Convertible Car Seats - Rear Facing Until Age Two
A convertible car seat is one which can be used rear or forward facing, depending on the age and weight of the child.
They typically can accommodate an infant, starting at five pounds, until the child reaches forty pounds while rear facing, or up to fifty-five pounds forward facing.
The big question is when should a child be placed in the forward facing position? Previously, the guidelines for whether a child was to be facing rear, or forward was that the seat should be rear facing until the baby was one year of age or twenty pounds.
Then the child could be switched to front facing.
However, the recommendations have changed.
Since 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has advised parents to keep their child rear facing until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat.
As of April, 2011, the AAP recommended that children should be facing rear until age two, or as long as possible, within the seat limits.
Why should a child be in a rear facing car seat as long as possible? Reports indicate a front facing child has a 75% greater chance of severe injury, or death, in an accident.
They have a four times greater risk of injury in a side impact collision.
In the age group of thirteen to twenty-three months, a child is five times safer if he or she is riding facing the rear of the car.
When a child is riding in a front facing car seat, and there is an accident, their body is restrained by the harness, but their head and arms are thrown violently forward.
This can cause a severe spinal cord injury, as well as a broken neck.
In a seat that faces the rear, the head, neck, and spine of the infants and/or toddlers are better supported by the car seat.
They are cradled and aligned, and the force of the collision is distributed over the entire body.
Some parents aren't convinced that rear facing is best after age one and twenty pounds.
This has been a milestone for children for many years, and parents look forward to it.
The child is easier to put in the car if they are facing forward, and the driver can better interact with him or her.
The child can see where they are going.
There have been some unfounded fears of children being more prone to car sicknesses if they are riding backwards.
Having enough leg room for the toddler is also a concern, although if the child has always been rear facing, they have probably adapted to that position.
When one considers the safety issues concerning keeping a child in a rear facing car seat, they appear to be compelling.
Hopefully, parents will take heed to the evidence and place their child's safety above everything else, keeping their child rear facing as long as possible.
A convertible car seat works well for a child who is rear facing and then it will adapt to forward facing.
They can be expensive but will serve a child for many years.
They typically can accommodate an infant, starting at five pounds, until the child reaches forty pounds while rear facing, or up to fifty-five pounds forward facing.
The big question is when should a child be placed in the forward facing position? Previously, the guidelines for whether a child was to be facing rear, or forward was that the seat should be rear facing until the baby was one year of age or twenty pounds.
Then the child could be switched to front facing.
However, the recommendations have changed.
Since 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has advised parents to keep their child rear facing until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat.
As of April, 2011, the AAP recommended that children should be facing rear until age two, or as long as possible, within the seat limits.
Why should a child be in a rear facing car seat as long as possible? Reports indicate a front facing child has a 75% greater chance of severe injury, or death, in an accident.
They have a four times greater risk of injury in a side impact collision.
In the age group of thirteen to twenty-three months, a child is five times safer if he or she is riding facing the rear of the car.
When a child is riding in a front facing car seat, and there is an accident, their body is restrained by the harness, but their head and arms are thrown violently forward.
This can cause a severe spinal cord injury, as well as a broken neck.
In a seat that faces the rear, the head, neck, and spine of the infants and/or toddlers are better supported by the car seat.
They are cradled and aligned, and the force of the collision is distributed over the entire body.
Some parents aren't convinced that rear facing is best after age one and twenty pounds.
This has been a milestone for children for many years, and parents look forward to it.
The child is easier to put in the car if they are facing forward, and the driver can better interact with him or her.
The child can see where they are going.
There have been some unfounded fears of children being more prone to car sicknesses if they are riding backwards.
Having enough leg room for the toddler is also a concern, although if the child has always been rear facing, they have probably adapted to that position.
When one considers the safety issues concerning keeping a child in a rear facing car seat, they appear to be compelling.
Hopefully, parents will take heed to the evidence and place their child's safety above everything else, keeping their child rear facing as long as possible.
A convertible car seat works well for a child who is rear facing and then it will adapt to forward facing.
They can be expensive but will serve a child for many years.
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