Rear Facing until 2!(NOT 1)

The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending leaving a child rear facing a in convertible car seat until 2 years old! This is a big deal! That is an entire year longer than what we have been told and it won't be easy to do. I know my boys were kicking at the seat and screaming by one year old because they couldn't see! I waited until the boys were about 14 months old to turn them around and I thought I held out long! I am still searching for more information about this. The AAP article doesn't say what research or why the recommendation is changing. I am assuming it's safer, but what exactly does that mean? Fewer fatalities in crashes? Less whiplash? Fewer broken bones? And who did this research? I have to assume it wasn't a convertible car seat manufacturer if the AAP is citing the information, but there's no way to tell.

One blog says: Their research shows that toddlers are five times safer in rear-facing seats until they turn two. I am assuming their means the AAP.

So if anyone has seen more info on this, please send it to me! When did you turn your child(ren) forward facing?


Rear Facing until 2 years old AAP April:
New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car safety seat up to their second birthday. Following are some safety tips for car seat use:
• All infants should ride rear-facing in either an infant car seat or convertible seat. • If an infant car seat is used, the infant should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as sug- gested by the car seat manufacturer.
• Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.
• To see if your car seat is installed properly and to find a certified passenger safety technician in your area, visit http://www.seatcheck.org/ or www.nhtsa.dot.gov. You also can call 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236. — Lori O’Keefe

UPDATE: Jenny sent me this link on iVillage about rear facing: iVillage
Maria sent this one from a blog and from Cafe Mom

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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