Recommendations on Rear Facing Child Seats Extended The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children in car seats face the rear for a total of two years - a full one year longer than previously suggested. The change was prompted by car crash studies that show a toddler is less likely to be injured in a rear facing seat. During a crash, the impact forces are spread out over the back of the seat, while a front facing child's head and limbs are flung forward.
For the last decade, the Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children in car seats face the rear for at least one year or until the child weighs 20 pounds. Although this suggestion was designed as the minimum, parents and other caregivers often considered it the absolute.
For any caregiver, rear facing child seats offer some challenges on how to entertain the children, how to check up on them, when in the preferred back seat, how practical for the solo adult in the car, etc. Some have also suggested that the children facing the rear may become uncomfortable as their legs grow. Experts suggest that all these issues should take a back seat to the child's safety.
Current "convertible" car seats are designed to be rear facing until the child is 30 to 35 pounds, which is well above the average two year child's weight. The seat can then be turned to face forward.
Check out The Academy of Pediatrics Guide to car seats and a list of products at http://www.aap.org/.
Recommendations on Rear Facing Child Seats Extended
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