Update: This is a blog post from April 2009. If you're looking for information about the March 2011 AAP car seat policy changes, please visit AAP Recommends Rear-Facing Car Seats Until Age 2. You can also check out the Extended Rear-Facing Car Seat Photo Gallery, How Long Should My Child Ride Rear-Facing, and Is It Safe for Baby's Legs to Touch the Vehicle Seat for additional information on this important car seat safety topic.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and most other car seat safety advocates already recommend keeping baby rear-facing until he or she reaches the limits of the car seat, AAP may soon upgrade their minimum "1 year and 20 pounds" recommendation to two full years of rear-facing if possible. A recent AAP News release preps parents for the potential change, which is based on new research that shows toddlers are more than five times safer if they remain rear-facing until age two.
With rear-facing weight limits on convertible car seats up to 35 pounds, most toddlers should be able to stay rear-facing until at least age two. If the toddler is larger, the best option is to keep your little one rear-facing to the limits of the car seat. Rear-facing car seats are outgrown by the weight limit, or when there is less than an inch of shell above baby's head. A toddler's legs hanging over the car seat edge do not play into outgrowing the car seat at all.
Though the new information about improved safety with extended rear-facing was made available in an AAP publication, and the information was directed at parents, the group is not updating their official recommendation right now. In an email to child passenger safety advocates, an AAP representative said, "A Parent Plus box in the April 2009 issue of AAP News appears to contain a revised AAP recommendation on how long babies and young children should ride rear-facing. However, Parent Plus boxes and AAP News articles do not constitute AAP policy." The email also says "AAP's recommendation has not changed at this time."
Safety aside, it’s hard to imagine how I could’ve kept my toddler rear-facing any longer than 1 year. As I recall, it was a huge relief on her first birthday because she finally could see the road — and me — and car rides were suddenly scream-free. In fact, now that I think of it, the safety of our rides probably increased because I was no longer turning around to pacify her or singing “Wheels on the Bus” at the top of my lungs…
“Safety aside” Are you kidding me!? I’d rather listen to my toddler screaming from unhappiness than from screaming in pain or, worse, have no screaming at all because of death. I planned to RF as long as possible anyway but I’m hoping some parents read the new AAP rec’s. and decide to RF their little ones longer than a year.
I had this problem with my granddaughter just today. The car seat is not able to sit on the base in the car because it was to big. The company said this is ok just use without a base. The problem I see is the base is flat and then you can recline the top to make it more comfortable for the baby. Without the base she was sitting all scrunched up at a 90 degree angle. I can not wait until she can turn around. It will be nice because I agree with katherine about this keeping me free too.
My daughter just passed the 20lb limit and we turned her forward facing. We attempted to turn her rear-facing yesterday and, wow, she did not like that! But if we have to, we have to. Its all about safety
Baby Nursery Bedding
My son is nearly 17 months old now and has always ridden rear-facing in both his infant and convertible car seats. That’s all he knows, so he don’t complain about it. He’s in the top 90th percentile in height, but he fits rear-facing just fine, so I don’t buy the arguments people make that their toddlers don’t fit in rear-facing seats past one year. He can see out the car’s side and back windows, so he’s not missing out on the action. Plus, we have a mirror mounted to the headrest in front of him so we can keep an eye on him (and vice versa).
my son is 23 months, 30lbs and 35in and still happily rear facing. sure it can be hard to get him in the seat sometimes, but im willing to put MY comfort aside for the safety of my child. im sorry, but when it comes to his safety, the “bare minimum” just is NOT good enough.
I just dont see how it could work, especially in a 3-4 year old. We put our daughter into a forward facing car seat when she was 14 months old, her legs were up the back seat and she looked so squashed(she is quite tall for her age). I have seen pictures of kids in rear facing car seats and they just dont look very comfortable, especially for long car journeys. My nephew is 2.6 months, looks like a 5-6 year old and weighs over 50lb, those types of seats would not be appropriate for children like him at all. Would mabey suit a smaller child.
No car seat will protect if involved in a serious accident. All car seats have been tested and have passed a safety standard, thats fine for me.
