Bailey & Greer PLLC

Rear-facing Car Seats Proven to be Safer For Young Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued new recommendations today about the use of car safety seats. A study by the AAP found that auto accident injuries to children are less severe when the child car seat is facing the rear. The study concludes that a rear-facing safety seat is better at preventing head injuries, neck injuries, and spine injuries than forward-facing seats, because the force of the auto accident is distributed over the entire body. The AAP now recommends that parents keep their children in the rear-facing position until age two or until the child reaches the maximum height and weight for the safety seat. Previously, parents were asked to keep children in the rear-facing position until age one.

To read the entire statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics click here