When you’re shopping for a car seat, one of the first things you should do is check the seat’s baby forward position. This setting will help ensure that your child is properly positioned in the car seat during a crash. Unfortunately, not all car seats have this setting, and even those that do may not be suitable for every baby. In this post, we will discuss when baby forward should be used and which car seats have it. We will also provide tips on how to adjust a car seat to achieve baby forward positioning.
When to Face Baby Forward in Car Seat
There are a Few General Guidelines you can Follow when Deciding when to Face Your Baby Forward in a Car Seat.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies should be placed facing forward as soon as they are able to sit unassisted, typically at around 12 weeks old. The reasoning behind this is that it allows the baby’s head and neck to rest in an ideal position for support, reduces the risk of SIDS, and gives parents more visibility of their child during travel.
If your child is too large for a rear-facing car seat or if you have another child who is already sitting in a car seat, it may be best to wait until they are at least 18 pounds before switching them to a forward-facing car seat. Once your child reaches 20 pounds, they are considered comfortable in a standard-sized car seat and can start using an infant carrier instead.
What to do if Baby Doesn’t Face Forward
If your baby does not seem to be happy or comfortable in the car seat, it may be helpful to try to move them so that they are facing forward. You may also want to consult your car seat manual for more specific instructions.
Tips for using a car seat that faces baby forward
When choosing a car seat that faces baby forward, it’s important to consider the child’s age and height. For newborns and very small children, car seats that face them towards the front of the vehicle are best. Once your baby has outgrown their infant car seat, you can move them to a car seat that faces sideways or backwards.
If you’re using a rear-facing car seat for your older child, make sure they’re still on an appropriate weight limit by checking the LATCH system label located on the drivers side door pillar. If your child is above the weight limit for their rear-facing car seat, you may need to switch them to a forward-facing car seat.
Finally, if you plan on travelling with your baby in the car, be sure to follow all safety guidelines related to air travel with infants and young children. This includes keeping them safe from flying debris and making sure they are properly secured in their car seat during takeoff and landing.