Another thing that has changed over the years here in the United States is the usage of rear-facing car seats. Yes, we can turn them around at 1 year old or 20 pounds, but many, many parents, including myself, choose not to do so until much later. In fact, in the Nordics, children must remain in rear-facing car seats until 4 years of age. Since 2002 the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended rear-facing car seats for children until they reach the weight limit suggested. Only then should a child be switched to front-facing seats. Why? Because rear-facing seats are five times safer for children in the event of a car crash!
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| Safe & asleep in his rear-facing car seat! |
It is time to not only educate parents and retailers on the safety features rear-facing car seats offer babies and children, but it is also time to address the issue of the rear-facing car seat availability in the UK. This is exactly what Motors.co.uk intends to do with their Rear Facing Campaign: http://rearfacing.motors.co.uk/. Any parent would choose an item that is guaranteed to keep baby safer, right? If more stores carried the rear-facing car seats, more parents would immediately be aware of them. It's really a win-win situation.
What's your opinion about rear-facing car seats? I'd love to hear it!
9 comments:
All of my kids have remained rear facing as long as possible! I enjoy keeping my kiddos safe!!
It's so important to keep up to date on carseat safety. I can't get over how many people blow it off "we were fine, they will be too" and it makes me nuts. there's more cars, faster cars, and MORE DISTRACTIONS on the road than ever before. it makes me sick people won't do what they can to keep their babies as safe as possible.
car seat safety is so important!!
-stephanie
The rule's actually 1 year AND 20lbs. And it's important to be aware that seats have both weight AND height limits. If either of those is reached, it's time to get a new seat the fits your child. My tall, thin man is under the weight limit in most rear-facing seats, including many infant seat options, but there're only a handful that'll accomodate his height.
That said, we did our research and he's still facing the rear at 2 1/2 years. Car seat safety is a huge thing to me. Even more than the seats people choose to use or not use, it bothers me when kids aren't even buckled in properly. (It's a chest clip, not a belly-button protector!) :-)
Yes, I remember the old days when there was not much in the way of car seat safety rules and regulations. Just a lap belt, for the most part. Scary, when you look back on it. And yes, rear facing car seats are superior.
everybody should make the baby safer in a car ..
Whatever is possible to make the babies & kids safer I will do if I can. Rear facing is an easy way to do that.
I am so happy that car seats are safer now its really keeping our baby safe
Thank you for posting this!! I think we need to make others aware of how important it is. Mine will be rear facing as long as they can and then will be in a 5 point harness
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