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 infants from injury and even death in car accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force over the child's head and body, rather than the neck or spinal cord.

These seats are available in rear-facing and 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 infant car seats provide unmatched protection for infants in crashes. They are designed to support and cradle children, securing their neck, head, and spine. In addition, they help to reduce the force of a crash from hitting your child's body and minimizing injuries. This is because the child's body doesn't collide with the vehicle seat or the front passenger seat. Instead, it's a soft, cushioned surface in their car seat.

According to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Parents should keep their child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. Around age 1, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and be moved to a convertible seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear seat until they turn two.

There are two primary kinds: infant-only car seats and convertible car seats by age seat. Both are safe however, each has its own conveniences. For instance, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter and come with an easy release base that can be easily detached from the car, and then reattached to a stroller base. Convertible car seats are heavier and larger. They also do not include a base for a stroller.

Whatever seat you pick it is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions and always use the seat in the back seat of your vehicle. It is also recommended to place tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch straps and your baby to ensure there is no slack in the harness. Also, ensure 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 installed and buckled.

While there is much debate over how long a child should be rear-facing, research has shown that infants up to 12 months old are less likely to sustain injuries in car accidents if they're facing the back of the car. Baby car seats that face rear also have less impact when they crash into the front of the car, in contrast to the rear of the car seat which can cause serious injuries.

Forward-facing

Many parents have put a lot of thought into their infant car seat. It was an important item on your baby's registry and the method you took your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is older, you might be considering turning the car seat 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 established 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. This is because babies younger than one year don't have neck muscles that can withstand the whiplash that can result from being caught in a crash and thrown forward. They also face a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.

You can purchase a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that allows your child to remain facing the rear until they reach the weight and height limits for the seat. These seats are typically bucket-style infant car seats that are attached to a base for installation in your vehicle. The base can then be removed and connected to strollers as a travel system. However, they usually have lower maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seats.

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 once they are ready. The major benefit of this kind of car seat is that it can remain in your vehicle through the early years of life, making it easy to move your child from one place to another.

No matter what car seat you choose make sure you read the instructions and follow the instructions for installation. Get a certified safety technician to make sure that your child's car seat is properly installed and used correctly. It is typical for parents to abuse car seats, and even the most well-intentioned parents can cause injury to their children. The best way to avoid this is by reading the instructions for your car seat and following the guidelines of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents choose to purchase convertible infant car seats because they can expand with your baby which allows them to travel in a safe manner from infancy to toddlerhood. These seats are cheaper than infant car seats and offer longevity for a long time. It is important to choose the right model that is compatible with your vehicle and is simple to install. Be sure to protect your baby by buckling them correctly each time.

Snug straps stop the head from shifting to a dangerous chin-to chest position that could lead to strangulation or asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have loose or unbuckled straps and pose an extremely risky safety issue. Unbuckled straps may cause necks to hang and is the reason of many accidents. If the crotch strap isn't enough tight to pass a pinch test, it can cause danger. This test will determine if the crotch strap is secure enough to stop the legs of a newborn baby from slouching in the seat, causing them to get trapped or cut.

Some convertible infant car seats have adjustable torso height that allows you to adjust the height limit according to your child's development. 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 that can help you raise your child to the correct height.

The best convertible car seat for infants should be comfortable, with comfortable padding and a narrow base so that you can put it in your vehicle. It should also come with an incredibly tight, snug harness that passes the pinch-test, and a short, tightly-rolled towel or blanket for an emergency. It should also come with a tether that attaches to the anchor points of your vehicle, which could reduce injuries in a crash by reducing force of impact. Additionally it should be equipped with a travel system, which comprises an cheap infant car seats car seat that can be paired with a stroller and an attachment that allows you to carry the infant car seats best from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

Parents must take into consideration when selecting the appropriate car seat for their babies. Car seats are an essential purchase for families who are starting a new life and their use reduces the risk that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle accident injury by 71 per cent. The choice between an infant car seat and a convertible seat comes down to several key elements such as safety features, compatibility with your vehicle and user-friendliness.

Infant car seat inserts for newborns seats are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is usually in the car and the infant carrier snaps into the position. This makes it simple to move your baby from stroller to car and back without disturbing them. They have a crotch and harness that are built-in to keep your child secure.

Some infant cars are also equipped with side impact protection, which distributes crash force away from the baby's neck and head. Metal, plastic and foam absorb energy and shield the baby's face from direct contact with a vehicle frame or any other object involved in the event of a collision. Some include a special pod that extends beyond the door to protect the child's head.

Another safety feature that's becoming more common in infant car seats is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps flat across the chest of your baby. The straps aren't strained or bending around shoulders, which could expose your child to the risk of injury. If you choose a car seat with this feature, ensure the chest clip is set at the armpit level. You should also be sure to avoid dressing your baby in bulky outerwear that could interfere with the fit of the harness.

Make sure that the car seat is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions regardless of the model you choose. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. The system is comprised of connectors that clip into the lower anchor points of your vehicle and the tether which is attached to an anchor inside the vehicle. If your car doesn't have LATCH, you may use a seat belt to secure the car seat.