Rear-facing car seats for small cars are great because they provide a lot of protection for your child in the event of an accident. The seats are typically positioned in the backseat, away from the front seat, and are designed to fit children from about 6 months to about 4 years old. When choosing a rear-facing car seat, make sure to consider the size of your car and whether or not you have room in the backseat.
Types of rear-facing car seats
Infant seats
Infant seats are important for car safety, but they can be difficult to find and purchase. Rear-facing car seats are the safest option for infants, but they are not always the easiest to find. If you have a small car, then a rear-facing infant seat is the best option for your child. There are a variety of infant seats on the market, so make sure to read reviews before making a decision.
Convertible seats
Rear-facing car seats are most commonly recommended for children who are at least 1 year old and 4 feet 9 inches tall, but smaller children can also use them if they’re properly fitted. A convertible seat can be used as a rear-facing seat for infants up to about 18 months old, then it can be turned into a regular front-facing car seat. Convertible seats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so make sure to choose one that will fit your car well.
Rear-facing versus Front facing
- Rear-facing seats are typically recommended for infants, toddlers, and small children who are less than 2 feet 9 inches tall.
- Front-facing seats are typically recommended for children between 2 and 4 feet tall.
- While both rear and front-facing seats provide optimal safety for your child, there are some important reasons to choose one over the other.
- Front-facing seats place the weight of the child more towards the chest, which can cause serious neck and spine injuries in a crash.
- Additionally, when a frontal impact occurs in a rear-facing seat, the child’s head is more likely to hit an object first – this can result in serious brain damage or death.
- Rear-facing seats also provide better legroom for adults; many have enough room to travel without having to recline their seats all the way back.
Rear-facing car seat installation process in a small car
When installing a rear-facing car seat in a small car, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. The following tips will help make the installation process easier:
Locate and remove the front passenger seat
The process of installing a rear-facing car seat in a small car can be difficult. This is especially true if the car does not have a lot of space to work with. Locate and remove the front passenger seat before beginning the installation process. Once the seat is out of the way, use a floor jack to raise the rear of the car seat until it rests on top of the front seats. Then, use screws and brackets to attach the car seat to the front seats.
Open the trunk lid and fold down the rear seats
Open the trunk lid and fold down the rear seats as far as they will go. This will give you more space to work with. Use the seat belt anchors to secure your car seat to the roof rail or inside of the trunk lid. Make sure that the child is positioned so that their head is below the level of the roof rail or inside of the trunk lid.
Place a towel or blanket on the floor of the backseat
You’ll want to place a towel or blanket on the floor of the backseat, then install your car seat using the straps and connectors that come with it.
Unbuckle both shoulder straps of the car seat
Unbuckle both shoulder straps of the seat first. Doing so allows the car seat to fit more easily into the limited space available.
Reposition it in your vehicle with its shoulder straps
Make sure the vehicle has enough space behind the front seats for the car seat and its base. The car seat should be placed so that its shoulder straps are located over the armrests, or as close to them as possible. Insert and tighten the shoulder strap anchors on either side of the car seat.
Replace both shoulder straps and buckle
Remove the old shoulder straps by unbuttoning them and pulling them off of the seat. Install new shoulder straps by buttoning them up around the child’s body, making sure that they are tight enough to stay in place during a crash but not so tight that they restrict movement. Replace the buckles by sliding them over the child’s shoulders and clicking them into place.
Which car seats are appropriate for small cars?
When it comes to choosing the right car seat for your small vehicle, there are many factors to consider. Rear-facing car seats are the best option for children under age 5 and are recommended for vehicles with a maximum weight capacity of 130 pounds. These seats attach to the rear of the vehicle using either a standard child-seat belt or a LATCH system. If you’re shopping for a rear-facing car seat for your small car, be sure to consider the following:
- The size of your vehicle: Most rear-facing car seats will fit in cars ranging in size from compact hatchbacks to large SUVs.
- The type of car seat: Many rear-facing car seats come in convertible or infant models; make sure you choose the correct type for your vehicle.
Problems with rear-facing in small cars
Rear-facing car seats in small cars can be problematic for a few reasons.
- First, the seats are often too small for many children, which can cause them to ride in an uncomfortable position.
- Secondly, the space behind the seat is not usually large enough to fit a child’s entire body, which can lead to safety concerns if the child falls asleep or gets stuck.
- Finally, rear-facing car seats are not designed to protect children from frontal impacts, which is why they should only be used in cars with restraints that will prevent them from moving around in the event of a crash.
At Our Thoughts
If you are purchasing a car seat for a small vehicle, the rear-facing option is the best choice. Not only is it safer for your child, but it also saves space in the car. Rear-facing car seats should always be used until your child outgrows them by height or weight. Make sure to read the car seat installation instructions carefully to ensure a safe and proper installation. Finally, always use safety belts and keep children occupied during travel to avoid any accidents.
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