You need to choose a car seat with an appropriate weight limit and a reasonably tall shell to keep your child rear-facing longer. There are plenty of 3 year-olds who are still safely rear-facing within the limits of their car seat. In the U.S., there are no car seats with a 50 lbs rear-facing limit, so obviously a child of that size would need to move to an appropriate forward-facing car seat.
I completely disagree that car seats will not protect in a serious crash. The example of the child who was uninjured when his family’s van was hit by a train recently is a good one. Very serious crash. The child was fine.
Whether or not the child looks comfortable to an adult doesn’t matter much, either. Lots of long-legged kids ride very happily rear-facing. Safety will always trump “looking comfortable” in my book. The study referenced by the AAP article said toddlers were 5 times safer in rear-facing car seats. That’s a big safety advantage to trade for convenience or the appearance of comfort.
your child is safe in or out of whatever kind of seat they are using.There is a minute chance that you will ever be involved in a car crash at any time during your life time.Think about it,out of all the millions of hours/miles you and your friends have travelled by car,how many have been in a car accident.Don’t believe the hype. Worry about something more likely ..measles, trampoline accidents etc.
My son will be 3 in two months and is rear facing. He does great. He is 28 lbs and will stay rear facing until 35 lbs which is the limit on the seat and is what is safest. We took a 14 hours road trip like this and it went well. It is a little hard to get him in sometimes but he is comfortable when he gets in and it’s worth it to keep him safe!
A vomiting or screaming child is a safety hazard – as we should all know by now from cell phone discussion, a severely distracted driver is a safety risk. So while it’s a good idea to try to keep your child rear facing until age two, make your own wise decision based on your own circumstances.
I agree with pilgrim. Everyone knows what’s best for them and their child. My baby will be tall like her father and at 7 months we are already having problems with rear facing. I can’t wait till she’s 1 so things will be better for her. She is miserable….
My 3 1/2 year old, 20 month old and 7 week old all rear facing. My 3 1/2 year old puts her feet up on the seat or crosses her legs. She had a fit when I tried to turn her around a few months ago. Her seat rear faces to 40 pounds, so she will be in it for a while longer as she is only 35 pounds. The same goes for my other 2 babies.
I understand that it is safer for children to ride rear-facing, but do not mandate it. Most convertible carseats do not fit in compact or sub-compact cars without the driver or passenger pasting their nose on the windshield, making them ride too close to the air bag and endangering their lives. Will parents now be required to buy a minimum of a mid-sized sedan, or larger? (as I know people with mid-sized cars who have had to bring the front seats up to accommodate the car seat) Kids are expensive enough without the requirement of a large vehicle that has horrible gas millage.
It is touched on, but not addressed; what do you do about the legs being too long to fit comfortably in the seat? Out here in the west the distances we travel by car are long – 6 hours or more is not unusual. I can’t imagine that kids sitting rear-facing with their legs all bunched up for that long is good for them, or really all that ’safe’ in terms of an accident. Furthermore, we have owned and used several different seats and none of them enough room to sit cross-legged unless you have very small children. I would be glad to keep the kids rear-facing – if they built seats (and cars) that allowed it.
Just as I read AAP hasnt changed recommendations. While all the “safety” etc I have never been in an accident and the idea of rear facing a 2 yr old makes me ill.. We drive 3 hours up to my mom and dads once a month and the idea of my daughter being squashed against her seat with no interaction with the rest of our family is wrong..People freak out over the stupidest things. There are so many other things to worry about besides rear facing till 2. People need to get over it and think about the comfort of their kids. My daughter is in a Britax marathon in my van and a safety 1st titan in my husbands jeep and she loves her seat but she isnt rear facing she loves being able to interact with us and look out the windows. I feel so sorry for these kids smooshed into the backseat with legs all scrunched up and these parents who continue to spend 300 pluss dollars on seats..just bugs me like big time!
