Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
Car seat laws in the UK require all children to use a car seat for their children until they reach a certain age or height. Choosing the right car seat is crucial to ensure your child's safety.
This rear-facing car seat is called one of the top by the consumer advocate Which? It has a baby-hugging inlay, as well as an enhanced G-Cell defense against side impacts. It also comes with a rotation function that allows you to adjust the seat to the most optimal position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats are designed to protect infants from neck and head injuries during a crash. Children who ride in forward-facing car seats are seven times more likely to be injured, as compared to children who ride in rear-facing child safety seats. Rear-facing car seats for infants are typically installed on the back of the vehicle and are smaller and lighter. It is recommended to use a rear facing infant car seat until the child is no longer using it or has reached the weight or height limits for forward-facing use.
There are two kinds of rear-facing infant car seats: convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats. Both are safe, but they each have their own advantages and drawbacks. Convertible car seats start out rear-facing and can be turned to face forward once your child is big enough. All-in-one car seats have a higher rear-facing weight and height limits so that your child can safely ride in the seat for longer time.
When you select a rear-facing car seat your child, ensure that it fits in your car and is installed correctly. Examine the labels of the manufacturer and your owner's manual for directions on how to install the seat. Test the seat's straps to ensure they are tight and secure. Also, make sure that your child doesn't get a fold on the harness material. In addition, be sure to stay clear of wearing bulky clothes that could impede the straps.
Rear-facing car seats are less dangerous than car seats that face forward for babies, because the impact force dissipated more effectively when the baby's body is held in the seat. In addition, rear-facing seats can provide more protection for infants ejected from a vehicle in a side impact accident.
If your child has outgrown the rear-facing infant seat, you must think about switching to a convertible car seat with a rear-facing weight limit and height. A majority of convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits, which allow your child to use the seat for longer than two years.
Forward-facing
When your child is outgrowing the rear-facing infant car seats, you can turn them around to face forward. You should wait until your child reaches the manufacturer's weight and height limits before you do this. It's also an excellent idea to consult your pediatrician about it.
According to the laws of physics, and safety research, children under two are more secure in a rear-facing seat. They are able to rest more comfortably in their seats and are less prone than other passengers to be injured by an airbag or belt. This is particularly important for babies, their necks and bones are still developing. The i-Size guidelines suggest that all infants and toddlers ride rear-facing until they weigh at least 20 pounds or 12 months old, and some experts advise to wait even longer.
If your child is no longer able to fit in the rear-facing infant car seat, you can move them to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat with a five-point harness. These seats are designed to hold your growing infant and are often equipped with a removable newborn positioner. They come with a base, which means they can be used in a variety of vehicles and you can also purchase additional bases if you have more than one vehicle.
It is also recommended to use a car seat that has an adjustable headrest for infants up to 20 pounds. The headrest should be angled slightly to the back but not more than 300 degrees from vertical. It must also be able to protect the baby's ears. The baby's airway may be blocked in the event that the headrest isn't tilted back sufficiently. In addition, the car seat shouldn't be positioned at an angle that can result in a herniated disc developing in the spine.
In the event of a crash, it is possible for a child to be thrown from the car seat facing forward. This can be fatal. You can place a rolled-up pillow or towel under the base of the car seat to assist in reclining it. This will keep your child more secure in the vehicle.
In best car seats newborn to preventing children from falling out of their seats, there is evidence that a rear-facing car seat can minimize leg injuries during collisions. In a frontal crash the legs of a forward-facing infant can fly up and hit the back of the seat, which can cause serious injuries. In a rearward-facing seat, however, the child's leg won't strike the seat and the harness will help cushion the impact. This greatly reduces the chance of injuries.
Multi-group
There are a myriad of alternatives for infant car seats. However there are some that will not meet your baby's requirements. A multi-group infant seat can accommodate your child from birth until around age four, and is compatible with the majority of prams. This type of car seat has an adjustable harness that safeguards your child. It is designed to grow with the child, with features like an adjustable headrest or side impact wings. Some of these seats can be rotated within the vehicle to give your child a wider view of the road.
New infant car seats are based on height rather than weight, making them more secure for your child. This kind of car seat, also known as i-Size or R129, is EU-approved in the UK and all of them have to comply with strict safety standards before they can be sold. The label will display a capital "E" in the form of a circle, and the letters "R129". These seats are easier to put in and offer greater protection against side impacts.
The Group 0+ or 1 car seat will face rearwards until your child weighs at minimum 9kg. After that they can be turned to face forward. They will be fitted with a harness and will be secured using either Isofix connections or the car seatbelt as well as tethers. Some will have a rotation function that means you can move the car seat around without the use of a belt, and some are also able to fit onto most prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat will keep your infant safe until they reach 11 years old and 100cm, or until you decide to turn them into a booster seat. These are the most secure car seats and are recommended by Which?. They feature a broad design with a recline feature that is one-handed and at least 12 headrest positions. Some of them are also designed for travel, and come with a carry handle designed to easily fit into the suitcase.
Rotation function
One of the most significant features of infant car seats is the ability to rotate. This feature permits the part of a car seat that holds the child to rotate on an independent platform which makes it easier for the parents to carry their child into and out of the car. This feature is especially helpful when the vehicle has a compact backseat or trunk. It also makes it easier to install a seat into another vehicle.
The rotating feature can also make it easier to access harness buckles without disturbing the asleep baby. It's an absolute godsend when you're trying to keep your toddlers in check while trying to get them into the car. However, some of the seats that rotate aren't able to achieve this objective, and it's worth looking up online reviews of specific models to see how well they work.
Another thing to look out for is whether the seat can be used with a stroller. There are many brands that offer this combination and is known as a travel system, and it's ideal for new parents who want an all-in-one unit that will be used throughout all stages of their child's development. It's also an excellent choice for families with an automobile-centric household, since it allows them to switch cars quickly without causing any disruption to the infant.
Car seats for infants are designed for newborns and infants until the age of one year. They are divided into four categories, namely Group 0 1, 2, and 3. The Group 0 car seat, also referred to infant or carrycots ensures that the child is facing rearward and is connected to the vehicle with an ordinary seatbelt or ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seats typically attach to the vehicle's base using LATCH, which is a simple system for connecting most types of car seats.
A group 3 seat is usually a convertible seat that expands with the child from infant to around four years of age. They come with an extended height and weight limit, as well as a headrest that is adjustable and padded to help protect the child from injury in the event of a crash. The seats also come with a support wedge that can be removed, a luxury carrying handle and a support bar that can be removed.