No matter what we handle, we must take it with care. And, the human baby is the most vulnerable subject that we must be more careful with than glass. Moreover, we have a plethora of equipment to keep our babies safe in all conditions. One of the general queries, do you need a head support for infant car seat?
No, you don’t usually need head support for your infant. Again you need to attach head support in some cases. However, a car is not a general aspect that contains ordinary engineering, yet there is no seat for infants. An infant’s seat can disrupt an adult’s sitting space. So, several seats are designed to attach to the rear seat of a car and are known as infant safety car seats. And, about their head support, which is already built-in with the infant safety car seat.
But, if your infant is more than one year old, you must attach head support to your rear car seat. Moreover, the infant safety seats are no longer valid for that child due to their small size.
Do You Need A Head Support For Infant Car Seat?
As we mentioned before, there are two contrary responses to this. First, if your infant is below one year old and deploying an infant car safety seat, you do not need to attach any cushion or head support.
Most of the safety seats include the entire setup. Yet, some safety seats may require head support.
On the other hand, you can’t deploy the infant safety seat when your baby is above one year old. As a result, your infant does not perceive any barrier to laying their head.
So, in that case, you need to attach a baby headrest to your car’s rear seat. It will ensure the safety of the laryngopharynx muscles and upper spinal cord’s joints.
When You Can Remove The Head Support For Infants?
You can detach the head supporter cushion from your infant’s seat or safety seat several times.
At Age 5 To 6 Months
When your baby’s age is below five months, you must deploy head support with your baby’s safety seat. When your baby’s age is around 5 to 6 months, you may notice that the head does not fit in the safety seat’s head portion.
So, you need to remove your infant’s safety seat’s head support at that moment. Some good branded and expensive seats do not require an extra head hugger or cushion.
When your baby can sit properly, you can cease the deployment of infant car safety seats. Generally, a baby becomes capable of sitting at the age of one year. Still, the age may vary.
At Age 4 To 5 Years
After ceasing the employment of infant car safety seats, you need to attach head support to your car’s rear seat. At the age of 4 to 5, an infant’s spinal cord gains the ability to create a suspension while going through uneven paths.
So, you can detach the head support from your car’s rear seat at the moment. Keeping the head support does not cause any harm; if you desire to let it be attached, you can also do that.
Why do You want To Use Head Support In The Car Seat?
The importance of head support is pretty significant. There are several benefits of utilizing head support, and some prime benefits are given below.
- Protects baby’s head from back bump and injury.
- Keep the spinal cord straight.
- Helps to prevent the flat head syndrome
- Adds extra comfort to the baby seat.
What Happens If You Don’t Support A Baby’s Neck?
A baby’s bone is one of the most vulnerable objects globally. Until the baby starts walking, we all must keep our eyes on the baby so that the bones and muscles can grow properly. However, while we are on a drive, it also requires care.
The most vital is a baby’s neck, and we can protect the channel by using a head hugger or support.
Your baby may face some difficulties if his head does not find a place to lay like-
- Injury in laryngopharynx muscles.
- Can get a severe bump from behind.
- The posterior median sulcus may break.
- Damage in the cervical artery.
Deploying a safety seat is not enough to ensure the infant’s safety. There are some manners you need to follow. Otherwise, it can be equal to unemployment of safety. Follow the mentioned steps to deploy the safety seat accurately.
Head Position
The first thing that you must consider is the head position. The chin must be away from the chest. It does not matter that much if your baby turns his head since it is vital to breathe appropriately.
But, if the chin is touching the chest, it blocks the way or airpipe. Moreover, the head must have the head support equally on each side.
Snug Straps
The snug strap is another vital thing to be concerned about. While you are tightening the belt, you must adjust it beforehand.
The optimum way is to loosen the whole strap first. After that, keep your baby inside the safety seat and lock the buckle. Then start tightening the belts, and you must not pull so hard.
Recline The Car Seat
After the strapping process, you must adjust or recline the car seat. The optimum position of the car seat allows the baby to be bent at the back. Don’t recline the seat too much, making the baby lie down entirely.
Crotch Buckle Position
After buckling up the straps, you need to buckle the crotch straps. The best positioning includes a crotch buckle on the stomach of a baby. Here you may require to adjust all the straps, including the crotch section.
Safety Seat Placement
As shown in the picture, the best way to attach a safety seat is in the opposite direction of the rear frame. It will save your baby by many degrees in an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Infant car seat head supports safe?
An infant is around 15 times more vulnerable than an average juvenile. Therefore, it is a vital activity to take care of an infant.
While driving with an infant, you must take care of their head and neck. Otherwise, it may harm the muscles of the baby’s neck, and an emergency can cause massive destruction to the spinal cord.
Does an infant car seat need head support?
The infant car seat is another type of seat only for babies. There are several safety seats for infants which have head support. And some others require extra cushion.
The requirement for head support depends on the chair you purchase. The best way to determine the condition is by placing the baby first and noticing the gap in its head sides.
Is it OK for a newborn to sleep with head to side?
A good breathing process requires a head to turn aside. So, if your baby’s head is turned, you do not need to worry. But meanwhile, you need to notice if the chin is touching the chest.
If it is, you should make its head lay and create distance. Because touching the chest by the chin blocks the airpipe. Other than that, turning right or left is entirely OK.
How do I keep my baby’s head up in the car?
There are several manners depending on the age of the baby. If your baby’s age is less than one year, you must use an infant safety car seat. The design of this seat will allow your baby to keep the head accordingly.
If your baby is above one year, you can recline the car seat and use head support to keep your baby’s head accordingly.
Final Verdict
In the end, we have come to know the total anatomy of keeping the baby’s head in position while discussing do you need a head support for infant car seat?’ We heartily ensure that it will help you massively keep your baby safe and sound while driving.
And our final recommendation is you must choose quality products when the shopping is meant for your baby.
Key Takeaways
- While purchasing head support, you must check the cushion if it is fluffy enough to tolerate massive bumps.
- The fabric must be smooth so that it can cause no harm to the infant’s sensitive skin.
- You must purchase a product from a reliable brand since it will consist of a warranty in case of emergency.