My daughter will be rear facing again soon. She is 4 years old and 35 lbs, the max of all the seats we own, but by the beginning of the year, she’ll be in a 40 or 45 lbs rearfacing seat. Saftey comes first!!! When she was rearfacing this summer at 3 1/2 on a 5+ hour trip, we still interacted with her by doing I Spy, Counting Games, singing songs, etc….I rather her be around to play those games than not to have her there because of a choice I made for her. She is not uncomfortable rear facing and even says it’s easier for her to fall asleep and do things because she can prop her legs up to play. She sits with either her legs crissed crossed, proped up on the back of the seat or with her knees bent up….she’s never complained of comfort. Me, I couldn’t sit like that for 10 mins., but kids are comfortable in some of the weirdest positions (look how some of them can fall asleep sitting at a table, half way proped up on a bed, etc…). I’m glad the AAP has made this public and hopefully more people will be aware and follow this safe practice. Internal Decapatation scares me with their bodies still not being able to support their heads going forward at such a force to rip their spinal cord apart, rear facing cradles them in a crash instead of violently throwing their heads and limbs forward. Oh and there have never been any reports of a rear facing child to break their legs – broken legs = cast it, broken neck = casket….I know which one I would choose.
My daughter and her cousin are 6 weeks part. Mine turned 1 last April. She is still RF in my car. Her cousin, however, went FF immediately at 1. Why? Because of convenience. She screamed too much while in her seat. She HATED not seeing people. I was shocked the few times I rode with them how differently our girls are – mine’s never had a problem with the carseat.
I just heard the other day that she has continued to scream, even forward-facing. Now grandma holds her. In her lap. Why? Oh, because it’s just easier that way. And afterall, nothing’s more important to me or my child’s wellbeing than *my* convenience. Right? Cause if you disagree, you may want to re-examine your logic – b/c that’s exactly where it takes you. (And I TRULY wish I was making that story up. I was incensed just to hear my daughter rode in the same car and SAW that – needless to say, I was not present).
A couple of people complained about seeing children rear facing in expensive carseats. Traci, you’d probably never want to meet me. My daughter’s very happily RF in her Sunshine Kids Radian 80. She will stay that way until she hits the limit of 45 pounds. And she is ALSO very tall for her age. And skinny. And if she’s 7 before she hits that mark, I’ll buy a new seat because this one’ll have expired. She’ll be in this same seat, using a five-point harness (not seat belt) until she’s 8 AND 80 pounds.
As for the parent who complained that kids cost too much – well, I was single and just-graduated when I was surprised by an unplanned pregnancy. However, I received education about the adoption alternative..and how much kids cost over their childhood. Surely you had access to those resources before you made the choice to take on responsibility for your child’s life? I certainly hope you did. What I’ve from motherhood the most is the inability to be selfish. I gladly spent two months worth of car payments on my daughter’s carseat. And I gladly notify any passengers in my compact car that they can sit in the back or squish in the front – my daughter’s safety is more important to me than anything else. If your family can’t fit safely in your car, it sounds like you need another car – or perhaps a friendly visit from CPS (I wonder what else you can’t “afford” to do safely…)?
And for anyone who *still* thinks “convenience” or “money” are *still* more important than your child’s safety? Well, natural selection, baby. Survival of the fittest and whatnot. Your like won’t be around for too much longer.
Does no on else have a small car and two kids under 2 years old? My convertible car seat does not fit rear facing unless it is in the center position. There is no way I could have both my kids in rear facing seats at the same time in the car I currently own. I really would like to have them rear facing but I do not have the money to buy a new car and the one I have now is paid off and safe in every other way. Safety is a priority but unless carmakers start making cars bigger, I don’t see how this will work for many families.
My daughter just turned 1 today and I was going to turn the car seat around but want to wait until I know she meets the height requirement. I have been going back and forth on whether or not I should wait to turn her forward facing. After reading all of these comments on here, a lot of you people make me so angry. Do not bash someone for wanting to turn their child around at the correct age, height, weight limit. I think you are ridiculous for acting like everyone has the same situation. When I was pregnant my husband and I had the luxury to buy a bigger car because the one we had could not fit her infant seat in it without the passenger seat being to the dashboard. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to get a bigger car, so if they want to turn their kid around at the age of 1 year and 20 pounds don’t act like they are awful people.
I know it’s hard and confusing and news to you and car seats are expensive, but it is astonishing to me how many people will just brush statistics and laws of physics aside for convenience. Your excuses will not save your child in a vehicle collision, which is, by the way, the leading cause of death for children.
You can get one convertible carseat that can last you years. At this point, almost all of them have 35 lb. rear-facing weight limits. My son is in the top percentile in height and weight and didn’t hit 35 lbs. til way past his first birthday. Legs dangling over a carseat are not that comfortable either.
