Still rear-facing

Baby Bear is still rear-facing in her car seat. Yes, she is one but she is not quite 22 pounds. Plus, I see no rush to move her forward facing especially since it is so much safer for her to be rear-facing in the car. She doesn't seem to have a problem with it. So I will keep her that way as long as possible. Doesn't she look happy!



The American Academy of Pediatrics have revised their recommendations and state that toddlers should stay rear-facing until the age of 2. The research really suggests that it is safer to keep your toddler rear-facing. Plus, there many videos out there that convince me that this is definitely sound advise to follow (check out YouTube).



From car-safety.org:

• Rear-facing is safest for both adults and children, but especially for babies, who would face a greater risk of spinal cord injury in a front-facing carseat during a frontal crash.

• Rear-facing car seats spread frontal crash forces over the whole area of a child's back, head and neck; they also prevent the head from snapping relative to the body in a frontal crash.

• Rear-facing carseats may not be quite as effective in a rear end crash, but severe frontal and frontal offset crashes are far more frequent and far more severe than severe rear end crashes.

• Rear-facing carseats are NOT a safety risk just because a child's legs are bent at the knees or because they can touch/kick the vehicle seat.

• Rear-facing as long as possible is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatricians, and can reduce injuries and deaths. Motor Vehicle Crashes are the #1 overall cause of death for children 14 and under.

We have the Britax Boulevard convertible car seat and we just got the Britax Roundabout for Grandma Bear's car. With both seats we can keep Baby Bear rear-facing until she reaches 35 pounds. At Baby Bear's rate of growth, she will be rear-facing for a while. I see no hurry to turn her around especially since she seems to be fine and content. Her legs are getting longer, but she is fine with her legs bent and touching the back of the seat. Toddlers are so flexible so it really isn't a big deal. She is comfortable and I have often seen her playing with her feet back there anyways. She has a long life ahead of her to be forward facing in the car, so if this will keep her safe why not!