Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 4 years and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated their guidance on rear-facing car seats. Previously, the AAP specified children should remain rear-facing at least to the age of 2. The new recommendation removes the specific age milestone.

• All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer. 
• All children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible, again, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
• All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly. This is usually when they have reached 4 ft 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
• When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts.
• All children younger than 13 years should be seated in the rear seats of vehicles.

When a child rides in a car in the rear-facing seat, the head, neck and back are all supported by the hard shell of the car seat. In the event of a crash, the car seat absorbs most of the shock and protects the most vulnerable parts of the body. When a child rides forward-facing, their bodies are only restrained by the harness straps. For toddlers, whose heads are large and heavy compared to the rest of their bodies, this can mean possible back and head injuries as the head is thrown forward in a crash.

Using the right car seat or booster for every trip lowers the risk of death or injury by more than 70 percent!

Read more on the AAP website here.

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.