Recommendations on Rear Facing Child Seats Extended  The American Academy of Pediatrics
has recommended that children in car seats face the rear for a total of
two years - a full one year longer than previously suggested. The
change was prompted by car crash studies that show a toddler is less
likely to be injured in a rear facing seat. During a crash, the impact
forces are spread out over the back of the seat, while a front facing
child's head and limbs are flung forward. For the last decade, the Academy of Pediatrics has
recommended that children in car seats face the rear for at least one
year or until the child weighs 20 pounds. Although this suggestion was
designed as the minimum, parents and other caregivers often considered
it the absolute. For any caregiver, rear facing child seats offer some challenges on
how to entertain the children, how to check up on them, when in the
preferred back seat, how practical for the solo adult in the car, etc.
Some have also suggested that the children facing the rear may become
uncomfortable as their legs grow. Experts suggest that all these issues
should take a back seat to the child's safety. Current "convertible" car seats are designed to be
rear facing until the child is 30 to 35 pounds, which is well above the
average two year child's weight. The seat can then be turned to face
forward. Check out The Academy of Pediatrics Guide to car seats and a list of products at: http://www.aap.org/. Weidel Realtors Newtown/Yardley Office 10 North Main Street Yardley, PA 19067 Cell: 215 771-1642 Office: 215-493-1954 Email: acostello@weidel.com |
