families who are starting a new life because their proper use can reduce the chance that children will be the victim of an fatal motor vehicle crash injury by 71 percent. The choice between an infant car-seat and a convertible one is based on a variety of aspects, including safety features, compatibility of your vehicle, and convenience.
Car seats for infants are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. They typically come with the base that is able to stay in the car and an infant carrier that snaps into the position, making it simple to move your baby from car to stroller and back again without disturbing them. They also come with harnesses built-in and a crotch strap to ensure your baby's safety.
Some infant cars come with side impact protection, which is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the infant's head and neck. They come with 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 include a special pod that extends from the door to shield the child's head.
Another safety feature that's becoming more common in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps straight across the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from pinching or bending around shoulders which can expose your child to the risk of injury. If you opt for a seat with this feature, make sure the chest clip is at armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby with bulky clothing as it can interfere with the harness.
Make sure that the car seat is installed according to the instructions of the manufacturer regardless of the type 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 an tether that is attached to an anchor in the vehicle. If your car doesn't have LATCH, you can still use a seat belt to secure your car seat.