The Forward-Facing Car Seat Debate and an Endorsement

Learning that the American Academy of Pediatrics changed its recommendation for when children can face forward while riding in a car from one years old to two years old was kind of a blow. We found out a few weeks before Finn's first birthday. He was still riding backwards and so doesn't know the difference.



What I have found intersting is how the framing of these recomendations has changed. It was originally pitched as a suggestion for parents to consider keeping their kids rear facing for an extra year when the story broke. Now it is the official position of the AAP that children under 2 face backwards.

And it makes sense. A one year old simply doesn't have the neck strength to withstand a head on collision while facing forward. The fact is that it would be safer for all passengers to ride backwards as head on impacts are usually more forceful than rear end collisions.

But what is really interesting is the conversations parents are having about this new recommendation. Because of the timing, many of Finn's peers were already facing forward when the recommendation was made public. Those parents have chosen to keep their kids facing forward. Other parents I know went ahead with the Great Rotation right after their rug rat's first birthday.

I have overheard a couple of reasons for why parents have made the switch against the AAPs recomendation.

Some cited unruliness in the car that was curbed by switching the seat around. They say that letting the kiddo see out the front window and be closer to the conversation makes them happier. Other parents said there kiddo was just too big for a rear-facing seat. Some kids were able to kick or grab the seat they were tethered to.

I know that solving the most immediate challenge often takes precedence (Here, eat this cookie and be quiet. Diabetes is at least 20 years away, but your tantrum is embarrassing me right now.). But I have to say that I just don't get it.

CAR ACCIDENTS ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN CHILDREN UNDER 4.

Why not do everything possible to protect them? If it were up to me, Finn would face backwards until he was big enough to sit in a seat with an airbag (I figure 21 is safe). Why compromise his safety for a little more convenience?

So here's my shout out to Evenflo Titan Elite convertible car seat. We received this seat as a baby shower gift and started using it when Finn was less than a month old after finding out the used infant car seat we bought had expired (yep, they do that).

With the included pads and an off brand head supporter, this seat worked really well for our infant. In our 2006 Pontiac Vibe, we place the car seat in the middle of the backseat. With the head pads, Finn's head tended to loll forward a bit when he fell asleep. But since removing these he rests very comfortably with lots of room for his legs.