Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
Car seat laws in the UK require all children to use a child car seat until they reach a certain age or height. It is important to choose the appropriate car seat for your child's safety.
This rearward-facing car seat is described as one of the best by the consumer advocate Which? It comes with a soft baby-hugg inlay and enhanced G-Cell side impact protection. It also has a rotation feature that lets you adjust the seat to the optimal position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats are made to keep babies safe from head and neck injuries during the event of a crash. Children who are seated forward-facing in car seats are seven-times more likely to suffer serious injuries than children who are rear-facing. Infant car seats that face the rear are typically placed on the back seat, and are lighter and smaller than convertible child safety seats. It is recommended to use a rear-facing infant car seat until the child has outgrown it or reaches the weight or height limit for forward-facing use.
There are two types of rear-facing infant car seats convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats. Both are safe, however they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Convertible car seat start rear-facing, but can be turned to face forward when your child reaches a certain size. All-in-one car seats have larger rearward-facing weight and size limitations so that your child can safely enjoy a longer time in the seat.
Make sure that the rear-facing seats you pick for your baby are suitable for your vehicle and are installed correctly. You can find instructions for installing the seat on labels of the manufacturer as well as in the owner's manual of your vehicle. Test the seat's straps to ensure that they are secure and tight. Also, ensure that your child is not able to pinch the harness material. Avoid wearing clothing that is bulky and could cause problems for straps.
Rear-facing car seats are less dangerous than car seats that face forward for babies, because the impact force is dispersed more efficiently when the infant's body is cradled in the seat. Car seats with rear-facing windows also offer greater protection for infants who are ejected in a collision with a side.
If your child has outgrown his or her rear-facing infant seat, you must consider switching to a convertible seat with a rear-facing weight and a height limit. Many convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits that permit your child to use the seat for over two years.
Forward-facing
When your baby outgrows the rear-facing infant car seats, you can rotate them to face forward. It is best to wait until your child is at the weight and height limits before you do this. It's also recommended to talk to your pediatrician about this.
According to the laws of physics and safety research, children under two are more secure in a rear-facing seat. They will be able to relax more comfortably in their seat, and are less likely to be injured by the belt or airbag. This is particularly crucial for infants who's necks and bones are still developing. According to the i-Size guidelines, infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing for at least 12 months or 20 pounds. Some experts recommend waiting even longer.
If your child grows out of the rear-facing car seat you can move them to an automobile seat that is convertible or comes with a five-point safety belt. These seats are designed to hold your growing baby, and many are equipped with a removable newborn positioner. They are available with a base, which means they can be used in multiple vehicles and you can also purchase additional bases if you have more than one vehicle.
For children who weigh less than 20 pounds, it is also recommended that the car seat has a headrest. The headrest should be angled slightly back but not more than 300 from vertical, and it should cover the baby's ears. If the headrest is not angled back enough, it could pinch off the baby's airway. The car seat should also not be set in a way that can result in a herniated disk developing in the spine.
In a crash, it is possible for children to fall out of the car seat that is facing forward. This can be fatal. A towel that has been rolled up or pillow can be tucked under the seat's base to help it recline further, which will help keep your child comfortable in the car.
In addition to preventing children from falling out of their seats, there is evidence that rear-facing car seats can minimize leg injuries during crashes. In a frontal crash the legs of a child facing forward can fly up, hitting the rear of the car seat. This can cause serious injury. In a rearward-facing seat, however, the child's leg won't strike the seat, and the harness can cushion the impact. This reduces the chance of injuries.
Multi-group
There are a variety of choices for infant car seats. However there are some that will not meet your baby's needs. A multi-group infant seat will fit your child from birth to about age 4, and it is compatible with all prams. infant carrier seat of car seat comes with an adjustable harness that safeguards your child. It's designed to adapt to the changing needs of it, with features such as an adjustable headrest or side impact wings. Some of these seats can be rotated inside the vehicle to give your child a greater view of the road.
A new generation of infant car seats is built around height rather than weight, which makes them safer for infants. The car seats, also referred to as iSize or R129 in the UK are approved by the EU and must meet strict safety standards before being sold. The label will have the capital "E" in a circle, along with 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 be facing rearwards until your child weighs at minimum 9kg. After that they can be turned to face forward. They come with a harness and are secured using either Isofix or the car seat belt. Some have a rotating feature, which allows you to move the car seat from one vehicle to the next without the need for a belt of the car. Others can be fitted on most prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat can keep your infant safe until they are at least 11 years old and up to 100cm, or until you choose to turn them into a booster seat. Which recommends these car seats as the most secure. They have a wide design, a one-handed recline setting and more than 12 headrest positions. Some of them are built for travel, with a lightweight carry handle that's designed to fit comfortably into a suitcase.
Rotation function
One of the most significant characteristics of infant car seat is its rotating feature. It allows the part of the seat that is used to hold the infant to rotate on a separate base, making it easier for parents to move the child in and out of the car. This feature is especially useful in vehicles with a compact backseat or trunk. In addition, it can assist in installing the seat in another vehicle.
The rotation function can also make it easier to access harness buckles without disturbing the sleeping baby, which is an absolute blessing when juggling toddlers while trying to take them to the car. However, some of the seats that rotate have a hard time achieving this goal, so it's worthwhile to read online reviews of specific models to determine how well they work.
Another important feature to look out for is whether the seat can be used with a stroller. A lot of brands offer this option, which is known as a travel system, and is ideal for parents who want one unit that can guide them through all stages of their child's life. It's also a great choice for families with an automobile-centric household, since it gives them the option to change cars without disturbing the infant.
Infant car seats are designed for infants and babies until the age of one year. They are classified into four categories, namely Group 0, 1, 2 and 3. The Group 0 car seats, often referred to as carrycots, put the child in a rear-facing position and connect to the vehicle with a standard seat belt or an ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seats typically attach to the vehicle's base by using LATCH, which is a simple system for connecting most types of car seats.
A convertible car seat, also known as group 3, is one that grows with your child from birth until about four years old. These seats come with an increased weight and height limit as well as a padded adjustable headrest that will protect the child from an accident. The seats also feature a support wedge that can be removed, a luxury carrying handle and a removable support bar.