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Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat

A newborn car seat or infant safety seat, or a baby car seat, protects babies from injury and death from car accidents. They have a harness that distributes the force of restraining over the head and body of the child instead of the neck and spinal cord.

They are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, as well as with a range of weight and height limits. They are also a part of a travel set that can be converted into a stroller base.

Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats for newborns offer the most complete protection for infants during crashes. They are designed to hold and support children, while protecting their spine, neck and head. Additionally, they assist to reduce the impact of a crash from hitting your child's body which reduces the risk of injuries. This is because the child's body doesn't hit the seat of the vehicle or the front seat. Instead, it's a soft, cushioned area 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 their car seat's maximum weight or height limit. At around the age of 1, children will outgrow their infant car seat and move on to a convertible seat that can face forward. Many parents will leave their child in the rear seat until they turn two.

There are two main types of rear-facing car seats convertible car seats. Both are equally secure, but each offers different conveniences. Infant-only seats, for example, are smaller and lighter. They also have a quick-release base that can be easily removed from the vehicle and attached to a stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger, heavier, and do not come with an integrated stroller base.

It is essential to always use the back seat, regardless of the type of seat. It is also recommended to put tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch strap and your child to ensure there isn't any slack in the harness. Ensure that the lower anchors of your car seats by age seat are properly installed and are connected to the lower anchor points on the lower anchor bars.

There is a lot of disagreement about how long a child should be rear-facing, research has shown that babies up to 12 months old are less likely to sustain injuries in car accidents if they're facing the back of the car. Babies in rear-facing car seats also experience a lesser impact when they crash into the front of the car, as opposed to the rear of the car seat which can cause serious injuries.

Forward-facing

Many parents have invested a lot of thought into their baby car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry and the method you took your baby home from the hospital. You might consider changing the car seat to face forward as your child grows older. It's important to keep it in mind that your child isn't ready until they've reached the weight and height limits established by the car seat manufacturer.

Rear-facing is recommended until your baby weighs at least 20 pounds and has reached the age of one year. Children younger than one year don't have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash from being thrown in an accident. Moreover, they are at greater chance of suffering spinal injuries from head-on collisions.

You can purchase a convertible car seat or an all-in one seat that lets you keep the child rear-facing until the child reaches the weight and height limit of the seat. These seats are usually bucket-style infant car seats that are attached to a base that can be installed in your vehicle. The base can be removed and attached to strollers as a travel system. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than standard car seats.

You can also buy a booster. They are typically equipped with a harness for younger children and can be converted into a belt-positioning booster seat when your child is ready. This kind of car seat has the main advantage that it can be used in your vehicle throughout the duration of your child's life making it simpler to move the child from one vehicle to another.

No matter which car seat you choose be sure to read the instructions and follow the guidelines. Get a certified safety technician to make sure that your child's car seat has been installed and used correctly. The misuse of car seats is frequent, and even the most well-meaning parents can injure their children if they don't understand what they're doing. The best way to prevent this is to read the instructions for car seats and following the advice of a CPST.

Convertible

Many parents opt for a convertible newborn car seat because they grow with your baby and allow them to safely travel from the time of infancy until toddlerhood. These seats are cheaper than infant seats and have an extended life. However, it is important to choose a seat that is easy to install and is suitable for your vehicle. Be sure to ensure your child's safety by buckling them up in a proper manner each time.

Snug straps keep the head from shifting into a dangerous chin-to-chest position which could lead to asphyxiation or strangulation. Many infant car seats come with unbuckled or loose straps. This is a serious safety concern. Straps that aren't buckled can cause an unbalanced neck which is the cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap is not tightened enough to pass the pinch test, it can be a risk. This test determines if the crotch buckle fits enough to stop a baby's legs from slouching down in the seat, result in them being injured or trapped.

Some convertible newborn car seat have adjustable torso-height, which allows you to adjust the height limit to suit your child's development. The minimum torso height should be the same as the height of your infant's shoulders, or one inch lower. Some models include an infant insert to help you raise your child up to the right height.

The best car seat for newborn convertible newborn car seat should be a snug fit, comfortable padding and a slender base to allow you to put it in your vehicle. It should also come with a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch test, and a short and tightly-rolled blanket or towel to use in an emergency. It should also have a tether strap which is connected to the anchor points on your vehicle, which can reduce crash injuries by cutting down the force of impact on your infant. Additionally it should include a travel system, which includes a car seat that pairs with a stroller, and comes with an handle that you can use to move the infant from the car to the stroller.

Safety features

When it comes to choosing the best car seats for their babies parents must consider a myriad of factors to consider. Car seats are a crucial purchase for families who are starting a new life, as their correct use can reduce the likelihood that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71 percent. The choice between an infant car seat and a convertible model comes down to several aspects, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle, and the ease of use.

Car seats for infants are designed to keep the delicate physiology of a newborn in mind. They typically have an attached base that remains in the vehicle and the carrier snaps into the position, making it simple to transfer your baby from car to stroller and back again without disturbing them. They come with a crotch as well as a harness built in to keep your child safe.

Some infant cars have side-impact protection that distributes the force of a crash away from the baby's neck and head. 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 involved 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 popular on infant car seats. It keeps the harness straps flat against the chest of your baby. This prevents the straps from slipping or twisting around the shoulders, which could place your baby at a greater risk of injuries. If you opt for a car seat with this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at the armpit level. Avoid dressing your baby with bulky clothing as it can cause interference with the harness.

Make sure that the car seat is fitted according to the instructions of the manufacturer regardless of the type you select. 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 the tether strap, which is attached to the top rated infant car seats of the seat and hooks to an anchor inside your vehicle. If your car doesn't have LATCH, you may use a seat belt to secure the car seat.