I know it’s hard and confusing and news to you and car seats are expensive, but it is astonishing to me how many people will just brush statistics and laws of physics aside for convenience. Your excuses will not save your child in a vehicle collision, which is, by the way, the leading cause of death for children.
You can get one convertible carseat that can last you years. At this point, almost all of them have 35 lb. rear-facing weight limits. My son is in the top percentile in height and weight and didn’t hit 35 lbs. til way past his first birthday. Legs dangling over a carseat are not that comfortable either.
oh and I have three carseats in a subaru. You don’t need a minivan.
Everyone posting here should ask their parents what kind of car seat they were in at 1 or 2 years of age. Looks like you are still here to tell us about it.
I actually was in a car seat at that age, but my parents have always been pretty good about that sort of thing.
The problem with the “we’re all still here” line of thinking, though, is the number of would-be adults who are not still here. If you look at the number of children from previous generations who were restrained according to what was normal *and* who were also involved in a serious crash, how many of those people are still here to discuss?
That is such a foolish line of thinking. Obviously those who died are not here to comment. Children also spend much more time in cars these days. It’s the leading cause of death in children. No one is saying “don’t get in the car!” They’re saying to restrain your children in the safest manner possible. This is valuable information. Be grateful that it’s out there and that carseat options have improved. Why the resistance?
Thank you for posting this very valuable information.
I’m currently looking for a convertable car seat for my 5 month old son. The car seat he currently have only holds up to 22lbs. He currently weighs in at 17lbs. Does anyone have any suggestions on car seats. This is my first child and I really want to make sure that I’m putting his safety first as a priority instead of finding a great bargain. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You can take a look at my list of recommended convertible car seats here – http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/tp/topconvcarseats.htm Any of the seats with a 65 pound forward-facing limit would probably work for your son. The Graco My Ride 65 might help keep him rear-facing longer since its RF limit is 40 pounds.
This is a wonderful video, please watch!
We have our 17 month old in an Evenflo Symphany rear facing and it is working out wonderfully for us! $199 at Target.
Please watch this video.
We have our 17 month old rear-facing and it is working out wonderfully for us!
He is in an Evenflo Symphany, $199 at Target. This is a great carseat and so easy to install.
here is the video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvyIv9QVRBE
Well, I always rode on my grandma’s lap, and my (much younger) brother always rode on mine, but I’d never DREAM of taking my babe to town without one now. That said, our “convertable” britax car seat was rated rear facing only up until 30″. When I went shopping for a new seat for my tall 14 month old, we found a combination forward facing to booster seat at a reasonable price and that’s what we got. It’s nothing to be ashamed of if your budget doesn’t allow for $500 car seats. Just do the best you can to keep your child as safe as possible. If parenthood has taught me one thing, it is that God is in control and I am not.
I did a great deal of homework when searching for a car seat. We purchased an Evenflo (convertible) Triumph car seat last night for our one year old after great reviews, both by consumers and leading consumer magazines. I agree with other posters that, while safety is of the utmost importance, they haven’t made these “official” changes–they are suggestions. That said, our car seat does not fit rear facing in either our 1996 Toyota Corolla or 1998 Honda Civic. It fits front facing nicely. These cars are paid for, and with a husband laid off for the last 6 months, we cannot afford an SUV or similar larger vehicle. We aren’t bad parents because we are conservative in a time of turmoil. If we lose our house because we got a bigger car and can’t afford both, THEN our parenting skills are questionable!
You can never put a price on your childs safety. uitilizing a rear facing car seat in a small or midsize car is doable… you as the driver or passanger must give up some of your own comfort. We have a small vehicle and I am able to leave my 10mth old in a rear facing car seat and he will remain in rear facing car seat because its the safest for him.
After watching this video a few months ago I decided to do more of my own research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvyIv9QVRBE
We decided to buy our 9 month old daughter the Radian XTSL. Yes it was pricey but it will be the only car seat she will need. It goes to 45 lbs RF and 80 lbs FF in a 5 point harness!! Both incredibly important!!
Here is a small part of an article I recently read.
“The biggest obstacle to longer rear-facing rides, though, is simply changing a parent’s perception”, says Miriam Manary, also a senior research associate at the University of Michigan.
