What is an Infant Carrier Seat?
When it comes to choosing a car seat, parents have two options of infant car seats or convertible car seats. Car seats for infants are suitable for rear-facing use, so they last a little longer.
Infant carriers can be used with strollers. (Adapters are available separately). This creates an ideal travel system. This allows parents to effortlessly take their baby out of the car and into a stroller without disrupting their sleep.
Safety
Many parents are concerned about the security of an infant's carrier seat, especially when they buy one for their first time. As with all car seats, the infant carrier seat was created to safeguard your child as safe as possible in a crash. Most often they are placed with the infant facing the rear. This makes them the best option for infants who are at the highest risk of injury during a crash.
They also come with extra padding to provide additional head protection, and lower anchors to fix the seat to the vehicle's chassis to stop it from moving in the event of a collision. infant car seat travel pushchairsandprams.uk is particularly important with infants who have big necks and heads that are susceptible to injury from the force of a collision or sudden stop. Most infant carrier seats can be used with strollers, creating a system that allows you to effortlessly transfer your child from your car to the stroller without disrupting them.
Many infant car seats come with a base which can be used in other vehicles. This allows you to take your child wherever you go. This is great for those who take taxis or ride sharing services often. It can also make traveling with infants on planes a lot easier.
Some infant carrier seats can be used on strollers that do not have an element of base. This allows you to keep your child safe during all sorts of excursions and adventures. This is a great option for grandparents who wish to assist you in transporting your baby, too!
It is also important to remember that a child's car seat is never meant to be left unattended outside of the vehicle, since infants could tip or roll over on soft surfaces, causing injuries or even the risk of suffocation. It is crucial to read the directions before using an infant seat in a new place.
Portability
Many infant car seats are offered as part of a "travel system" that is a combination of the car seat base and the stroller frame. They connect to provide seamless transitions. Travel systems are ideal for babies, as they allow parents the ability to move their child from an automobile to a stroller without having to wake the baby up. This feature is the main reason why more than 80% Babylist parents purchase an infant seat.
In addition, many infant car seats work with most strollers. The stroller compatibility feature permits parents to take their baby out of the car and put it on a frame for a stroller to allow them to walk through a supermarket or park. This is a great feature to consider when you plan on using a ride-sharing or taxi service. Most of these services require children to be in a safety seat.
Infant car seats are generally lighter and smaller than convertible car seats. They are a great choice for families who like to be active. Some infant car seats also have a handle so parents can carry the seat themselves. This is particularly useful when you're planning a trip you do not want to wake your baby for.
Infant car seats last until your baby becomes a toddler and they outgrow the weight and height limitations, some convertible car seats can be used as a rear facing infant car seat, and later converted to a forward facing car seat for older children. These all-in-one seats are great if you're looking to keep your child safe in a seat as long as possible. There is a convertible car seat that converts into an high-back booster seat once your child has outgrown its harness (or exceeds the weight and height limits). Be sure to search for this when you browse choices!
Easy of Use
A rear-facing infant carrier seat is an infant car seat that snaps into the base of your car. They are designed to keep newborns and babies safe until they meet the weight and height requirements for the booster seat. Many infant car seats are compatible with strollers, which can make it easy to transfer the baby from the car to the stroller and continue your journey without disturbing their nap schedule.
Look for an infant car seat that has a detachable car seat that easily attaches to the base or a stroller. This will let you quickly get your child in and out of the car, especially when their nap is coming to end or they're hungry, thirsty, or bored. It's also important to check the shoulder strap slots and position them properly for your child's size. If the straps have been placed too low or high they won't be able to be used correctly in a crash and could be dangerous.
Some infant car seats have lower anchors which can be used in conjunction with or without the base. This is great for taxi rides or when traveling by plane. Be sure that the lower anchors are easy to install, have an European routing and are easy to release. We can also listen for an audible "click" when the seat is secured properly. It's important to choose the seat with an easy-to use harness and a carrier adjustment system. Examples include Graco's click connect or UPPAbaby's SmartSecure.
Convertible car seats are the next step following an infant carrier. They can be used until your child reaches the weight or height requirements for the booster. They can be used with strollers, but they don't offer the newborn fit and convenience of a car seat for infants. Some convertible seats can be converted to boosters. However they're generally larger and less portable. This makes them difficult to maneuver when traveling in small vehicles or in congested areas.
Installation
Installing car seats, and particularly infant car seats is difficult. It is important to do it safely and correctly. Some factors that can impact this include the seating position as well as the angle of the base and how to use the handle.
Most infant car seats are designed to be connected to a base that is in the vehicle, a system often called a travel system. These seats are designed to be used rear-facing which is more secure than forward-facing. Many car seats come with a built-in angle indicator that can be read to make sure the seat is in the correct semi-reclined position for your baby. The base could also have an adjustable feature to change the angle.
Also, make sure that the seat can adjust the shoulder straps' height without needing to remove and replace them. This is a huge time saver, as you will need to do it several times throughout the infant's car seat usage.
Some cars have a rigid point in the back of the seat that is specifically designed to hold infant car safety seats. These are usually tucked into the crease that runs between the seat back cushion and the bottom cushion. The hooks will snap into place with ease since they are custom-made for the seat. When they are in place to the seat, you might hear a distinct sound.
It's also a good idea to test out the car seat on the child first to ensure it works well for your family. If the car seat does not click into the base or your child isn't comfortable, it's time to look for a different option.
Certain car seats can be capable of being installed without a base. This is helpful for those who use taxi or public transportation such as Uber. Read the instructions of the manufacturer for removing and putting in the carrier without the base, but the majority will permit you to do so by simply pressing an lever or button. A lot of them will give you a "click" to let you know when it's secure.