Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A car seat for newborns is also known as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. It protects babies from injury and death in car accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force across the body and head of the child, rather than the spinal cord or neck.
These seats can be either front-facing or convertible, and are available in a range of heights and weight limits. They could also be part of a travel system that clicks into and out of a stroller base.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing newborn child car seats offer unbeatable protection in crashes for infants. They are designed to support and cradle children, securing their neck, head, and spine. They also help reduce injuries by preventing the force of an accident from striking your child. This is because the child's body doesn't collide with the car seat, or front passenger seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned area within their car seat.
According to the AAP, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that parents keep their child rear facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. At around the age of 1, children will outgrow their infant car seat and transition to a convertible car seat that can face forward. However, many parents prefer to keep their child in a rear-facing seat until the 2nd birthday of their child.
There are two primary types: infant-only car seats and convertible car seat. Both are equally safe however they offer distinct advantages. For instance, infant-only seats are smaller, lighter and have a quick release base that can be easily detached from the car and reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seats are larger and heavier. Pushchairs & Prams do not come with a stroller base.
No matter what type of seat you pick regardless of the type, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions and to always place the seat in the back of your vehicle. It is also recommended that you put tightly rolled washcloths or blankets between the crotch strap and your baby to ensure that there is no gap in the harness. Also, ensure 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 fitted and buckled.
There is a lot of debate about the length of time a baby can be rear-facing, research has shown that infants up to 12 months old are less likely to suffer injuries in car accidents when they are facing the rear of the car. Babies in rear-facing car seats also have less impact when they hit the front of the car, in contrast to the back of the car seat, which could result in serious injuries.
Forward-facing
Many parents have given plenty of consideration to their newborn car seat. It was a key item on the baby registry, and the way you brought your little one home from the hospital. Now that your child is older though, you might be thinking about changing the car seat around to facing forward. However, it's important to be aware that children aren't quite ready for this until they reach the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer of their car seat.
When your baby is at least 20 lbs and one year old, they should stay rear-facing. Children younger than one year do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash from being involved in an accident. They are also at a higher risk of spinal injuries when involved in head-on collisions.
You can purchase a convertible or all-in-one car seat, which will allow you to keep your child facing the rear until they reach the weight and height limits for the seat. These are usually bucket-style infant car seats that attach to a base that can be installed in your vehicle. The base can then be removed and connected to strollers as a system for travel. They are typically lighter in weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
Alternatively, you can get a booster seat. These seats are equipped with a harness and can be transformed into a booster seat 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 will remain in your vehicle through the early years of life making it easy to move your child from one vehicle to another.
Whatever car seat you pick, always read the manual and follow the installation instructions. It is also a good idea to consult a certified seat safety technician to ensure that your child's seat is properly installed and is used correctly. Incorrect use of a car seat is common, and even well-meaning parents can injure their children if they aren't aware of what they're doing. The best way to avoid this is to follow the car seat instructions and following the recommendations of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents choose a convertible newborn child car seat since they can grow with their baby and enable them to travel safely through infancy and toddlerhood. These seats are also less expensive than infant car seats and have an extended lifespan. However, it is important to choose a model that is easy to install and fits your vehicle. Also, ensure that you secure your baby properly every time.
Snug straps prevent the head from slipping into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture which could lead to asphyxiation or strangulation. Many infant car seats have straps that are loose or not buckled. This is a major security issue. Straps that are not buckled can cause a neck to hang and cause of a lot of accidents. If the crotch strap is not enough tight to pass the pinch test, it can cause danger. This test determines whether the crotch strap is secure enough to stop the legs of a newborn from sliding in the seat which could cause them to be trapped or cut.
Some convertible infant car seats come with an adjustable torso height that allows you to adjust the height limit based on your child's development. The minimum torso height must be the same as the height of your infant's shoulders or one inch lower. Some models come with an infant insert that can assist you in raising your child to the right height.
The best convertible car seat for newborns should be snug, have comfortable padding and a narrow base that allows you to install it easily into your vehicle. It should also feature a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch-test as well as a small and tightly-rolled blanket or towel for an emergency. It should also have an anchor tether that connects to the anchor points of your vehicle, which can help reduce injuries during collisions by reducing the impact force. In addition, it should come with the travel system, which consists of an infant car seat that can be paired with a stroller, and comes with a handle you use to transport your infant from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
When it comes to choosing the best car seats for their newborns parents face a variety of aspects to consider. Car seats are a crucial purchase for families who are starting a new life and their use can reduce the chance that children will be the victim of a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71 per cent. The decision between a child's car seat and a convertible one is dependent on several factors, such as safety features, compatibility of your vehicle, and the ease of use.
Infant car seats are designed with a newborn's fragile physiology in mind. The base of the seat is usually in the car and the carrier snaps into its place. This makes it easy to transfer your baby from stroller to car and back without disturbing them. They also come with built-in harnesses and a crotch strap that keep your baby secure.
Some infant cars also come with side impact protection, which distributes crash force away from the infant's neck and head. They are made of metal, plastic and foam that absorbs energy, and protects the baby's head from direct contact with the frame of the vehicle or other objects in a collision. Some have a special sock that extends beyond the door to protect the child's head.
Another safety feature that's becoming more prevalent in car seats for newborns is a chest clip that keeps the harness straps straight across your newborn's chest. This prevents the straps pinching or twisting around shoulders, which could expose your child to the risk of injury. If you opt for a car seat that has this feature, make sure the chest clip is positioned at armpit height. It is also important to be sure to avoid dressing your child in bulky clothing that could interfere with the fit of the harness.
No matter what type of car seat you choose ensure that it's mounted in your vehicle as per the manufacturer's instructions. Look for the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system. The system is comprised of an attachment that clips onto the lower anchor points of your car, and a tether that hooks onto an anchor in the vehicle. If your vehicle isn't equipped with LATCH, you may use a seat belt to secure your car seat.