Manary says parents need to realize that as a child moves through various car seat stages — from an infant seat, to a convertible to a booster seat to regular seat belts — each one offers less protection than the prior phase.
“Parents should be looking to prolong these stages rather than rushing through them,” advises Manary. “Remember, graduation to the next level isn’t progress. It’s a decrease in safety.”
The full article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/ns/health-kids_and_parenting//
Watch the video, read the stories, do your own research. It’s out there. Info that can save your child’s life. Sweden has been ERF since the 60s people!!! They have one of the lowest death rates for children in car accidents!!! There are yrs of proof backing ERF!!!!!
There are NO excuses!
Older children also do not have to be at the 45 degree recline. Their seat CAN sit upright more. I believe as long as it is anywhere between a 35 and 45 degree recline they are fine! BUT do your own research!!!
My son who is 10 yrs old was FF at just over a yr. I was in 3 accidents NONE of which were my fault! I am SO lucky he wasn’t in the car with me for any of them. BUT I don’t want to live my life on just luck!! Especially with the higher rate of cell phone/texting use while driving!
When I was young I sat on the spare tire in the trunk space of our truck! Yes I am here to tell you about it. But I was lucky! You also have to stop and think how many more drivers and cars there are on the roads these days, how much faster everyone drives and how much more distracted everyone is.
Sweden RFs until I believe age 3 yrs with the strong recommendation to RF until 4yrs old. Most posts I’ve read made by parents from Sweden say that they RF their kids until 5 or 6 yrs old. It is the norm there!!!!!!! Your Perception needs to change!!! Any carseat should protect your child from being thrown from the car YES!! BUT RF will protect your child’s skull from being ripped from his spinal cord!!!!!
Let’s see – uncomfortable? or dead? – uncomfortable? or paralyzed? I can’t believe people are actually putting money and convenience before their children’s lives!!! Do you let them drink beer and play on the highway just because they whine a little? How expensive and inconvenient would it be to have a child paralyzed from the neck down? Shame on any parent who puts their own well-being before their child’s.
We all love and want to keep our kids safe, but some of you need to get over yourselves. Practicality and moderation also need to be considered. It’s safer to stay home all the time and not drive at all but since we’re all talking car seats, I bet none of us do that. I guarantee we’ll be turning my son around when he hits a year old as long as he’s 20 lbs. For those of you who think I’m a terrible mother, go wrap your kids in a bubble and don’t let them go to public school.
So, lest my last comment be too offensive, I want everyone to know if you keep your child rear-facing and you believe that’s best, then go for it. Maybe you’re right. But I don’t appreciate being told I’m selfish or stupid because I’m not. we all want to do what’s right for our kids, but we also have to take into account our budgets and the types of cars we have and our own children’s needs in addition to safety.
to all of you who think that you cannot rear-face because of price and vehicle size . . . the cosco serena rear-faces to 35lbs and it is a very small seat that will easily fit in any car . . . I had one as an emergency seat until I could afford another Britax and we fit this seat in an intrepid, a vw bug and in the back of a toyota pickup truck(bench seat, no doors) all rear-facing and did not have to sacrifice much comfort
side not to those who think there children are uncomfortable rear facing, a friend of mine thought the same thing and thought I was CRAZY for rear-facing but I babysat her son and in my car you go by my safety rules, no negotiation, I turned his evenflo convertable rear-facing( he had never sat in the seat like that, only rf in his infant carrier, which according to me friend he hated rf in his infant seat) and low and behold he didn’t have a single problem (both children were 2 1/2 at the time) was just fine looking out the side window and looking and talking to Jocelynn(my daughter) . . . legs did not hurt him and he never once cried in the car for me
I don’t think children should be allowed in cars at all. After all, it is the leading cause of death in children… car accidents I mean. If you are driving your child around in a car someone should call CPS on you.
All things aside, if the stats showed a drastic increase in survival I think we would see a real recommendation today… not an ease parents into rear-facing for life 10 year process.
Oh, and if you have only one child, no one cares what you think. We already know you think you know how to raise our children..you are an expert right?
