Until recently, rear-facing car seats were considered necessary for babies up until age 1. Now, studies done by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that a child is safest in a rear-facing car seat until age 2, according to the Associate Press.
Evidence from crashes influences these two studies (not done in conjunction with each other) and the new safety recommendations. Seatbelts can cause abdominal and spinal injuries in children, and if a child is in a rear-facing car seat, he or she is five times less likely to be injured in an accident. Rear-facing car seats provide better spine, neck, and head support and distribute the force of a collision evenly over a child’s body.
Additional recommendations for older children in cars have changed as well. Children should be in booster seats with seatbelts until they are 4’9”, and those under age 13 need to stay in the back.
As The Star Press article shows, not all parents are sold on these recommendations. In fact, to some, they appear superfluous and do not think of the needs of a child. A car seat, according to one parent quoted, are too small for her 18-month-old, and for another, she wants to see her child as she drives.
If you need to buy a new car seat, what types of features do you need? Manufacturers of car seats now offer models that support toddlers up to 35 pounds. In addition to finding a larger design that accommodates a heavier child, you need to have a car seat with a five-point harness. The harness, preferably, should have strap slots below the shoulders and an adjuster. The seat, for infants and newborns, should recline to a 45-degree angle and, ideally, should indicate the incline.
