Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
In the UK the UK, all children require a child seat until they reach a certain height or age. Choosing the right car seat is crucial to ensure the safety of your child.
Which?, the consumer champion, has rated this rearward-facing seat as one of its top. It has a cosy baby-hugg inlay as well as enhanced G-Cell side impact protection. It also has a rotation feature that allows you to adjust the seat to the ideal position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats are designed to keep babies safe from head and neck injuries in an accident. Children who ride forward-facing in car seats are seven times more likely to sustain serious injuries than children who are rear-facing. Car seats that are rear-facing for infants are typically placed on the back seat, and are smaller and lighter than convertible child safety seats. It is recommended to always use the rear-facing infant car seat until your child outgrows it or reaches the height or weight limits for forward-facing use.
There are two kinds: convertible car seats and an all-in-one car seat. Both are safe for your baby, but each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Convertible car seats are facing the rear and can be turned around to face forward when your child is big enough. All-in one car seats have larger rearward-facing weight and size limitations so that your child is able to safely remain in the seat.
Make certain that the rear-facing car seats you pick for your baby are suitable for your vehicle and are correctly installed. There are instructions for installing the seat on the labels of the manufacturer and in the owner's manual of your vehicle. You should also test the harness of the seat to ensure it is snug and secure, and ensure that your child can't pinch a fold in the harness material. Also, make sure to stay clear of wearing bulky clothes that might interfere with the straps.
Rear-facing car seats are more secure for babies than forward-facing seats since the force of the crash is more efficiently dissipated when a baby is in the seat. infant carrier seat -facing car seats also provide greater protection for infants who are ejected during a collision on the side.
If your child is outgrowing their rear-facing infant car seat you may want to consider switching to a seat which has a large rearward-facing weight and size limit. Many convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits that let your child ride in the seat for over two years.
Forward-facing
You can rotate your baby to face forward when they are outgrowing the rear-facing infant seat. It is best to wait until your child is at the weight and height limits before doing this. It's also recommended to consult your pediatrician about it.
The laws of physics and safety research have shown that children under two years older are more secure when they travel in a rear-facing seat. They can rest easier in their seat, and are less likely to be injured by the belt or airbag. This is especially important for babies who's necks and bones 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 suggest taking a longer time.
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 that has a five-point harness. These seats are designed to support your growing infant, and many are equipped with a baby-friendly positioner that can be removed. These seats come with a base so that they can be used on a variety of vehicles. You can also purchase additional bases if your car has more than one.
It is also recommended to use a car seat with an adjustable headrest for infants up to 20 pounds. The headrest should be angled back slightly, not more than 300 degrees from vertical, and must cover the baby's ears. The baby's airway may be blocked when the headrest isn't set back enough. In addition the car seat shouldn't be set at an angle that can result in a herniated disc developing in the spine.
In the event of a crash, a young child could fall out of a rear-facing car seat, which could be fatal. A towel that has been rolled up or pillow can be put beneath the seat's base to help it recline further, which will help keep your child comfortable in the car.
A rear-facing car seats can reduce leg injuries during collisions. In a frontal collision, the legs of an infant facing forward may fly up, hitting the rear of the car seat. This can cause serious injury. However, with an rear-facing seat, the child's legs will not strike the seat but will be cushioned by the harness. This will lower the risk of injury.
Multi-group
There are plenty of choices for infant car seats but not all of them are suitable for your baby's needs. A multi-group infant car seat is one that can accommodate your baby from birth until around the age of 4 and is compatible with virtually every pram. This type of car seat comes with a harness that protects your child, and it is designed to grow with your child and includes features like an adjustable headrest and side impact wings. Some of these seats are also designed to rotate in the vehicle which allows you to alter their position and give your child an enhanced view of the road ahead.
New infant car seats are designed to be based on height, not weight, making them more secure for your child. This type of car seats, referred to as R129 or iSize in the UK, are EU-approved and must meet strict safety standards to be sold. The label will show the capital "E" in a circle, along with the letters "R129". They are also simpler to fit, and they offer greater 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 around to face forward. They will come with a harness and are secured using either Isofix connections or the car seatbelt and tethers. Some of them will have an option for rotation that means you can move the car seat between vehicles without the need for a belt, and some of them can be used on the majority of prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat can keep your infant safe until they reach 11 years old and 100cm, or until you choose to turn them into a booster seat. These are the most secure car seats, and are recommended by Which?. They come with a wide design with a recline feature that is one-handed and more than 12 headrest positions. Some have an easy-to-use handle that can easily be tucked away in luggage.
Rotation function
The rotation feature of an infant car seat is one of its most prominent features. It allows the portion of the seat which holds the infant to rotate on a separate basis, making it easier for parents to move the child in and out of the car. This feature is especially useful when the trunk or backseat is small. In addition, it could help you install the seat in a different vehicle.
The rotation function also makes it easier to access harness buckles without disturbing the sleeping baby, and it's a real godsend if you're trying to manage toddlers and get them in the car. However, some seats struggle to accomplish this goal, so it's worth looking up online reviews of specific models to determine how well they perform.
A seat that can be used in conjunction with strollers is another important feature. This is referred to as the travel system and is ideal for parents who are looking for a single unit to help them navigate the different stages of their child's development. This is an excellent option for families with multiple vehicles because they can easily switch between them without causing any disturbance to their child.
Infant car seats are designed to cradle newborns and babies from one year age. They are classified into four groups, 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 the standard seat belt or an ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seats usually connect to the base of the vehicle 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 adapts to your child from birth until around four years old. These seats come with an increased height and weight limit as well as a headrest that is adjustable and padded to protect the child from injury in a crash. They also come with a support wedge that can be removed and a deluxe carry handle, which means they can double as a portable carrier.