When Should A Car Seat Face Forward?

The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their child safety seat recommendations on March 21, 2011. They specified that children should remain rear facing until they are too heavy or too tall for their convertible car seat and are at least two years old. An article in the Journal Injury Prevention in 2007 stated that a two-year old is five times safer riding facing the rear that a two-year old facing forward. 

The AAP also stated, “If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.” Today, the NHTSA states, “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”.

Today, most convertible seats allow for children to face the rear up to 35-50 pounds. The height limit requires that there be at least one inch of room between the top of the car seat and the top of the child’s head. This inch allows for the child to slide up in a crash and still have the head well protected.

Some parents think that they should turn their child forward facing when his legs can reach the back of the actual vehicle seat. Parents assume that their child is uncomfortable when this happens. Doctors and studies report that while children at ages two or three can be very verbal, they do not complain that their legs hurt while riding facing the rear. There have been NO documented cases of rear-facing children that have broken their feet, legs, or hips, due to the fact that their feet touch the vehicle seat. Studies show that forward-facing children are likely to experience leg injuries because legs fly up and hit the front seat. There are many documented cases of spinal cord and head injuries due to kids riding facing forward too soon.

Don’t make the mistake of turning your child forward too soon because you think he is a big baby, and big babies are probably stronger. Research shows that there is more risk in a crash for a big baby that is facing forward. A bigger child likely has a heavier, larger head that will pull forward with great force in a crash.

It’s better to be safe than sorry; it makes sense to follow safety guidelines set forth for children. Please visit our website to find a car accident lawyer in Wilmington.