beyond the minimum requirements of 1
year and 20 lbs. They should not be turned
forward-facing before they reach the maximum
rear-facing limits of a convertible seat - either
the maximum rear-facing weight limit or when
the top of their head is within one inch of the
top of the seat shell. While most parents are
aware that they must keep their children rearfacing
"until they are AT LEAST 1 year old
AND 20 lbs", very few are told that there are
significant safety benefits when a child remains
rear-facing as long as the seat allows. For most
children, rear-facing can and should continue
well into the second year of life.
The most common misconception parents have
is that children are uncomfortable or at risk
for leg injury by having their legs up on the
vehicle seat back when kept rear-facing longer.
This is completely incorrect. First, children are
more flexible than adults so what we perceive
as uncomfortable is not so much so for the
children. Second, there are NO documented
cases of children's legs breaking in a crash due
to longer rear-facing. Even if there were, a cast
can be put on the leg; with a severed spinal cord
from FF too soon (of which there are
documented cases) there is no way to repair
the damage.
Every milestone in a child's life is exciting!
First steps, first word, first day of school.
Even car seat milestones seem exciting, but the
truth is, they should be looked at with a sense
of dread, not longing. Every step in car seat
"advancement" is actually reducing the
protection your child receives.
In a forward-facing seat, the neck is subjected
to massive strain because the head pitches
forward. A child's head is much larger in
proportion to the body than that of an adult.
The head of a small child is about 25 per cent
of the body mass whereas the head of an adult
is about six per cent! A small child's neck is
subjected to much more strain than an adult’s
neck when facing forward. Additionally, in a
forward-facing seat, the head is thrown outside
the confines of the seat and can make
dangerous contact with other occupants,
vehicle structures, and even intruding objects,
like trees or other vehicles.
In a rear-facing seat, the head, neck and spine
stay correctly aligned and the child is allowed
to ride down the crash while the back of the
child restraint absorbs the brunt of the crash
force. The head is contained within the
restraint, and the child is much less likely to
come into contact with anything that might
cause head injury.
The crash test photo below demonstrates the
huge difference in force experienced when
forward-facing (left) and rear-facing (right).