The rear facing car seat is the best option for your child since it provides superior protection in a crash. In fact, according to the NHTSA, “Rear-facing car seats are more effective at reducing fatal injury to infants and children up to 4 years old than any other seating position.” With that in mind, it’s important to make sure you choose the right one for your child.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the key factors to consider when purchasing a rear facing car seat. We’ll also cover some of the common myths about rear facing car seats, and dispel them so that you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your family.
The Benefits of Rear Facing Car Seats
Rear facing car seats are one of the safest car seat options for infants and toddlers. They are recommended for children who are less than 1 year old and weigh less than 25 pounds.
There are many reasons why rear facing car seats are so safe:
-The child is positioned low in the vehicle, away from objects that could potentially injure them in a crash.
-The head and neck are restrained by the seat belt, which reduces the likelihood of injury in a collision.
-The child’s body is cushioned by the seat in a crash, reducing impact force on their body.
-Rear facing car seats generally have more padding than forward facing car seats, which helps to protect the child’s head and spine in a crash.
The Risks Associated with Rear Facing Car Seats
There are many reasons why parents choose to rear-face their children in car seats, but there are also a number of risks associated with this practice. Rear-facing seats put children in an unnatural position and can lead to injuries in many different areas of the body. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-facing car seats are one of the leading causes of death among infants and young children.
Here are some of the dangers that can occur when a child is rear-faced in a car seat:
Head and neck injuries: When a child is rear-faced in a car seat, their head and neck are in an unnatural position. This can lead to serious injury if the child suffers a head injury or falls forward and hits their head on the dashboard.
When a child is rear-faced in a car seat, their head and neck are in an unnatural position. This can lead to serious injury if the child suffers a head injury or falls forward and hits their head on the dashboard. Chest pain: Children who are rear-faced in car seats often have more pressure on their chest because their bodies are compressed against the seatBACK.
When is it Time to Stop using Rear Facing Car Seats?
If you have a child who is at least 2 years old and weighs more than 20 pounds, it’s time to stop using rear-facing car seats. This is because research has shown that the risk of serious injury in a collision decreases significantly when a child is seated in a forward-facing car seat. In fact, according to the NHTSA, a child’s chances of experiencing serious injury in a collision are only 1 in 91 when seated in a rear-facing car seat compared to 1 in 44 when seated in a forward-facing car seat.
There are several benefits to switching your child to a forward-facing car seat:
Your child will be safer in a crash. A child’s head and neck are much more protected in a forward-facing car seat than they are in a rear-facing car seat. Forward-facing car seats also help prevent injuries to the spine.
A child’s head and neck are much more protected in a forward-facing car seat than they are in a rear-facing car seat. Forward-facing car seats also help prevent injuries to the spine. You’ll save money. Rear-facing seats can be expensive to replace if they’re damaged in a crash.