I just wanted to pass this information along. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) now recommends that you leave your children rear-facing ATLEAST until the age of 2. (This is not a new law, just a guideline.) Here is the article from their website:
Keep your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 (not 1)
Lori O’Keefe
Correspondent
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 suggested 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 www.seatcheck.org or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. You also can call 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236.
Kamryn has been forward-facing since she was around 15 months old and is 2 months away from turning two so we'll have to see about turning her back around. The new baby will probably be rear-facing until she is atleast two. (I have a friend who kept her child rear-facing until he was 2.5!)
I can't imagine the guilt I would feel if my child was hurt in an accident when she could have been safer by simply keeping her rear-facing. It's such a simple thing but one that could save a lot of lives.
3 comments:
Good stuff to know, but I really wish the "smart" people that make these recommendations would make up their minds already! Goodness! It seems like these things change constantly. Pretty soon they are going to make cars that accomodate a rear facing position for all of us. Actually that would be pretty cool to drive a car facing backwards!
I'm with you on our almost two year olds. I am going to keep Ethan facing forward. I think at this point he would have a cow if I were to turn him around and make him stare at a seat again. That would really make our trip to Disneyland a pain in the butt! :)
what was your pediatric surgeons name at pcmc? naomi is having surgery to repair an inguinal hernia and her umbillical hernia on tuesday. we are going to dr barnhart. i was just wondering who your doc was. glad your little girl is doing well. so sad to hand over your baby... im dreading it!
Our surgeon was Dr. Richard Black. In our pre-op consult, he actually told us that umbilical hernias are more common in african-american babies, so I'm not surprised to hear that Naomi has to have it done. It is a scary thing handing your baby over, but atleast she won't cry when a stranger takes her into the O.R. Good luck with everything, I'm sure she'll do great and we'll keep her in our prayers!
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