What is an Infant Carrier Seat?
When it comes to choosing a car seats, parents have two options: infant car seats or convertible car seats. Car seats for infants have a shorter duration of use as they are only used with rear-facing.
Infant carrier seats are commonly compatible with strollers (adapters sold separately) to create a traveling system. Parents can effortlessly take their baby out of the car and into a stroller, without disturbing their sleep.
Safety
Many parents are concerned about the safety of an infant's seat, particularly when they purchase one for their first time. As with any car seat on the market, an infant carrier seat is designed to be as secure as it is possible to safeguard your baby during a crash. Most often, they are positioned with the infant facing to the rear. This makes them the ideal choice for infants at the greatest danger of injury in an accident.
They also have extra padding for additional head protection as well as lower anchors to secure the seat to the vehicle's chassis to prevent it from shifting in the event of a collision. This is particularly important with infants who have large necks and heads that can be susceptible to injury from the force of a collision or sudden stop. Additionally, the majority of infant carriers are designed to work with strollers to create a system that can be easily moved from your car to the stroller and back without disturbing your baby.
In addition, many infant car seats have an base that can be installed in other vehicles, allowing you to take your child with you no matter where you go. This is a great option for parents who take taxis or ride sharing services frequently. It can also make travelling with a baby on planes a lot easier.
Some models of infant carriers seats can be used on strollers that do not have an element of base. This allows you to ensure your child's safety throughout all sorts of trips and adventures. This is a great choice for grandparents who wish to assist you in transporting your child, too!
It is crucial to remember that an infant car seat is not designed to be left unattended on a soft surface. Babies can tip or roll over, causing injuries or even the possibility of suffocation. It is essential to read the directions before using an infant seat in a new location.
Portability
Many infant car seats are designed as part of the travel system, which is a combination of car frame and seat base which snap into one another to allow seamless transitions. Travel systems are perfect for infants since they allow parents to move their baby from the car to the stroller, and vice versa without needing to get them up. This alone is a huge reason more than 80% of Babylist parents sign up for an infant seat!
In addition, many infant car seats are compatible with most strollers. The stroller compatibility feature allows parents to remove their child from the car and put it on a frame for a stroller so they can walk through a park or a grocery store. This is a great feature to look out for if you plan on using a ride-sharing or taxi service. Most of these services require children to be secured in a seat.
Infant car seats are generally lighter and smaller than convertible car seats. car seats newborn are an ideal option for families who prefer to travel. Some infant car seats have a handle so parents can carry the seat on their own. This is especially helpful when you have a trip planned that you don't want to wake your sleeping baby up for!
While infant car seats only last until your child is a toddler and they have outgrown the weight and height limits Some convertible car seats can be used as a rear-facing seat for newborns, then transformed into a forward-facing car seat for older children. These all-in-one seats are a great option if you're looking to keep your child in a secure seat for as long as is possible. There is a convertible car seat that transforms into an high-back booster seat once your child has outgrown its harness (or is over the weight and height limits). Make sure to check for this when browsing choices!
Simple to Use
A rear-facing infant carrier seat is a car seat that snaps into the base of your vehicle. These seats are designed to keep infants and toddlers safe until they reach the weight and height requirements for the booster. Many infant car seats can be used with strollers. This makes it easy to move your child from the car into the stroller without disrupting their nap.
Look for a baby seat that has an adjustable carrier that you can attach to the base of a stroller or car. This will make it easier to get your child into and out of the car especially when their nap is about to end or they are thirsty, hungry or bored. Check the shoulder strap slots to ensure they're placed correctly for your child. If the straps aren't low enough or high, they won't be properly used and could cause injury in the event of a crash.
Certain infant car seats include lower anchors that are able to be used in lieu of the base, which is ideal for taxi rides as well as for travel on airplanes. It's important to check that the lower anchors have a European routing path and are easy to install and release, and we look for a click that sounds like an alarm when the seat is securely secured. It is essential to select the seat with an easy-to use harness and adjustable carrier system. Examples include Graco's click connect and UPPAbaby's SmartSecure.
Convertible car seats are the next level from an infant carrier. They can be used until your child reaches their height or weight requirement for the booster seat. They can be used in conjunction with a stroller, but don't offer the infant-like fit and convenience of an infant car seat. Some convertible seats can be converted to boosters. However they tend to be heavier and less portable. This makes them difficult to maneuver in small vehicles or in congested areas.
Installation
Installing car seats, and particularly infant car seats, can be difficult. It is crucial to do so safely and correctly. Some factors that can impact this include the position of the seat, the angle of the base and the best way to use the handle.
Most infant car seats are attached to a base in the vehicle. This type of setup is commonly known as"travel system. "travel system". These seats are made for rear-facing use which is more secure than forward-facing. Most car seats come with an indicator of angle built-in that you can use to verify if the seat is set at the right semi-reclined level for your child. The base may also have an adjustor to change the angle.
Another feature to look for is if the seat has a way to adjust the height of the shoulder straps without having to disengage and reconnect the straps. This is a huge time saver as you'll need to do it several times throughout the car seat's use by your infant.
Some cars have a hard point in the back of the seat that is specifically designed to hold infant car safety seats. They are typically tucked into the crease between the seat back and bottom cushions. These hooks should snap into place easily as they are made specifically for the specific seat. When they are in place to your seat, you will hear a distinct sound.
It is also a great idea to test the car seat with a child first to make sure it's suitable for your family. If your child isn't comfortable or the car seat doesn't fit into the base, you should consider a different alternative.
Certain car seats can be used without the base, which is useful if you take public transportation or use taxi services like Uber. You can usually remove and install the carrier without the base by pressing a lever or a button. Review the instructions given by the manufacturer. Many will provide an explicit "click" to indicate that it is secure enough.