What Age Can Babies Sit Face Forward in the Car Seat

When Should Your Child Switch to a Forward-Facing Car Seat?

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Updated: Baronial 31, 2021

When (and how) to make the switch from a rear-facing to a frontward-facing car seat is confusing for many parents. Hither's what you need to know about the safest age for children to ride in a frontward-facing machine seat.

Many parents aren't sure when information technology'south safe to switch their child's rear-facing machine seat to the forward-facing position. Expert organizations used to say it was fine to turn your child'southward automobile seat around when she turned two. But the recommendations have changed in recent years.

Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the vast majority of children stay rear-facing as long as possible, even afterward turning 2, and parents shouldn't make the switch based on age. The biggest reason? Rear-facing car seats are better at protecting the head, neck and spine in the outcome of a crash.

Here's why information technology'due south worth property off on turning your child's car seat around and how to tell when she's prepare to face forward.

When should you lot turn your child'south auto seat around?

Rear-facing vs. forward-facing car seats: What's the deviation?

Offset, some background on rear-facing and forwards-facing seats. Infants should always exist in rear-facing car seats, and there are two types that are safety for the youngest children.

Many parents adopt to get-go with a rear-facing baby machine seat because they're lightweight, portable and convenient. Rear-facing infant seats come up with a base of operations plus a seat that clicks into place, so you lot tin can quickly take the seat in and out. Infant machine seats also have handles that make them easy to carry when your baby is inside.

The downside? Your baby will outgrow an infant car seat well before she's prepare to confront forward. Almost rear-facing babe seats accept an upper weight limit between 28 and 35 pounds and an upper height limit of 30 to 35 inches, depending on the model. In one case your baby reaches the maximum height or weight, whichever comes offset, you'll demand to upgrade: The adjacent stride is a convertible car seat that tin can start off being used in a rear-facing position and eventually face frontward when your child is (much) bigger.

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Convertible seats tend to exist heavy and bulky and are designed to stay put in your auto. The fact that you lot tin can't easily tote them around is why many parents opt to start with a more user-friendly rear-facing babe seat.

Withal, convertible seats are safe and acceptable for infants, notes the AAP. And they can be a good pick for families who'd prefer not to have to somewhen buy a 2d auto seat: Convertible seats can frequently be used rear-facing until a child is between 40 and 50 pounds, and and so can face forrad until a kid is 65 pounds or more than.

When tin can a kid face forward in a auto seat?

You should keep your child in the rear-facing position for every bit long as possible. But instead of using age as a guideline, keep the post-obit in mind:

• When they reach either the weight or height limit.Your child should stay rear-facing until she has hit the maximum height or weight for that position, says the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Assistants (NHTSA). Most rear-facing infant seats tin can accommodate children until they reach 28 to 35 pounds or 30 to 35 inches, simply keep in heed that many children will reach the maximum height before they do the maximum weight. Once a child outgrows a rear-facing infant seat, she can switch to a convertible seat in a rear-facing position, which tin can frequently be used until a child is between 40 and fifty pounds. (The specific weight will depend on your car seat model.) You can notice your seat's height and weight limits on the tag or in the manufacturer instructions.
• Non earlier age ii.Years agone, age ii was considered the standard time to switch to the forward-facing position. At present, it's considered the accented minimum, considering about 2-year-olds won't exist adequately protected from a crash in a forward-facing seat. Rather than basing your switch on the calendar, do so only when your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit for the rear-facing position of her convertible seat. For many, this doesn't happen until age 3 or 4.

Whatsoever child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the motorcar seat manufacturer.

Why are rear-facing car seats safer for children?

Rear-facing is the safest position for babies and toddlers considering it offers the near protection in the consequence of a crash. That'south why the AAP, Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC) and NHTSA all say children should stay in a rear-facing seat for every bit long as possible, non only until age 2.

Infants, toddlers and preschoolers accept less mature bones and connective tissues that are at greater gamble for serious injury. Rear-facing seats deed as a protective cradle — specially for a baby or child'southward fragile neck and spinal cord — in a serious blow. They give babies and young children more than protection, and historic period alone isn't enough to determine whether a child is physically adult plenty to sit down safely in a front-facing seat.

Car seat safety 101

Buckling your little i in becomes automatic pretty fast, simply information technology never hurts to brush upwards on the basics. In addition to keeping your little one rear-facing for equally long every bit possible, always remember to:

• Properly buckle her in. When buckling your kid in, exist mindful of whatsoever uneven or twisted straps (they could increment risk of injury), make sure the bending indicator is in a safe range for your infant'south age and practise a "pinch examination" on the strap fabric by your child'due south shoulder (if y'all tin pinch it vertically, it's too loose and needs to be tightened).
• Never leave a child unattended in or around a motorcar. Fifty-fifty if she's buckled in her machine seat.
• Simply use automobile seats for travel. Car seats should not be used for sleeping, eating or anything else. If your child falls asleep in her car seat, move her to a safe slumber location one time yous're done driving.
• Children under 13 should sit in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front end rider seat, since the airbag could injure your baby.
• Read the transmission. If you're unsure a seat is installed correctly or are having trouble, contact a local certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) for assist.
• Never use a machine seat that's damaged, expired or has an unknown history. These seats may non provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Look When You're Expecting. What to Wait follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic enquiry institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

• What to Expect the Kickoff Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
• What to Expect the Second Year, Heidi Murkoff.
• WhatToExpect.com, Why Children Should Always Ride in the Back Seat of a Car, Baronial 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, Is It Safe for Babies to Sleep in Car Seats?, Baronial 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, Automobile Seat Prophylactic 101, August 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, Toddler Machine Seat Condom 101, August 2021.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, Machine Seats: Information for Families, February 2021.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child Passenger Safety, December 2020.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Machine Seats and Booster Seats.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Car Seat Recommendations for Children.
• U.S. Section of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Assistants, How to Install a Rear-Facing Only Infant Car Seat.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, How to Install a Convertible Car Seat Rear-Facing.

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