Perhaps people do not understand WHY the AAP is recommending you keep little ones rear facing until at least two years of age? The force of a collision, in a forward facing toddler, goes into the disproportionately large head causing internal trauma to the spinal cord. This trauma can be sever enough to cause “internal decapitation” and death. Once a child “grows into” his head he becomes physically more able to sustain the force of a collision while forward facing. Until then, he should remain rear-facing so the force of any crash will be absorbed by his ENTIRE body–and not forced up into his head. This is why it is additionally stated that a child should remain rear-facing as long as the seat will allow–your head remains large for your body long past two.
CPS…really are you kidding me they are not gonna look into weather or not you have your child ff or rf unless you are beating them and then putting them in the car seat…that kills me how ppl are so quick to say CPS they investigate physical abuse and neglect so unless you have have beaten ur child and then left them in the car seat they are not gonna do a darn thing so please shut up and just worry about your own children and stop worrying so much about other ppls kids If you want to worry about kids then have some more and you can talk about how wonderul it is to rf
SAFEty Most Importatly,
I fully support extended rearfacing (the minimum of 1 year and 20 bs), . Rearfacing is the SAFEST way for your child to ride. Research+ Crash tests= Common Sense.
I just wanted to say thank you to all the passionate moms who have thoroughly researched car seat safety & recommendations, then took the time to post their comments here, so people like me (a first-time mother) could get the much needed help! I have read each and every single person’s comment, and have been amazed at the incredible responses. I learned something new today… and am grateful that I took the time, and my energy to research what is best. My son, 1 year, is in a FF car seat! But, as of today, that will change! I thought it so wonderful that he and I could interact FF, and really thought nothing could go wrong. But, after seeing the FF and RR crash tests, it is obvious… so obvious that there is a difference upon impact. I am a child from the 70’s. So, my mother put me on the floor! But remember, car seats came into play because of the problems/deaths that were the direct result of an unrestrained child or baby (we tend to learn as we evolve). Then, I’ve heard of the times when nobody cared to wear seat belts whatsoever… and the law changed there. It’s the law of physics, and I did not understand the physics of a FF until I watched the YouTube crash test. I was in a car, at a very young age when we had an accident. I was in a seat belt, but we suffered minor injuries. As a young child on up to a young adult, i had always experienced lower back pain, and discovered I had two herniated discs in the lumbar portion of my spine at a young age. The doctors were baffled at how this happened to a child too young!! Those discs had caused me pain my entire life. I went into emergency surgery three years ago, age 30, because those herniated discs, which were over 23-years-old, began to cut-off my sciatic nerve region (Cauda Equina). So, now I will forever have permanent nerve damage, and I can’t tell you how important it is for everyone, not just children, to protect their backs and spinal cord. Once your born, you’re here! And it’s not fun suffering from a disability. And I just watched a YouTube video talking about how head-rest positioning is vital to adult spinal cord & whip-lash safety. I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through. It took three major back surgeries to correct the damage, and my physicality is forever altered because of it. So, it’s important to learn the details, and be open to listening… and yet practical. We can have both! learning how to keep those who are alive, as safe as possible is fine. I’m budget conscious, and I have the money, but I hate wasting money on name-brands, unless it’s something I feel is beneficial like this. However, there are budget-alternatives for those who don’t want to spend the dough on a Britax (which I understand completely). Don’t get me started on how i feel the Americas get targeted and how the prices get jacked when sold their produsts are sold here. The most important lesson I have learned today, is that my son and future children remain RF… whether it’s in a Britax or Cosco doesn’t matter. My money is up to me to decide… but since my son relies on me for his safety, I feel better knowing I turn to the web, and other sources for education BEFORE I make any purchases related to my child.
WOW
“sanyorobot” did you know that crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14? A little higher than the rate of death from measles or trampolines. Maybe you should do a little research… I’m kind of floored by the number of people who seem apathetic about their baby’s safety.
I agree with this new idea. Come on guys, think about it. Would you rather your child have spinal problems or something small. I have gone back and forth with rear facing and foward facing since my daughter turn one. Tonight after reading terrible incidents, im going rear facing. also britax makes extremely amazing seats, im going with their rule of thumb. good luck to all and hope the choices made are well thought for the safety of the child not the comfort. oo and also most parents when they rear face aren’t doing the 45 degree recline which will help baby from being scrunched. good luck. trust your manual and there are safe alternative to recline 45 degrees without compromising safety.
