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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 infants from injury and even death from car accidents. The harness distributes the restraint force over the child's body and head instead of the spinal cord or neck.

They are available in rear-facing as well as convertible versions, and come with a range of weight and height limits. They may also be part of a travel system that can click into and out of the base of a stroller.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing newborn child car seats provide unmatched protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to hold and support children, ensuring their neck, spine, and head. They also help to reduce the impact of a crash from hitting your child's body which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because your child's body isn't hitting the car seat or front passenger seat, but rather a soft, cushioned surface inside their car seat.

Parents should make sure that their child remains facing rear until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of the car seat, as per the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Around age 1, most children will outgrow their infant car seat and move on to a convertible car seat that can face forward. Many parents will keep their child in the rear seat until they turn two.

There are two types of rear-facing car seats that are convertible and infant-only car seats. Both are equally secure however, each has its own features. Infant-only seats, for instance are smaller and lighter. They also come with the quick-release base which can easily be detached from the vehicle and then attached to a stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier, and do not have a built-in stroller base.

It is important to always use the back seat, regardless of the seat type. You can also place an enveloping blanket or washcloth between the crotch harness and your child's harness to ensure the harness is secure. Make sure that the lower anchors of your car seat are properly installed, and that they are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars.

While there is much debate over the length of time a baby can ride rear-facing, research shows that infants as young as 12 months old are less likely to suffer injuries in car accidents if they are facing the back of the car. Car seats with rear-facing seats allow babies to be less impacted when they hit the car's front in contrast to the rear which could result in serious injuries.

Forward-facing

Most parents have put a lot of thought into their baby car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry, and the way you brought your baby home from the hospital. You may think about changing the car seat to face forward as your child gets older. It is important to keep in mind that your child isn't ready until they've reached the weight and height limits established by the car seat manufacturer.

As long as your baby weighs at least 20 lbs and a year old, they should stay rear-facing. This is because babies younger than a year don't have strong enough neck muscles to handle the whiplash that can result from being thrown forward in an accident. Moreover they are at a higher chance of suffering spinal injuries from head-on accidents.

You can purchase convertible or all-in-one seat that allows you to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the height and weight limit for the seat. They are usually bucket-style infant car seat best seats that have an installation base that can be inserted into your vehicle. They can also be separated from the base and reattached to strollers in order to form travel systems. However, they typically have smaller maximum weight and height limits than the standard convertible car seats.

If you prefer, you can purchase a booster seat. These seats come with a harness and can be converted into a booster seat that allows your child to wear a seat belt when they are ready. This type of car seat has the principal advantage that it can be used in your car for the duration of your child's life making it simpler to move the car seat from one location to another.

It doesn't matter which car seat you pick be sure to read the instructions and adhere to them. It's recommended to consult a certified car safety technician to ensure that your child's seat is properly installed and used in a safe manner. It is not uncommon for parents to misuse car seats, and even well-intentioned parents could cause harm to their children. The best way to avoid this is to follow the instructions for car seats and following the guidelines of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents opt for a convertible newborn child car seat because they can grow with their child and allow them to travel safely through toddlerhood and into infancy. These seats are cheaper than infant ones and have a a longer lifespan. It is essential to select the right model that is compatible with your vehicle and is easy to install. Also, make sure that you buckle up your baby properly every time.

Snug straps stop the head from slipping into the dangerous chest-to-chin position that could result in strangulation or even asphyxiation. Many infant car seats have loose or unbuckled straps and pose a serious safety risk. Straps that aren't buckled could cause necks to hang, which is the cause of a lot of accidents. The crotch buckle could pose a risk if it is not tight enough to pass the pinch test. This test will determine whether the crotch buckle is sufficiently tight to stop the legs of a newborn baby from slouching in the seat which could cause them to be cut or trapped.

Some convertible car seats for newborns come with an adjustable torso height that lets you alter the height limit based on the growth of your child. The minimum torso must be the same as the height of the shoulders of your infant or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert that can help bring your child up to the proper height for the seat.

The best convertible car seat for babies should be snug, have comfortable padding and a narrow base to allow you to put it in your vehicle. It should also include an incredibly snug, secure harness that can pass the pinch test and an incredibly small, tightly-rolled blanket or towel in the event of an accident. It should also have an anchor tether that connects to the anchor points of your vehicle, which could help reduce injuries during a crash by reducing impact force. Additionally it should be equipped with a travel system, which comprises an infant car seats by age seat that can be paired with a stroller and a handle you use to carry the baby from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

When choosing the right car seats for their newborns parents face a variety of aspects 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 accident injury by 71 per cent. The decision between a baby car seat and a convertible seat is based on a few key factors that include safety features and compatibility with your vehicle and the ease of use.

Infant car seats are made with the fragile baby's physiology in mind. The seat's base is usually in the car and the infant carrier snaps into its place. This makes it simple to move your baby from stroller to car, and back without causing any disturbance. They come with a crotch and harness that are built-in to keep your child safe.

Some infant cars have side-impact protection, which distributes the force of the collision away from a newborn's head and neck. Metal, plastic and foam absorb energy and protect the baby's face from direct contact with the frame of a vehicle or any other object in an accident. Some include a specially designed pod on the door's side that extends out to protect the baby's head.

Another security feature that's becoming more prevalent 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 twisting around the shoulders, which could expose your baby to higher risk of injuries. If you opt for a seat with this feature, make sure the chest clip is set at the armpit height. Avoid dressing your baby with heavy outerwear since it could hinder the harness.

Whatever kind of car seat you pick make sure it's installed 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 and connects to an anchor inside your vehicle. If your vehicle doesn't have LATCH, you may use the seat belt to secure your car seat.