Children should stay rear facing until 2. These are new AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) car seat guidelines. The AAP also recommends that children stay in a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, and between the ages of 8 and 12.
Following are the specific recommendations:
1. Stay rear facing until the age of 2 OR until your child has met the height and weight requirements of the car seat.
2. Children older than 2 should ride in a forward facing car seat with a 5 point harness, until they have reached the height/weight requirements for that seat.
3. After your child has outgrown the forward facing carseat with a harness, he should be in a booster seat until he is 4 feet 9 inches, and between 8 and 12 years of age.
Motor vehicle accidents are the main cause of death in children over the age of 4. Injuries from car accidents are also very significant. Children under the age of 2 who are rear facing in car seats are 75% less likely to die or be injured in car accidents. Rear facing is safer.
Many parents look forward to turning the car seat around at age 1. It is a common question that I hear at the one year visit. They feel like their baby will be happier if he is facing forward.
I know I was anxious to turn my daughter’s car seat around. However, I think it was more about me than the baby. I think my daughter would have been fine rear facing. She didn’t know the difference. I was the one who was tired of looking at the back of her car seat. I wanted to see her smiling face in the rear view mirror. To first time parents out there, they will turn two soon enough. Keep them safe. Keep them rear facing.
These are recommendation and guidelines. They are not deadlines. The goal of these guidelines is to make travel safer for our babies and children. For more information, read BabyCenter’s car seat safety guide.
How long will you keep your child rear facing?
The advice provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment for specific medical conditions
Source: AAP
Photo:Flickr/Kari_Marie
Following are the specific recommendations:
1. Stay rear facing until the age of 2 OR until your child has met the height and weight requirements of the car seat.
2. Children older than 2 should ride in a forward facing car seat with a 5 point harness, until they have reached the height/weight requirements for that seat.
3. After your child has outgrown the forward facing carseat with a harness, he should be in a booster seat until he is 4 feet 9 inches, and between 8 and 12 years of age.
Motor vehicle accidents are the main cause of death in children over the age of 4. Injuries from car accidents are also very significant. Children under the age of 2 who are rear facing in car seats are 75% less likely to die or be injured in car accidents. Rear facing is safer.
Many parents look forward to turning the car seat around at age 1. It is a common question that I hear at the one year visit. They feel like their baby will be happier if he is facing forward.
I know I was anxious to turn my daughter’s car seat around. However, I think it was more about me than the baby. I think my daughter would have been fine rear facing. She didn’t know the difference. I was the one who was tired of looking at the back of her car seat. I wanted to see her smiling face in the rear view mirror. To first time parents out there, they will turn two soon enough. Keep them safe. Keep them rear facing.
These are recommendation and guidelines. They are not deadlines. The goal of these guidelines is to make travel safer for our babies and children. For more information, read BabyCenter’s car seat safety guide.
How long will you keep your child rear facing?
The advice provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment for specific medical conditions
Source: AAP
Photo:Flickr/Kari_Marie
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