Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK
In the UK the UK, all children are required to use a child's seat until they reach a certain height or the age of. Selecting the right car seat is vital to keep your child safe.
This rearward-facing car seat is described as one of the top by consumer champion Which? It comes with a soft baby-hugg insert and a heightened G-Cell side impact protection. It also features a rotating function that allows you to adjust the seat in the best car seat for newborn uk position for your vehicle.
Rear-facing
Car seats with rear-facing windows for infants are designed to protect babies from head and neck injuries in a crash. 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 face the rear for infants are generally placed on the back seat and are smaller and lighter. It is recommended that you always use a rear-facing infant car seat until your child has outgrown it, or is at the weight or height limits 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 & Stylish Baby Car Seats for Every Family (https://www.pushchairsandprams.uk/categories/baby-car-seats/5), but they each have distinct advantages and drawbacks. Convertible car seats are rear-facing, but can be turned to face forward once your child is big enough. All-in-one car seats have a higher rear-facing weight 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 select for your child are compatible with your vehicle and are installed correctly. Review the manufacturer's label and your owner's manual for instructions on how to properly install the seat. Also, test the harness of the seat to ensure it is snug and secure, and make sure your child doesn't fold in the harness material. Avoid wearing clothing that is bulky and could interfere with straps.
Rear-facing seats are safer for babies than forward-facing seats because the force of the crash is more effectively dissipated when the infant is placed in the seat. In addition, rear-facing seats can provide more security for infants ejected from a vehicle in an accident with a side impact.
If your child has outgrown their rear-facing infant car seat, you might consider changing to a seat that has a heavy rearward-facing weight and size limit. A majority of convertible car seats have rear-facing limits, which permit your child to use the seat for longer than two years.
Forward-facing
If your baby is no longer in the rear-facing infant car seat you can flip them to face forward. You should wait until your child has reached the weight and height limits before you do this. You should also speak with your child's doctor.
Based on the laws of physics, and safety research, children less than two are safer in a rearward-facing seat. They can sit more comfortably in their seats and are less prone than others to be injured by an airbag or belt. This is especially important for babies, who's necks and bones are still developing. The iSize guidelines recommend that all toddlers and infants sit rear-facing until at least 20 pounds or 12 months old, and some experts advise waiting even longer.
If your child outgrows the rear-facing infant seat, you can move them to a convertible or all-in-one car seat with a five-point harness. These seats are designed to accommodate your growing child and many come with an infant positioner that can be removed. These seats include a base to allow them to be used on a variety of vehicles. You can also buy additional bases if your vehicle has more than one.
For children weighing up to 20 pounds, it is also recommended that the car seat be fitted with a headrest. The headrest should be angled back slightly but not more than 300 from vertical, and should be able to cover 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 positioned in a manner that could cause a herniated disk in the spine.
In a accident, a child could be thrown out of a forward-facing car seat, and this could be fatal. You can place a rolled-up cushion or towel beneath the seat's base to aid in reclining it. This will make your child more comfortable in the car.
In addition to preventing children from falling out of their seats there is evidence to suggest that rear-facing car seats can help reduce injuries to the legs in collisions. In a frontal impact the legs of a child who is facing forward could fly up and strike the back of the seat, which can cause serious injury. However, in an rear-facing seat the child's legs won't strike the seat but will be cushioned by the harness. This greatly reduces the risk of injuries.
Multi-group
There are a lot of options out there for infant car seats however, not all will meet the needs of your baby. A multi-group infant car seat will accommodate your child from birth until around the age four, and it is compatible with all prams. This kind of seat includes a harness that protects your child, and it is designed to adapt to your child's needs, with features such as an adjustable headrest as well as side impact wings. Some of these seats can be turned inside the vehicle to give your child a greater view of the road.
New infant car seats are based on height rather than weight, making them safer for your child. This kind of car seat, known as i-Size or R129, is EU-approved in the UK and all of them must comply with strict safety standards before they can be sold. The seat will come with a label that shows a capital 'E' in a circle, and the letters "R129". These seats are easy to put in and offer greater protection against side-impacts.
The Group 1 or 0 car seat is designed to face rearwards until your child weighs at least 9kg. After that, they can be turned around to face forward. They have a harness, and are secured using either Isofix or the car seatbelt. Some of them will have a rotation function, which means that you can move the car seat around without the use of a belt, and some are also able to fit on the majority of prams.
A group 1/2/3 seat can last your infant until they are at least 11 years old and 100cm, or until you decide to make them an adult booster seat. These are the safest car seats, and are recommended by Which?. They have a wide design and a one-handed recline option and at least 12 headrest positions. Some have a lightweight handle that can be easily stored in luggage.
Rotation function
The ability to rotate the infant car seat is among its most prominent features. This feature permits the part of a car seat that holds the child to rotate on separate platforms which makes it easier for the parents to help their child in and out of the car. This feature is especially useful when the trunk or backseat is compact. In addition, it can help you install the seat in the vehicle of a different.
The rotating feature can also make it easier to access the harness buckles without disturbing the asleep baby, and it's an absolute blessing when juggling toddlers while trying to get them into the car. However, some seats aren't able to achieve this objective, and it's worthwhile to read online reviews of specific models to see how well they perform.
Another important feature to consider is whether the seat is compatible with a stroller. This is referred to as a travel system and is perfect for parents who are looking for a single unit to help them navigate the different stages of their child's development. It's also a great choice for families who live in a multi-car household, as it allows parents to switch cars easily without causing any disruption to the child.
Infant car seats are made for infants and babies that are less than one year. They are grouped into four groups which 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 attached to the vehicle via the standard seatbelt or ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seat is usually attached to the base of the vehicle by using LATCH. This system connects most types of car seats.
A convertible car seat, also known as group 3 is one that adapts to your child from birth to around four years old. These seats come with an increased weight and height limit, as well as an adjustable headrest with padding that will protect the child from an accident. The seats also feature an adjustable support wedge as well as a deluxe carrying handle and a removable support bar.
