Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
In the UK All children in the UK are required to use a child's seat until they reach certain heights or ages. Selecting the right car seat is crucial to ensure the safety of your child.
Which?, the consumer expert has rated this rearward-facing seat as one of the most comfortable. It features a cozy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced G-Cell side impact protection. It also features a rotating function that lets you adjust the seat in the best position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing car seats for infants are designed to safeguard babies from head and neck injuries during the event of a crash. Children who ride forward-facing in car seats are seven times more likely to suffer serious injuries than children who use rear-facing. Car seats that face the rear for infants are generally installed on the back of the vehicle and are smaller and less heavy. It is recommended to use a rear facing infant car seat until the child has outgrown it or has reached the weight or height limit for forward-facing use.
There are infant car seat travel Push Chairs And Prams : convertible car seat and all-in one car seat. Both are safe, but they each have their own advantages and drawbacks. Convertible car seats start with the rear facing, but can be turned forward when your child reaches a certain size. All-in-one car seat have higher rear-facing weights and height limits so that your child can safely ride in the seat for a longer period of time.
When you select a rear-facing car seat your child, ensure that it is compatible with your vehicle and is properly installed. Check the manufacturer's labels and your vehicle owner's manual for directions on how to properly install the seat. Test the seat's straps to ensure that they are secure and tight. Also, ensure that your child doesn't get the material of the harness. In addition, be sure to stay clear of wearing bulky clothes, which could interfere with the straps.
Rear-facing car seats are safer than forward-facing car seats for babies because the force of a crash is dispersed more efficiently when the infant's body is cradled in the seat. In addition, rear-facing seats can provide more protection for infants who are removed from a vehicle during an accident that causes a side impact.
If your child is outgrowing their rear-facing infant car seat you might want to think about changing to a seat that has a high rearward-facing weight and a size limit. Many convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits, which allow your child to use the seat for longer than two years.
Forward-facing
You can flip your baby to face forward when they have outgrown the rear-facing infant seat. You should wait until your child has reached the weight and height limits before you do this. It is also advisable to talk with your child's doctor.
According to the laws of physics, and safety research, children younger than two are more secure in a rearward-facing seat. They will be able to relax more comfortably in their seats, and are less likely to be injured by the belt or airbag. This is especially important for infants their necks and bones are still developing. The i-Size guidelines suggest that all toddlers and infants ride rear-facing until they weigh at minimum 20 pounds or 12 months old, and some experts recommend to wait even longer.
If your child gets out of the rear-facing seat, you can switch them to a car seat that is convertible or has five-point safety harness. These seats are made to accommodate your growing child, and many come with an infant positioner that can be removed. They come with a base, which means they can be used in several vehicles, and you can purchase additional bases if you have more than one vehicle.
It is also recommended to use a car seat with an adjustable headrest for infants up to 20 pounds. The headrest should be angled slightly back, but not more than 300 degrees vertical. It must also protect the baby's ears. The baby's airway may be blocked when the headrest isn't set back enough. The car seat should also not be set in a way that could cause a herniated disk in the spine.
In a crash, it is possible for a child to fall out of the car seat facing forward. This could be fatal. You can place a rolled-up towel or pillow under the seat's base to aid in reclining it. This will make your child in the vehicle.
A rear-facing car seats can help reduce injuries to the legs during collisions. In a frontal crash the legs of an infant facing forward may be swept upwards, hitting the rear of the car seat. This can cause serious injury. However, with a rear-facing car seat the child's legs won't hit the seat, and will instead be cushioned by the harness. This will lower the risk of injuries.
Multi-group
There are a lot of options out there for infant car seats, but not all of them will meet the needs of your baby. A multi-group infant seat can be suitable for your child from birth to around age four and it is compatible with all prams. This kind of seat includes a harness to protect your child, and it is designed to adapt to your child's needs and includes features like an adjustable headrest and side impact wings. Some of these seats can be turned within the vehicle, giving your child a wider view of the road.
A new generation of infant car seats is built around height rather than weight, which makes them safer for your infant. These car seats, referred to as R129 or iSize in the UK are approved by the EU and must meet strict safety standards to be sold. The seat will have a label that shows a capital 'E' in a circle, as well as the letters "R129". These seats are easier to install and offer better protection against side impacts.
The Group 1 or 0 car seat will be facing rearwards until your child weighs at minimum 9kg. After that, they can be turned to face forward. They are fitted with a harness and are secured by either Isofix or the car seatbelt. Some models have a rotating feature, which allows you to move the car seat from one vehicle to the next without the need for a car belt. Others will fit on the majority of prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat will be used until your child reach the age of 11 and are 105cm tall, or until you decide to change it to an adult booster. These are the safest car seats, and they are recommended by Which?. These car seats come with an expansive design, with a one-handed recline setting and at least 12 headrest positions. Some of them come with handles that are lightweight and can easily be tucked away in the suitcase.
Rotation function
The rotation feature of an infant car seat is one of its most prominent features. It allows the part of the seat which holds the infant to rotate on a separate basis, making it easier for parents to move the child into and out of the car. This feature is particularly useful in vehicles with a trunk or backseat that is small. In addition, it can help you install the seat in another vehicle.
The rotating feature can also make it easier to reach the harness buckles without disturbing the asleep baby, which is an absolute godsend when you're trying to keep your toddlers in check while trying to get them in the car. Some rotating seats are not able to achieve this goal. It is worth reading online reviews for specific models to determine the quality of their performance.
A seat that can be used in conjunction with strollers is another important feature. A lot of brands offer this option and is known as a travel system and is a great option for new parents who want one unit that can take them through all the stages of their child's development. It's also a great option for families with multiple vehicles and can effortlessly switch between them without disturbing their baby.
Infant car seats are designed to be used by babies and infants until one year old age. They are grouped into four groups that are: Group 0, 1, 2, and 3. The Group 0 car seat, also known as infant seats or carrycots, keeps the child facing backwards and is attached to the vehicle with a standard seatbelt or ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seat is usually attached to the vehicle's base with the help of LATCH. This system connects all types of car seats.
A convertible car seat, or group 3, is one that grows with your child from birth to about four years old. These seats come with a higher weight and height limit and a padded adjustable headrest that will protect the child from an accident. They also have a support wedge that can be removed and a luxury carry handle, so that the seat can also double as a carry-on.