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Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics amended their child safety seat recommendations to keep children in rear-facing car seats until age 2 and within the height and weight limits of their rear-facing seat. The previous guideline was to keep children rear facing until 1 year and 20 lbs., but research has shown that children are better protected by staying in the rear facing position for longer. Plus, it’s important to keep your child in a seat to the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revised their guidelines to be consistent with this advice. (Also see “AAP says keep kids’ car seats rear-facing until age two.”)
If your child grows out of their infant seat before they reach age 2, you should purchase a convertible seat that can remain rear-facing for longer. Once they are over the limits, you can switch the seat to face forward.
A child should be in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they reach the height or weight limit typically, from 40-65 lbs. and 50 inches. After that, they should ride in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belts fit properly, which usually when they reach a height of 4’9” (57 inches) tall and is between the ages of 8 and 12.
Child restraints have been proven to save lives–nearly 9,000 children were saved by the use of restraints from 1975-2008.
After a child outgrows the need to sit in a safety seat, they should continue to sit in the back seat at least until age 13. Some experts even advocate teens remain in the back seat until driving age. The most common type of fatal vehicle accident is a front crash and also the strong force of the air bag deployment is dangerous and could be deadly to young children.
Don’t be overly anxious to graduate your child to the next step in seating, as each progression may actually represent a step back in terms of their overall safety—especially if the move is made too soon.
Choosing the right car seat is just one part of the safety equation. As much as 80 percent of car seats may not be properly installed properly. One way to ensure proper installation is to have your car seat inspected by certified technicians. To find an inspection station near you look to: http://www.seatcheck.org or http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm
See our ratings of car seats. For more on driving with children, see our guide to kids and car safety.
Source: Consumer Reports
wow-it seems like everyday they are coming out with car seat news. I remember in the 80′s-car seats were holding the baby in our laps…
I’m worried I’ll be in a car seat next
I heard something about this, thanks for posting. Have to fix my son’s new carseat when we switch it over. [GC]
Yep, I saw this on the news last month and the video demonstrated the effects and differences of forward-facing and rear-facing car seats for children. The over-all safety of the car itself should also be inspected regularly ‘coz there are tons of factors in accidents. The parts of the vehicle must be maintained. At least, more parents will become more aware of the safety of their kids.
You may often hear that children’s car seat is advisable for the protection of your children in case of accidents. Aside from that, rear-facing position is also advisable because some studies said it is safer. Well, there’s nothing wrong in following simple safety tips. Whether your car is new or used, safety must be prioritized.