Rear-Facing Car Seats - Why You Should Consider a Rear-Facing Car Seat Long-Term
One Year and 20 Pounds is the Old Standard for Rear-Facing Car Seats
By
Heather Corley, About.com Guide
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This baby should stay rear-facing to the limits of his car seat. Experts now recommend a longer rear-facing time.
Heather Corley
Babies should be in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, to the limits of their rear-facing car seat. Extended rear-facing, beyond one year and 20 pounds, has big safety advantages that parents should strongly consider. In fact, the
most recent study on this subject shows that toddlers are up to
five times safer if they remain rear-facing until age two.
Turning baby's car seat around isn't a milestone to rush on. It's actually a step down in safety, so don't be in a hurry to make the big switch.
You've probably heard the one year/20 pounds advice from many sources, including your pediatrician, the car seat company and possibly your state's car seat law. That's the old standard, though, and it is a bare minimum standard. All children are safer if they remain in a rear-facing car seat beyond a year. Thanks to higher rear-facing weight limits on car seats, nearly all toddlers can remain rear-facing for quite a while.
Why Rear-Facing?