Are Babies Safer in Rear-Facing Car Seats?

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to keep their baby in a rear-facing car seat until she reaches age 2 or until the child surpasses the height or weight limitations of the seat. Be sure to follow this important safety recommendation and learn why these seats are safer in the rear-facing position. "Parenting" magazine says that children riding rear-facing are five times safer than those riding forward-facing. A 2007 study that appeared in the journal "Injury Prevention" found that babies under 2 are 75 percent less likely to die in a collision when they are rear-facing vs. forward-facing.

  1. Small Child Physiology

    • A baby's head is approximately 25 percent of the total body size (an adult's is only 6 percent), according to the CPSafety.com, an information resource about child passenger safety. Because of the disproportionate size of a small child̵7;s head, the neck would receive significant trauma with the force of a vehicle crash. This trauma could lead to an injury or severing of the spinal cord.

    Rear-Facing Protections

    • When a baby rides in a rear-facing car seat with the harness securely fastened, the car seat absorbs and spreads out the force without trauma to the head, neck and spine, states Safety Belt Safe U.S.A., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to child passenger safety. The position of the child in the car seat maintains the correct alignment without movement upon impact. In addition, the style of the car seat contains the baby̵7;s head inside the seat and avoids excessive force that could occur from the harness.

    Forward-Facing Differences

    • With a forward-facing car seat, the harness of the car seat holds the child̵7;s body in place against the car seat while the unrestrained head and neck move forward with strong force. Additionally, the design of a forward-facing car seat places the child̵7;s head so that it could come in contact with items or people in the vehicle.

    Buckling Tips

    • Always fasten the car seat harness correctly for optimal safety. The point where the shoulder straps come out from the car seat should be at or just below the top of your baby̵7;s shoulders, according to the Children̵7;s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Adjust the harness to make it snug enough that you can̵7;t pinch a fold with the straps after you buckle your baby. Check to ensure the harness has no twists, and position the chest clip so it sits level with your baby̵7;s armpits.

    Additional Safety Tips

    • The longer you keep your child rear-facing, the safer it is for her. Do not place a blanket between your baby and the harness or under your baby in the car seat because this could interfere with proper support and fit. Do not dress your baby in bulky clothing for the same reason. When the top of your baby̵7;s head reaches about 1 inch from the top of the car seat, it̵7;s time to move your child to a larger car seat, suggests CHOP.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Attach a Baby Gate If There Is No Wall Stud
      The easiest way to use a baby gate in a location without a wall stud is to choose a pressure-mounted gate. This type of gate does not require wall studs because it attaches to the wall with pressure rather than hardware. Pressure-mounted gates can on
    • How to Adjust a Baby Gate to Uneven Moldings
      Baby gates are one of the many safety devices parents use to keep their children safe. They are also often used to keep pets out of certain rooms as well. One common problem you may encounter when installing a baby gate in your home is uneven molding
    • Safety Ratings for Infant Car Seats
      The safety ratings for infant car seats are intended to ensure that the seats meet some minimum standards for keeping children safe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a five-star rating system on the various infant c