[...] This chap added an interesting post today on They Say: Keep Babies Rear Facing Until Age 2 | StrollerderbyHere’s a small readingYou know how, as your baby neared her first birthday, you found yourself more and more anxious to turn her car seat around? After all, her legs looked pretty. [...]

I have done a lot of research on car seat safety and this is by far one of the best recommendations the AAP has ever made. My daughter is TWO AND A HALF and STILL REAR-FACING! She will be until she outgrows the seat, whenever that may be. I don’t care if she’s 4, she will still be rear-facing. Then I will keep her harnessed as long as possible and in a booster as long as she needs it until she can pass the 5 step test. I don’t care what funny looks I get or what comments are made, I am keeping my daughter safe and that’s all I care about. Thank you so much for posting this!

Dangit – I was so excited the day I got to turn my daughter (at one). And it wasn’t just the cramped part – those mirrors you can hang on the back window to see your kids ALWAYS fell off. Is it horrible to say I’m glad I’m reading this when my daughter is 4? Because I know I would have followed this rule if I’d known . . . but I didn’t!

My child is three and rear-facing. My relatives in Europe keep their kids rear-facing until age five as it is so much safer. It’s not clear to me why other people find forward-facing so attractive. I’m just glad I have a kid on the smaller side who can fit rear-facing in the same car seat (convertible style) that she’s been in since we brought her home from the hospital.

Totally. My daughter will be facing the back as long as her legs fit as well. I had seen a great youtube video about rear-facing vs. forward facing impact (using crash test dummy toddlers) and it was terrifying- the neck snap alone made my knees turn into jello.

People already comment on my 18 month old kid that is rear facing- I’ve seen the statistic of 75% for likely to die, so I just tell them that and it is amazing how shocked and chagrined they are. My son is pretty tall so his feet hit the seat, but who cares? I’d rather have a child with a broken leg than a broken neck- a kid with a broken leg has a cool story, a kid with a broken neck is either dead or vegetative. No question here.

My son is 27 months old and still rearfaces in a 5 pt convertible seat. I have known all along how much safer it is to have him remain this way until he outgrows the seat in this position. I am surprised how many people are so impatient to turn their child around. He has never complained or asked to be turned forward. He doesn’t know any different.

As for “to clarify,” it is that kind of ignorance that has parents turning their children at 1 and 20. Yes, it would be safer for everyone to ride rearfacing. But it is especially important for small children to be this way. You never know when you will be in an accident. But who wants to take that chance?

“to clarify” – it has more to due with the development of the neck structure, not even the muscles. There is a significant difference at 30 months in the ability of the spine to absorb impact.
Anyhow, this is another IL battle for us…my ILs want to turn him right.freaking.now and put him in the front seat (he’s just about a year), which is why my husband has told him “that’s fine, but only in your car, and by the way, he will NOT be going in your car until he’s older”.

My 6-year-old isn’t even in a booster anymore. She was outgrowing her rear-facing car seat BEFORE she turned 1. She was always very tall, and her feet were stuffed up against the back seat. I was thrilled when we could finally turn her around. In her booster at age 5, her head stuck up above the headrest and the belt laid funny on her neck. When she turned 6 we tried the regular seat to see how she fit, and it was MUCH better. I’d probably feel better if she was smaller and could fit in a harness seat, but she’s tall (shrug)… what else can I do but make sure she’s as safe as can be in a seatbelt?

And what if you have a tiny car and a big kid? My 5-y-old has been in a short booster – just the seat and arms, no backrest – for over two years, because you can’t fit a tall kid in a huge booster in a Toyota Corolla. Should I have to buy a bigger car (and go into unwanted, unneeded debt) if I have another kid? And what about carsick kids? I spent most of my childhood riding in the front seat – it was that, or Mom cleaned up vomit for every ride over 10 minutes. I can’t imagine sticking a 4 or 5-y-o facing the back of the car: even with Dramamine, that’s a disgusting mess waiting to happen.
Please, Government, get out of my car. This is ridiculous.

I am so shocked at some of these responses. To those of you who claim their child is too fussy rear facing- that is probably nothing to do with rear facing at all but more likely a dirty diaper, you talking on your cell phone, loud music or the child being hungry or tired. No excuses, every child under 35lbs should be in a properly fitted rear facing car seat. There are so many car seats designed t hold a 5 or 6 year old rear facing…just because you dont “think” they fit means you should read the manual and you’ll see they are well below the limits- it doesn’t even have to be all the way reclined at 1 year old it can be almost upright! I suppose these comments come from the same parents who would put sprite in a babies bottle because claim they won’t drink anything else… bottom line wether you agree or not- if you care about your children you will follow these guidelines. There is no excuse, I drive a VW Beetle and I can get a 3 year old rear facing very comfortably in my car…Educate yourself on the right type of seat and learn how to install it correctly. I convinced a good friend to keep her son rear facing past a year even though her doctor told her not to and when her son was 27 months and just over 31lbs they were rear ended while sitting at a red light at 45-50mph. She was in an Escalade and it was a small 2 seater car that hit her. The Fire Department arrived and were in a state of shock that he hadn’t a scratch on him. The 911 operator said on the phone to leave the baby in the car seat as he will have suffered a neck injury if not worse. Imagine their surprise when they arrive to see a 30lb 2 year old laughing still comfortable, unharmed and rear-facing in his Britax Marathon. They later said that because of my friend’s back and neck injuries the baby would have been internally decapitated by the crash force had he been forward facing. Think parents- this happens EVERY day. Just because the legal MINIMUM is one year and 20lbs on the label doesn’t mean you stop reading…since when was your child a MINIMUM? The government doesn’t tell people not to feed their 6 month old whole grapes but as a parent you know that is potentially fatal and you don’t do it. The government may not be forcing you to keep your kids rear facing and harnessed as long as possible but as a parent- you should know that adult seat belts kill 4 year olds every day and that forward facing car seats kill one year olds every day. Well on second thought- your one year old may survive but you will probably be pusing a wheelchair around from then on. I’d say that would be a whole lot more inconvenient then just not being ignorant and keeping them safe in the car. Feel free to email me at sweet8484@live.com with any responses or questions. I am more than happy to give helpful links, advice or facts. I was a Nanny for 8 years and I do know what I am talking about.

Hey, Kate, just for the record: knowing what you’re talking about is much more persuasive when you actually stick to facts instead of making sweeping generalizations AND throwing in totally absurd insults.