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Keep Your Child in an Infant Car Seat Rear Facing The most secure way to keep your child in an infant car seat that faces rearwards is to keep them there. Children should only be able to switch to a forward-facing car seat when they outgrow the weight and height limits of their current seat. Remember that body paragraphs are structured as a hamburger. The introduction and concluding sentences are similar to the top and bottom buns. The body paragraphs supporting it constitute the bulk of your essay. Safety Benefits Rear-facing infant car seats are the most secure option for newborns and young babies. This is because they are able to support and cradle their head and neck. Purva Grover MD director of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments, says that because their spines are not yet formed, it is vital to keep the force from the crash away from their heads and necks. In a frontal collision, the baby's head could strike the seat in front of them, creating whiplash effects that can be severe or fatal. In a rear-facing car seat, the impact is taken up by the seat and then dissipated by the back of the vehicle. “It's like a hug,” says Adele. In addition, the child's legs are secured into their car seat, which prevents them from being thrown against the rear of the seat or any other surfaces in the vehicle. “This helps to prevent collisions with the inside of their own bodies, which can cause internal injuries,” she explains. Many parents resist ERF because they believe their child is bored or uncomfortable. My son Lukas has never been uncomfortable or bored. In fact Lukas prefers to ride backwards because the recline feature lets him sit on his legs and read a book or watch tv. If you do have an older child who is resistant to being in a rear-facing car seat because of leg length or other factors Try to convince them that it's the safest option for them to travel. Explain that the child is able to remain in the convertible or all-in-one car seat as long as the height or weight limit is not exceeded. Make sure you secure your child in a rear-facing car seat by using the lower anchor system of the vehicle or a seat belt. Do not let them wear bulky clothes such as winter coats. They can expand during a crash, causing the harness straps loosen. This puts your child at risk of injury. Always use the Pinch Test to ensure a snug fit. Convenience Many parents prefer to keep their infant car seats rear-facing as long as possible because they are a breeze to use and more mobile than convertible car seats. If you decide to keep your child rear-facing, he or she may have to be placed in a crib or bassinet at nap or bedtime. This may require waking up the baby who is sleeping which is not the best option. However, the security advantages of rear facing are greater than any inconvenience. The headrest is lower for newborns and preemies than for full-term infants. This helps reduce the impact of an accident and ensures that the chest clip of the harness is at the shoulders, not at the neck. This is especially important for premature babies who have weaker bones and aren't ossified due to pregnancy or birth. In addition the rear-facing position offers the best view of your baby than forward-facing. This lets you monitor their behavior and make sure they are happy and comfortable. Many infant car seats come with built-in baby mirrors that can be adjusted to view your child from nearly every angle. When your baby is outgrowing their infant car seat, or attains the weight or height limit suggested by the manufacturer of their seat you can move to a convertible or all-in-one car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until they reach two years old. Some rear-facing car seats have limits that are higher than rear-only car seats that allow them to be used for longer. All-in-one or convertible car seats are renowned for their flexibility. They can be used forward-facing, rear-facing or as a belt-positioning booster. They are also easier to set up and take down due to their large base in the back of your car. They are more expensive than single-use infant car seats, however, they last longer than an infant seat and will save you money in the long run. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear-facing to the maximum height and weight limits that are set by their car seat manufacturer, or until they are at minimum two years old. It is normal for children to outgrow their rear facing infant car seat before they reach age two. However, it's better to wait. Weight Limits It is important to know that all car seats for infants come with weight and height restrictions. Most infant car seats have a maximum weight limit of 30 to 35 lbs and the height limit is around 30 inches, based on the model. When your child reaches the limits, it's time to move on to the next stage of safety: either a convertible car seat that allows you to switch between forward and rear facing or an all-in-one car seat that lets your kiddo ride backwards until they reach the maximum height and weight suggested by the manufacturer. Aside from a height and weight limit, there are also other indicators that show your child is ready to move on to the next stage of car seats, such as their level of comfort when riding rear facing. You can look for these indicators in your child's behavior and compare it to other children of the same age in their car seats. You can also seek advice from certified child passenger safety experts at a car seat inspection station, which is typically run by local government or community-based organizations. Remaining rear-facing for your infant as long as possible is safest for them, and it's easy to see why a lot of parents are reluctant to turn their children around until they're completely grown. But you can ward off this temptation by making sure your child's car seat is correctly installed and you do not rush to change to a forward-facing one too soon even if they're not close to the weight or height limits of the car seat they're currently in. Contact a certified child passenger technician if you have concerns about your child's readiness for the next phase of car seats or if you're worried that you might not install the car seat correctly. These specialists are available through community organizations and hospitals, local government offices, and child safety programs. You are able to locate one near you by searching online or contacting your local health department or public safety agency. There are also mobile car seat check events that can visit your workplace or at home to ensure that you have the correct equipment and are making use of it properly. Installation A car seat has to be installed correctly in order to be efficient. Unfortunately it is the case that the NHTSA reports that almost 50% of car seats are not installed correctly (and this includes rear facing). The best way to ensure that your child's car seat is properly installed is to study the manual and have it verified by a certified vehicle safety technician. The angle check is the first step to installing an infant car seat that faces rearwards. Make sure that the base of the car seat is set at a suitable angle to support the weight of your child and height. You can check this on the indicator on the back of the base or in its user manual. It is also important to ensure that your baby's head is positioned correctly in the seat. Babies have heavy heads and soft necks and a forward-facing posture could cause pressure on their necks and spine during a crash. If a rear-facing collision occurs the back of the car seat absorbs the majority of the collision force, which shields the baby's delicate neck as well as spinal cord. When your baby is at the height or weight limit of their infant car seat It is the time to transition to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat that can be used in the rear-facing position until your child has reached their front-facing limit. If you decide to switch to a convertible or an all-in-one car seat, be sure that the new model has a greater rearward-facing limit. Older models have lower limits. If you choose an infant car seat that is able to be removed from the car and then reattached to a stroller, this is a great option for parents who want to take their infants into and out of the car often. It can be a challenge and time-consuming to get your car seat and stroller into and out of the vehicle every time, especially if you have a newborn. If you're willing to take the extra time each time to get it done, this could be a viable option for a lot of families. Plan ahead and choose a day that you have plenty of time.