Number 18 – Sick of the idiots, You took the words right out of my mouth. I cannot believe how selfish some people are. These are probably the ones I see in the mall dragging their screaming hungry child dressed in rags all dirty while they are purchasing a new pair of shoes or hand bag for them selves. I personally make pretty good money but $300 of Health insurance, $100 worth of Life INS (to make sure my kids are well taken care of in case anything ever happens to me) College funds,monthly bills, savings accounts for the kids, clothes and food for kids I don’t have much left. I cant even afford a freaking box of hair dye but I chose to have children and it is my responsibility to make sure they are safe, healthy, and that all my choices are in their best interest whether they like it or not. Hopefully they will make it the law to have children in RF up to the safest weight so these people who obviously care more about their own inconveniences more than the safety of their children will be fined. Personally I feel that willingly putting your child at a higher risk than necessary of a fatal injury requires a very expensive fine. To all you parents who feel a screaming child is too much of an inconvenience to you let me ask you this: how much is your childs life worth?
It is vital (VITAL) children are rear facing as long as possible. Age and size are important. Getting to be a year old does not instantly make bones less fragile or death farther away should you crash. My son is tiny (under 17 lbs) and is a year and half. NOT READY to be FORWARD FACING. Also, kids should be in boosters much longer than people tend to put their child in boosters. Cars are made for the average sized adult. Our children are precious. We should worry more about their safety then their comfort…
My daughter is going to be 2 in a few days I just turned her car seat forward facing although we haven’t driven with it yet. I can’t help but laugh at these parents who say we should “consider our children’s comfort” rear facing. Seriously? I’m sure my daughter is much more comfortable naked but she’s not going to run around outside in the winter naked! It’s comfortable to lay in a tanning bed or at the beach but I’m not risking cancer to do so…it’s the same thing people. Rear facing is safest…hands down. You can’t argue with facts. I sure as he** would rather my daughter be a little uncomfortable (which she never is) than to not have a daughter at all. My daughter is not uncomfortable rear facing, nor is she kept from socializing with us or seeing out the windows or sleeping or anything, and she’s a very high maintenance little girl! The AAP says at least 2 years is best but you need to make the right decision for your family. It’s not about weight or length as long as it’s to the requirements of the seat. It’s about their development. Their spinal chord is not developed enough to withstand the force of a front end crash. Keep them rear facing as long as possible. It’s for their benefit, not yours.
if you are faced with evidence, like crash test data, how could any right-minded parent choose the “convenience of forward facing a baby or young toddler? i still don’t see how your budget would benefit any more from an early funeral and burial than a higher rear facing weight limit car seat. at least the latter is guilt free investment in your child….DUH!
If you don’t RF as long as you can, you are an irresponsible parent. It’s pretty cut and dry to me. You can pride yourself on “what’s convenient” but when it comes down to it, you are just wrong.
God, some of you women are like from the middle ages or something. Don’t you listen to modern research and want what is safest for your babies? Or do you think that the earth is still flat?
Gotta love the passion that turns into judgmental attitudes.
I will keep my child RF for as long as possible. I understand the research that says it is the safest thing to do and her carseat fits in my car perfectly fine both ways.
BUT I will not judge another parent who is following the law and the current recommendations and turned their child FF for whatever reason after 1 year/20lbs. It is not neglect, it is not stupidity-it is making the best decision for your family based on car size, car seat type, money, etc.
We all make health and safety decisions based on our personal situations everyday… Whether to have that glass of wine, that processed sugar, that high fat meal, cross the street, drive a vehicle, fly, go on an amusement park ride, etc.
Who are we to judge what others do when we haven’t walked in their shoes? If the car seat says it is safe FF at 1 year/20lbs than it is safe, maybe not the safest, but safe just the same.
Now when I see someone blatantly putting their child at risk, ignoring the law not using any car seat, seatbelt, etc than maybe I will balk… You all need to get over yourselves and this is coming from someone who strongly believes in Extended RF!
This is being motivated by our litigation happy society. Research how many kids have actually died because of front facing, and you will see that your child is more likely to be struck by lightening than have this happen to them. My next baby will rear face only until he outgrows his infant seat, just like my other two did, probably at about 6 months old.
