How long should we keep the child seat for the rear-facing car? For safety, it is best to keep your baby 's car seat facing back until it reaches the maximum height and weight set by the seat manufacturer. Many parents used to orient the child seat for the car looking forward once their baby turned 1 year old. However, in 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) changed its recommendation. The organization cited an investigation that showed that children under the age of 2, who ride in back-oriented seats, are 75 percent less likely to die or be injured in the event of a car accident. Now both the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend that children remain in their rear-facing car seats until they do not fit in them. That means that the seats should continue in that position until the children are at least 2 or 3 years old. Why does a rear-facing seat provide greater safety? Very young children are especially more prone to injuries to the head and spine, because their bones and ligaments are still …show more content…
" As long as the children meet the weight and height requirements set by the chair manufacturer, they are also likely to be comfortable. Many children weighing 40 pounds, 45 pounds, or even 50 pounds, and measuring 49 feet, still fit in rear-facing child seats. (Others reach the height limit well before they exceed the weight limit required by the manufacturer). "The important thing is to do what is safer for your child for as long as possible. Make the decision to make these changes when they are absolutely necessary and not when children meet the minimum standards that state the recommendations," Hoffman concludes. Before changing the baby car seat facing forward or moving it to a booster seat (or letting it ride with the seat belt only), check your state 's laws around this. If you live in the United States you can find out about these laws at state public safety offices or at the State Highway Safety