Q: A Rhode Island Mom has wondered: “My daughter is 15 months old and hates her car seat because she hates facing backward. When can she turn around?”
A: This is a well timed question because there is breaking news from the AAP as of this April! They now recommend that all children younger than two years old be restrained in rear-facing carseats. This recommendation has come about because of alarming new data:
- Toddlers from 12-23 months who ride in a rear facing car seat are five times safer than children their age riding in forward facing seats.
- Children under the age of 2 are 75% less likely to die or suffer serious injury (if involved in a car accident) if they are in rear facing car seats rather than facing forward ones.
This is probably a great opportunity to remind all parents that–as children move from infant, to rear- facing convertible, and then finally to forward facing booster seats– there is one common denominator: keeping children safe within the car! Many parents let children “loose” after they outgrow their booster seats at about age 4. Children of all ages–like adults–need to be buckled in!
If you have any doubt about the necessity of keeping a five year in a seatbelt all the time without exception, just remember that some day your child will be ten– and then twelve– and then sixteen behind the wheel of a car. When he is driving (or driving with adolescent friends) do you hope that he will have his seat belt on? Then make it a habit from the very beginning.
Please buckle up-and thanks for writing!
Dr. Hippo
Reference: AAP News, April 2009, p. 12. (www.aapnews.org)
Tags: AAP buckling up update, car-seat safety, rearfacing carseats
I think it is important for everyone to have car seats that are correct for there age children. I still see people riding with kids on there laps sometimes and it make me so sad for the kids.
Carlene
This came at a good time because my husband and I were considering turning my daughter’s car seat around now that she’s a year old. But I’ll definitely be waiting now - the whole point of having a car seat is to keep children safe (as you said) and I want her to be as safe as possible.
Thank you!
Thank you for reemphasizing the need to keep kids restrained. It would have been helpful to post some links or more information on the what types of seats parents should be using (infant/convertible/combination/booster) for their child’s age/weight.
Hi Kristin:
Many thanks for your blog. You are absolutely right that I should have included a resource for families. Here it is! I hope it answers your questions. Please note that the AAP has not updated this to show that children should stay rearfacing until they are two. The reference for this change is at the bottom of my blog entry. Thanks again for writing!!
Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm
I am so glad that I read that! My sister was just telling me that my 18 month old daughter can be forward facing now. I was/am hesitant to turn her around because I want her to be as safe as possible all the time. Thanks for sharing this info with me. My daughter will remain backwards facing!
I am happy I came across this article. As an expecting mother I have no idea how any of the rules go these days. Does this apply to Canada as well, as in is it the law there? I guess it doesn’t hurt to do it anyway! Thank you for the information!
That’s very interesting! My son’s almost 20 months and has been front facing for a while. I don’t know if his car seat will function properly rear-facing! I need to check this out.
OMG! I was under the impression that when a child turned 12months and weighed over 20 lbs we were supposed to turn them forward facing. My son is 10 mo. and weighs 17lbs , his car seat is one that can withstand weights up to 30lbs (a Graco Safe Seat) should we keep him in it until he reaches 30 lbs, regardless of age? It is stricly a rear facing car seat. Thank you and I really enjoy your blog. It is informative on issues that ALL with children can use.
Hi Jennifer:
Please note my blog from 6/11. It gives the following excellent AAP reference and should answer your question about your child’s carseat. If you still have a question, check with your pediatrician.
http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm
Thanks for writing!
Dr. Hippo
It is very important to have a good safety seat, properly set up and making sure the child is securly fastened. Yout blog is very informative.
Thanks for the post. My neice hates facing away from the action also, but it is the safest place.
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