Okay, I understand the statistics…however ( going by physics now) they are based on a “front end collision”. When your child is rear facing, a front end collision will cause your child’s head to be forced against the back of his seat, therefore reducing the risk of neck injury…I get it. BUT, what about car crashes that are REAR END COLLISIONS. In a rear facing car seat, your child’s head would go FORWARD just like if they were forward facing in a front end collision. In that case a forward facing seat would be safer. So in all actuality, it is a risk no matter what you do.
We have had a 2003 civic and a 2010 fit. Both small cars. Both have fit the Britax Boulevard Rear facing with an adult in front. My son is now over 3 and 36″ tall comfortably using his Radian rear facing, even for long road trips. He crosses his legs, puts them up on the seat, or flops them over the sides. Kids are way more flexible than adults, think about it, they just spent 9 months curled up with their knees to their chests and can still touch their toes to their nose. We have a mirror so he can see us and he delights in telling us what he can see in his mirror or what he can see behind us that we can’t see. He will rear face till 45 lbs. I found coupons online to buy the seat for a better price and it will last him until he is 8 and 80 lbs. So I won’t have to buy multiple seats in the future.
I believe in rear-facing as long as possible and without getting into it too much here you can just watch this clip of a 2 year old who was internally decapitated because of a car accident. He was front-facing…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSgSp0FeT7A
Luckly he survived, but that isn’t always the case and this is not the only case out there. If your thought is “Not in my backyard”, I’m sure these other families felt the same way.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Isn’t your child WORTH the MAXIMUM, not the MINIMUM?
I just can’t believe some of these rules. To me, they keep making cars safer, yet, they keep making the age higher and higher for kids to have to sit in these things! I read on another site that the new recommendation for older kids is 4 feet 9 inches (57 inches) and between 8 and 12 years of age. 12??? So, we are expecting a kid to sit in a booster seat until 3 years before he can drive the thing? My son is 9 and over 4 feet tall and can ride on a roller coaster but can’t ride without a booster seat in a car? I am sorry, but I thought the point of having the kids in these boosters was so the seat belt fit them better, I just don’t get how keeping them strapped in these things when they are that old is safer. And how is having a kid with their legs scrunched up to their chests safer?? My daughter is in the 80th percentile for height and is 4 months old. How ridiculous is that going to be when she’s TWO and still trying to ride rear facing? I want to know how these people come up with these rules! And why do we keep thinking it’s safter just because these people say it is?
I think we should talke some of the safety ideas from the infant seats and apply them to the drivers seat and the rest of the passengers for safety too. why not! physics is a constant for all objects and the bigger the object….I think the seat belt could be much improved and so should the headrest concept. Hey it works for the racecar drivers doesn’t it. wear do you think they came up with the ideas for the baby harness and head rest desighn for the baby seats? I am a vertacally challenged adult who weight wise could fall into the still in a boosterseat category. so anything extra to protect my neck and back I would go for it. And don’t start on the cost of changing cars. It could be an optional “sports car package.” so everyone could have a choice. and we all know the cost of doing the changes are always jacked up for us poor folks as sson as new safety changes are implamented anyway. And like people said safety is first. If it’s important you, you will find a way. But with kids….if you can’t put your kids safety first well….man…what can i say. Just because it has never happened to you, consider youself lucky, blessed abouve the statistics….
katherine I agree one hundred percent. also we all made it just fine riding in some very unsafe seats, baskets or nothing at all. infact here’s a thought, dont drive recklessly with your kid in the car and you won’t even need to worry. any one who doesn’t think a two year old looks uncomfortable in those seats is out of there mind. would you want to sit fot an hour with your feet up like that?
Ally. do you think everybody that gets in a car crash was driving recklessly? It doesn’t take two bad drivers to cause a crash, only one. As a matter of fact, most families that get into car crashes “get hit” not the other way around (there goes your “drive safely” argument). No I wouldn’t like to sit like that but than again, i can’t put my feet in my mouth and chew on my toes. I hope the debatable comfort of your child helps you sleep better if something happens. Maybe you shouldnt listen to me though, i do afterall think feeding your toddler McDonalds and a soda borders poisoning it.