Car seats are a big part of our lives, and it’s easy to forget that they come with a lot of potential dangers. Worse yet, car seats can be dangerous for both you and your infant. When it comes to car seats, there are two main categories: forward-facing and rear-facing. Rear-facing car seats remain in the rear-view mirror until your child is old enough to ride in the front seat comfortably without restraints. Forward-facing car seats aretypically placed in the backseat of a car, but they can also be used in a variety of other positions. The following article will outline the benefits and drawbacks of each type of car seat and when you can safely make the switch.
When to make car seat forward facing
When to Make Car Seat Forward Facing
There are many factors to consider before making a car seat forward facing, but one of the most important is your child’s age and size. Newborns should always be rear-facing until they can sit up and support their head well enough to avoid entrapment between their head and the roof of the car. After that, make sure your child is big enough to fit properly in the carseat, with adequate legroom and shoulder room. If you have an older child, assess their size and maturity according to the following chart:
Infant Age Range When Should They Be Forward Facing in a Car Seat? 0-1 year old Rear-facing until able to support head well; may use a harness for extra security 2-3 years old Shoulder room only; May use a belt-positioning booster until 4th grade or when fitted with appropriate safety seat 5-7 years old Shoulder room & legroom; Use a booster seat until 8th grade or when fitted with appropriate safety seat
Steps for making a car seat forward facing
Making a car seat forward facing is an important safety step for your child. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children who are less than 2 years old be rear-facing in a car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their car seat, and then move to a forward-facing car seat.
Here are some steps to make a car seat forward facing:
1. Remove the existing rear-facing car seat and install the new forward-facing car seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that the harness fits snugly around your child’s chest and waist.
2. Check that all of the straps are tight. If there are any slack straps, adjust them so that they are tight against your child’s body.
3. Make sure that your child is seated properly in the car seat by ensuring that their head and neck are positioned correctly in relation to the restraint system. Match up the symbols on both sides of the buckle and tighten it until they click into place.
4. Secure any loose straps with clips or ties before buckling your child into their new car seat, making sure not to overlap any straps or twist them around themselves.
When to take the car seat out of the car
If your car seat has a clip that fastens it to the rear of your vehicle’s seat, you should use it when travelling in a forward-facing position. If your car seat doesn’t have a clip, or if you’re using it in a rear-facing position and you’re travelling in a vehicle with an APS system, follow these steps:
When you arrive at your destination, unclip the car seat from the child’s rear-facing position and place them in their regular seating position.
If there’s no APS system on the vehicle, or if you are using the car seat in a forward-facing position and the child is less than 4 years old, you can keep them attached to the car seat by using one of these methods:
1) Fasten the straps so that they cross both shoulders and sit below the armpits.
2) Fasten one strap around each of the child’s upper legs just above the knee.
3) Cross each strap over so that they meet in front of the child’s chest.