Choosing an Infant Car Seat in the UK

In the UK All children in the UK 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 ensure the safety of your child.

Which?, the consumer expert has rated this rearward-facing seat as among the best. It comes with a baby-hugging insert, as well as enhanced G-Cell protection from side-impacts. 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 Seat Uk car seats are designed to protect babies from head and neck injuries that can result from an accident. Children who use forward-facing car seats are seven times more likely to be injured, as compared to children who are in rear-facing child safety seats. 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 a rear-facing infant car seat until your child is no longer using it or reaches the height or weight limits for forward-facing use.

There are two types of car seats: convertible car seats and an all-in-one car seat. Both are safe for your baby, however each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Convertible car seat start with the rear facing, but can be turned to face forward when your child is large enough. All-in-one car seats have higher rearward-facing weight and size limits to ensure that your child can enjoy a longer time in the seat.

Before you choose a rear-facing car seat your baby, make sure it fits in your car and is installed correctly. The instructions for installing the seat on the labels of the manufacturer as well as in your vehicle's owner's manual. You should also examine the harness to make sure it's snug and secure, and also ensure your child doesn't fold in the harness. Avoid wearing bulky clothing that could cause problems for straps.

Rear-facing car seats are more secure for babies than forward-facing seats because the impact force is more efficiently dissipated when the infant is cradled within the seat. Car seats with rear-facing windows also offer greater protection for infants who are ejected in a side-impact accident.

If your child is outgrowing the rear-facing infant seat, think about switching to a convertible car seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit. Many convertible car seats come with rear-facing limits that allow your child to use the seat for longer than two years.

Forward-facing

You can flip your baby to face forward once they have outgrown the rear-facing infant seat. It is best infant carrier car seat to wait until your child is at the manufacturer's 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 under two are more secure in a rear-facing seat. They will be able to relax more comfortably in their seats, and are less likely to be injured by the belt or airbag. This is particularly important for babies, their necks and bones are still developing. According to the i-Size guidelines, toddlers and infants must be rear-facing for at least 12 months or 20 pounds. Some experts suggest waiting even longer.

If your child grows out of the rear-facing seat it is possible to switch them to a car seat that's convertible or comes with a five-point safety harness. These seats are designed to accommodate your growing child, and a lot include an infant positioner that can be removed. These seats include a base to allow them to be used on different vehicles. You can also buy additional bases if your vehicle has more than one.

It is also recommended to use a car seat with a headrest for children weighing up to 20 pounds. The headrest should be angled slightly back but not more than 300 from vertical, and should cover the baby's ears. If the headrest isn't properly angled it could block the baby's airway. In addition the car seat shouldn't be placed at an angle that can cause a herniated disc to form in the spine.

In a crash, it is possible for a child to fall off the car seat facing forward. This can be fatal. A rolled up towel or pillow can be tucked into the seat's base to make it recline further, which will help keep your child safe in the car.

In addition to preventing children from falling out of their seats there is evidence to suggest that a rear-facing car seat can help reduce injuries to the legs in crashes. In a frontal collision the legs of a forward-facing infant can fly up and hit the back of the seat, which could cause serious injuries. In a rearward-facing chair the child's leg won't strike the seat and the harness can help cushion the impact. This reduces the chance of injury.

Multi-group

There are a myriad of choices for infant car seats. However there are some that will not meet your baby's requirements. A multi-group infant car seats on sale car seat will fit your baby from birth to around the age of four and is compatible with virtually every pram. This kind of car seat has a harness that protects your child. It's also designed to grow with it, with features such as an adjustable headrest and side impact wings. Some of these seats can be rotated within the vehicle, giving your child a greater view of the road.

A new generation of infant car seats is built around height rather than weight, which makes them safer for your infant. This kind of car seat, also known as i-Size or R129, is approved by the EU in the UK, and all of them must meet strict safety regulations to be sold. The seat will be branded with an inscription that displays the capital letter 'E' in a circle, and the letters 'R129'. These seats are also easy to install and 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 have a harness, and are secured by either Isofix or the car seatbelt. Some come with a rotation feature which allows you to move the car seat from one vehicle to another without having to use the belts on your car. Some will fit on most prams.

A group 1/2/3 seat can keep your baby until they reach 11 years old and up to 105cm tall, or until you choose to turn them into an adult booster seat. These are the safest car seats, and they are recommended by Which?. They have a wide design, a one-handed recline setting and more than 12 headrest positions. Some are designed for travel, with a lightweight carry handle that's designed to fit easily in a suitcase.

Rotation function

The ability to rotate the infant car seat is among its most prominent features. It allows the part of the seat that is used to hold the baby to spin on a separate base, making it easier for parents to move the child in and out of the car. This feature is particularly useful when the car has a compact backseat or trunk. In addition, it could help you install the seat in the vehicle of a different.

The rotating feature also makes it easier to reach the harness buckles without disturbing the asleep baby, which is a real godsend if you're trying to manage toddlers and take them to the car. Some rotating infant car seat seats are not equipped to accomplish this. It's worth reading online reviews for specific models to find out how they perform.

A seat that can be used in conjunction with strollers is another important feature. There are many brands that offer this combination that is referred to as a travel system, and is ideal for parents who want a single unit that can guide them through all stages of their child's life. It's also a great choice for families that live in a multi-car household because it allows them to switch cars quickly without disturbing the infant.

Infant car seats are made for infants and babies until the age of one year. They are divided into four groups which are Group 0, 1 3, and 4. The Group 0 car seats, which are sometimes called carrycots, place the child in a rear-facing position. They connect to the vehicle with the standard seat belt or an ISOFIX fitting. The Group 1 infant car seat is typically connected to the vehicle's base with the help of LATCH. This system connects most kinds of car seats.

A group 3 seat is usually a convertible car seat that expands with the child, from newborn car seat insert to about four years of age. These seats have an increased weight and height limit as well as a padded adjustable headrest that can protect the child in an accident. The seats also come with a support wedge that can be removed and a luxurious carrying handle, and an adjustable support bar.