10 Apps To Help You Manage Your Newborn Car Seat
Choosing Between an Infant and a Convertible Newborn Car Seat
A car seat for newborns is also referred to as a baby car seat or infant safety seat. infant carrier seat pushchairsandprams protects babies from injury and death in car accidents. The harness distributes the restraining force over the body and head of the child, rather than the spinal cord or neck.
These seats are available in rear-facing and convertible versions, as well as with the option of varying weights and height limits. They are also a part of a set for travel that can be converted into the base of a stroller.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats provide unmatched protection for infants in crashes. They are designed to hold and support children, securing their head, neck, and spine. They also help to reduce the force 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 front passenger seat. Instead, it is a soft, cushioned surface 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 facing rearwards until they reach their car seat's maximum weight or height limit. The majority of children outgrow their infant car seat around the age of one at which point they can transition to an convertible car seat that is able to face forward. Many parents will put their child in the rear-facing seat until they turn two.
There are two types of rear-facing car seat convertible car seats. Both are equally secure and safe, but they each offer different conveniences. For instance, infant-only chairs are lighter, smaller, and come with an easy release base that can be easily detached from the car and reattached to the base of a stroller. Convertible car seats are bigger, heavier, and do not come with an integrated base for strollers.
It is important that you always use the back seat regardless of the type of seat. It is also recommended that you place washcloths that are tightly rolled or blankets between the crotch strap and your baby to make sure that there is no slack in the harness. Check that the lower anchors of your car seat are properly installed and are connected to the lower attachment points on the lower anchor bars.
Research shows that babies who sit in the rear of the car are less likely to be injured in an accident. Rear-facing car seats allow babies to experience less impact when they hit the car's front, instead of the rear which could result in serious injuries.
Forward-facing
The majority of parents have given a lot of thought to their infant's car seat. It was a key item on your baby registry as well as the method you used to bring your child home from the hospital. Now that your child is older, you might be considering turning the car seat facing forward. However, it's important keep in mind that children aren't yet ready 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 has reached the age of one year. Children younger than one year do not have the neck muscles necessary to withstand whiplash when involved in an accident. Furthermore they are at a higher risk of spinal injuries in head-on collisions.
You can purchase a convertible or all-in-one car seat, which allows you to keep your child rear-facing until they meet the height and weight limit for the seat. These 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 typically have lower weight and height restrictions than a standard car seat.
You can also purchase an extra 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 primary 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 make sure you read the instructions and follow the installation guidelines. Contact a certified car safety technician to make sure that your child's car seat has been installed and is used in a safe manner. Car seat misuse is very common, and well-meaning parents could cause harm to their children if they aren't aware of what they're doing. The best way to prevent this is to read the car seat instructions and following the guidelines of a CPST.
Convertible
Many parents opt for convertible infant car seat, as they grow with their baby and enable them to travel safely through infancy and toddlerhood. These seats are less expensive than infant seats and offer an extended life. However, it's important to choose a model that is simple to install and will fit in your vehicle. Also, make sure you buckle up your baby in the correct way each time.
Snug straps prevent the head from shifting to a risky chin-to-chest stance, which can cause strangulation or asphyxiation. A lot of infant carseats have loose or unbuckled straps and pose a major safety risk. Straps that aren't buckled can cause a neck that hangs loose which is the cause of many accidents. If the crotch strap isn't tightened enough to pass a pinch test, it may cause danger. This test will determine whether the crotch buckle is tight enough to prevent the legs of a newborn baby from slouching in the seat, causing them to get injured or trapped.
Some convertible newborn car seats include an adjustable torso, which lets you adjust the height limit to suit 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 include an infant insert to help raise your child to the proper height for the seat.
The best convertible car seat for infants should be comfortable, with cushioning that is comfortable and a small base that allows you to fit it into your vehicle. It should also have a secure, tight harness that passes the pinch-test as well as a small and tightly-rolled blanket or towel to use in an emergency. It should also come with a tether strap that attaches to your vehicle's anchor points and can reduce crash injuries by reducing the force of impact on your baby. It should also include the travel set, which is a stroller and car seat that you can use to transfer your child from the car to the stroller.
Safety features
Parents have a lot to take into consideration when selecting the best car seat for their infants. Car seats are an important purchase for new families, as their correct use can reduce the chance that a child will suffer a fatal motor vehicle injury by 71. The choice between an infant car seat and a convertible car seat comes down to several key elements, including safety features, compatibility with your vehicle and the ease of use.
Car seats for infants are designed with the fragile physiology of a newborn in mind. The seat's base is usually located in the car, and the seat snaps into the position. This makes it simple to transfer your baby from stroller to car, and back without disturbing them. They come with a crotch as well as a harness built in to ensure your child safe.
Some infant cars come with side impact protection that is designed to disperse the force of collision away from the newborn's head and neck. Plastic, metal and foam absorb energy and protect the baby's face from direct contact with a vehicle's frame or any other object in a collision. Some have a special sock that extends beyond the door to protect the head of the child.
A chest clip is another safety feature that is becoming more popular in car seats for newborns. It keeps the straps of the harness flat against the chest of your baby. The straps aren't strained or twisting around the shoulders which can put your child at risk of injury. If you opt for a car seat that has this feature, ensure that the chest clip is set at armpit level. You should also be sure to avoid dressing your baby in bulky outerwear that might interfere with the harness's fit.

Check that the car seat is installed according to the instructions of the manufacturer regardless of the type you select. Check for the lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system that consists of a connector that clips into the lower anchor points on a car and the tether strap, which is attached to the top of the seat. It then connects to an anchor on your vehicle. If your vehicle isn't equipped with LATCH, you may use the seat belt to secure your car seat.