What is the recommendation for rear-facing car seats?
age 2
The AAP now recommends that kids sit rear-facing until at least age 2. NHTSA now recommends: “Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.”
What direction should an infant be facing in their car seat?
Infant car seats should always be installed to face the rear of the car. A small child is much less likely to die or be seriously injured when in a rear-facing seat. That’s because the back of the safety seat will cradle the baby’s head, neck, and torso in a crash.
What age does a baby stay rear-facing?
The law intends that children should travel rear-facing until they are 15 months old. We would recommend that this should be the minimum age for a toddler to move into a forward-facing car seat.
Can a rear facing car seat be in the middle?
The safest place for your child’s car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If you’re placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.
Why should babies be rear facing?
A rear-facing car seat will absorb most of the crash forces and supports the head, neck and spine. When children ride forward-facing, their heads – which for toddlers are disproportionately large and heavy – are thrown forward, possibly resulting in spine and head injuries.
Why your child should stay rear facing?
Where is the safest place for a rear-facing car seat?
back seat
Placing the car seat in the wrong spot The safest place for your child’s car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child’s head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury.
When to put your child in a rear facing car seat?
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible.3 Most rear-facing car seats have a weight range up to 40 pounds and allow your kiddo to ride in this position until they’re roughly two years old.
Which is better rear facing or forward facing car seat?
How it fits in your car: Car seats range in size and shape. Some are wider or narrower than others. Higher rear-facing weight limits: There’s a growing body of research that proves riding rear-facing is safer for babies and children than riding in a forward-facing car seat.
When to use a Convertible Baby Car Seat?
They can come with adjustable height features which mean that your child can use this seat from 0-7 years or until they are big enough to use a booster seat. Convertible seats provide durable long-term use and are safer for younger children since they allow your baby to be positioned rear-facing for longer.
Which is the best infant car seat on the market?
Compared to all other infant car seats on our list, the Keyfit 30 performed best in the head-injury-criteria portion of the third-party crash tests. Its chest acceleration result (51 g-units) is about average. The carrier weighs 9.5 pounds, making it neither the lightest nor the heaviest infant car seat on our list.
