Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
Car seat laws in the UK require all children to use a car seat for children until they reach the age of a certain height or age. Selecting the right car seat is essential to ensure your child's safety.
Which?, the consumer champion has rated this rearward-facing seat as one of its best. It features a cozy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced G-Cell side impact protection. It comes with a rotating feature that allows you adjust the seat to the ideal position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Rear-facing infant car seats are made to protect infants from head and neck injuries that can result from the event of a crash. Children who ride forward-facing car seats are seven-times more likely to sustain serious injuries than those who use rear-facing. Car seats that are rear-facing for infants are usually positioned in the back of the vehicle and are smaller and lighter than convertible child safety seats. It is recommended that you always use a rear-facing infant car seat until your child outgrows it or attains the weight or height limits for forward-facing use.
There are two types of car seats: convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats. Both are safe for your baby, however each has its own benefits and disadvantages. Convertible car seats start with the rear facing, but can be turned to face forward once your child is large enough. All-in-one car seat have higher rear-facing weights and height limits, so your child will be able to safely ride in the seat for longer duration.
Make sure that the rear-facing seats you pick for your baby fit your vehicle and are correctly installed. Examine the labels of the manufacturer and your vehicle owner's manual for instructions on how to install the seat. Check the straps of the seat to ensure that they are tight and secure. Also, ensure that your child cannot pinch a fold on the harness material. Avoid wearing clothing that is bulky and might cause problems for straps.
Rear-facing car seats are more secure than forward-facing car seats for infants, as the impact force dispersed more efficiently when the baby's body is held in the seat. Rear-facing car seats also provide more protection for infants that are thrown during a collision on the side.
If your child outgrows their rear-facing infant car seat, you may want to consider changing to a seat that has a high rearward-facing weight and a size limit. Many convertible car seats have rear-facing limits that allow your child to use the seat for over two years.
Forward-facing
You can rotate your baby to face forward once they have outgrown the rear-facing infant seat. You should wait until your child is at the weight and height limits before you do this. It is also advisable to talk to your child's pediatrician.
Based on the laws of physics and safety research, children under two are safer in a rearward-facing seat. They can rest more comfortably in their seats and are less likely than other passengers to be injured by an airbag or belt. This is especially important for babies who's necks and bones are still developing. According to the i-Size guidelines toddlers and infants must ride rear-facing for a minimum of 12 months or 20 pounds. Some experts recommend waiting even longer.
If your child outgrows the rear-facing infant seat you can switch them to a convertible or all-in-1 car seat that has a five-point harness. These seats are designed to fit your growing child, and a lot come with an infant positioner that can be removed. These seats come with a base to allow them to be used on different vehicles. You can also buy additional bases if your vehicle has more than one.
For children weighing up to 20 pounds, it's recommended that a car seat be fitted with a headrest. The headrest should be placed slightly back, but not more than 300 degrees vertical. It should 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 not be set in a way that can result in a herniated disk developing in the spine.
In a accident, a child could fall out of a forward-facing car seat, and this may be fatal. You can put a rolled up towel or pillow under the seat's base to assist in reclining it. This will make your child more secure in the vehicle.
In addition to protecting 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 impact, the legs of a child facing forward can be swept upwards and strike the back of the seat, which could cause serious injury. In a rearward-facing seat, the child's leg will not strike the seat and the harness will cushion the impact. This will reduce the risk of injury.
Multi-group
There are a variety of options for infant car seats. However they may not all meet your baby's requirements. 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 almost any pram. This type of car seat comes with an adjustable harness that safeguards your child. It is also designed to grow with it, with features such as an adjustable headrest or side impact wings. Read More Here of these seats are designed to rotate in the vehicle which allows you to alter their position, giving your child a better view of the road ahead.
New infant car seats are built around height and not weight, making them more secure for your child. This type of car seat, also known as iSize or R129 is EU-approved in the UK, and all of them have to meet strict safety regulations to be sold. The seat will come with an inscription that displays the capital letter 'E' in 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 is designed to face rearwards until your child weighs at least 9kg. After that, they can be rotated to face forward. They have a harness, and are secured by either Isofix or the car seatbelt. Some of them have a rotating feature, which allows you to move the car seat from one vehicle to the next without using the belts on your car. Some will fit on the majority of prams.
A group 1/2/3 car seat will keep your baby until they reach 11 years old and 100cm, or until you decide to make them a booster seat. These are the most secure car seats, and they are recommended by Which?. They come with a wide design and a one-handed recline option and more than 12 headrest positions. Some have an easy-to-use handle that can be easily stowed in the suitcase.
Rotation function
One of the most important characteristics of infant car seat is its rotating feature. It allows the part of the seat that is used to hold the baby to spin on a separate basis, making it easier for parents to get the child in and out of the car. This feature is especially useful in vehicles with trunk or backseat that is compact. Additionally, it can make it easier to install the seat in the vehicle of a different.
It's also easier to reach the buckles of the harness without disturbing a sleepy baby. This is a great benefit for parents who have to deal with toddlers and trying to get them in the car. However, some rotating seats have a hard time achieving this goal, so it's worth looking up online reviews of specific models to see how well they work.
A seat that can be used in conjunction with strollers is another important feature. There are many brands that offer this combination, which is known as a travel system, and it's ideal for new parents who are looking for one unit that can guide them through all stages of their child's development. It's also a great option for families with a multi-car household, as it allows them to switch cars quickly without causing any disruption to the infant.
Car seats for infants are designed for newborns and infants up to the age of one year. They are grouped into four groups that are: Group 0, 1, 2, and 3. The Group 0 car seat, also referred to infant or carrycots keeps the child facing rearward and is connected to the vehicle with the standard seatbelt or ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seats generally connect to the base of the vehicle using LATCH which is a straightforward method for connecting all types of car seats.
A group 3 car seat is usually a convertible seat that expands with the child, starting from newborn to around four years old. These seats feature an increased weight and height limit, as well as an adjustable headrest with padding that will protect the child from an accident. They also come with a removable support wedge and a luxury carry handle, which means they can double as a portable carrier.