Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A car seat for newborns or infant safety seat or a baby car seat, protects infants from harm and death in car accidents. They have harnesses that distribute the force of restraining over the head and body of the child rather than the spinal cord or neck.
They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, and come with the option of varying weights and height limits. They may also be part of a travel system that can click into and out of a stroller base.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats provide the most complete protection for infants during crashes. They are designed to cradle and support children, while protecting their neck, head and spine. They also aid in reducing injuries by stopping the impact of an accident from hitting your child. This is because the child's body does not hit the seat of the vehicle, or front passenger seat. Instead, it's a soft, cushioned surface inside their car seat.
Parents should keep their child rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of their car seat, according to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around the age of one, most children will outgrow the infant car seat and transition to a convertible car seat that can be oriented forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear seat until they turn two.
There are best car seat newborn : infant-only car seats and convertible car seat. Both are safe and safe, but they each offer different advantages. Infant-only seats, for instance are smaller and lighter. They also come with a quick-release base that can be removed from the vehicle and then attached to the stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, but they do not have an integrated stroller base.
It is important to always use the back seat regardless of the type of seat. You can also place a tightly rolled blanket or washcloth between the crotch harness and your child's harness to ensure the harness is tight. In addition, make sure that the lower anchors are connected to the lower attachment points of the lower anchor bars of your vehicle and that the car seat is correctly installed and secured.
Research suggests that babies who sit in the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in an accident. Car seats that are rear-facing allow infants to experience less impact when they crash into the car's front, in contrast to the rear which can result in serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Most parents have given plenty of attention to their baby's car seat. It was an important item on your baby registry as well as the way you brought your child home from the hospital. You may think about changing the car seat to face forward when your child gets older. However, it's important keep in mind that children aren't yet ready for this until they reach the weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and is at the age of one year. Children under one year old do not have the neck muscles required to withstand whiplash from being involved in an accident. They also face greater risk of suffering from spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat that allows you to keep the child rear-facing up until the child is at the weight and height limit of the seat. They are usually bucket-style infant seats that come with the base that you can install in your vehicle. They can also be separated from the base and connected to strollers to form travel systems. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also purchase a booster seat. These are usually equipped with a harness for younger children, and then convert to a belt-positioning booster seat when your child is ready. This type of car seat has the principal advantage that it can be used in your vehicle for all of your child's childhood, making it easier to move them from one vehicle into another.
No matter which car seat you pick be sure to read the instruction manual and follow the installation instructions. It is also a good idea to consult a certified car safety technician to ensure that your child's seat is installed and used in a safe manner. It is not uncommon for parents to abuse car seats, and even the most well-intentioned parents could cause harm to their children. The best way to prevent this is by reading the instructions for your car seat and following the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents opt for convertible car seats for newborns because they develop with your baby which allows them to travel safely from infancy to toddlerhood. These seats are also less expensive than car seats for infants and have an extended lifespan. It's important to select one that fits your car and is easy to install. Also, ensure that you buckle up your baby properly every time.
Snug straps keep the head from slipping to a risky chin-to-chest stance, which can cause strangulation or asphyxiation. A majority of infant car seats have straps that are not buckled or loose. This is a major security issue. Straps that aren't buckled could cause a neck to hang and is the reason of numerous accidents. If the crotch strap has not been enough tight to pass the pinch test, it can pose a danger. This test determines if the crotch buckle is tight enough to stop a baby's legs from sliding around in the seat and causing them to be cut or trapped.
Some convertible newborn car seats include an adjustable torso, which lets you adjust the height limit according to the growth of your child. The torso's minimum height should be equal to the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert to help bring your child up to the appropriate height for the seat.
The best convertible newborn car seat should have a comfortable fit, comfortable padding and a slender base to allow you to install it easily in your car. It should also come with an incredibly snug, secure harness that can pass the pinch test as well as a small, tightly rolled blanket or towel in the event of an accident. It should also include an anchor tether that connects to the anchor points of your vehicle, which can help reduce injuries during an accident by reducing the impact force. It should also include a travel set that includes a stroller and car seat that can be used to move your child from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
Parents have a lot to consider when they're choosing the best car seat for their infants. Car seats are an important purchase for families who are starting a new life because their proper use can reduce the chance that children will be the victim of a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71 percent. The decision between a baby car seat and a convertible model is dependent on several factors, including safety features, compatibility of your vehicle, and ease-of-use.
Car seats for infants are designed with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The base of the seat is usually located in the car and the infant carrier snaps into place. This makes it simple to transfer your baby from stroller to car, and back without causing any disturbance. They come with a crotch as well as a harness that are built-in to keep your child secure.
Some infant cars come with side-impact protection that disperses the force of the collision away from the baby's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic, and foam that absorbs energy and protects the head of the infant from direct contact with the vehicle frame or other objects in the event of a collision. Some have a special sock that extends beyond the door to protect the head of the child.
A chest clip is a different safety feature that is becoming more prevalent in car seats for newborns. It keeps the harness straps firmly against the chest of your baby. This stops the straps from pinching or twisting at the shoulders, which could place your baby at a greater risk of injuries. If you select a seat that has this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at the armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby with heavy outerwear since it could interfere with the harness.
Regardless of which kind of car seat you select ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle as per the instructions of the manufacturer. 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 an tether that is attached to an anchor on the vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, a seatbelt may be used to secure car seats.