Car Seat Recommendations Have Changed for Infants and Toddlers

It is now recommended that parents leave infants or toddlers in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible.  It was previously recommended that children stay rear-facing until they are two years old. According to ABC 12, the American Academy of Pediatrics says to keep them rear-facing past two years, for as long as possible.

It is time to turn your child around when their legs become too long to fit comfortably in a rear-facing seat. According to ABC 12, 74% of child seats are used incorrectly in the US. Misused seats can increase the risk of injury if there is a crash.

If you are in a crash, the rear-facing seat not only absorbs the energy from a front crash but also supports the child's neck better than front-facing. The new official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to keep children rear-facing until they have reached the height or weight limit on their car seat, and not a certain age.