New Car Seat Recommendations

ShannonSky

https://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/21/car.seat.guidelines.parenting/index.html

Here's the link to the new guidelines. Basically, the AAP is continuing to recommend that children stay rear-facing as long as possible, and sets the minimum recommendation for forward-facing at 2 years - not the 1 year/20lbs previously recommended. According to a study in Injury Prevention, children were 75% less likely to die or be seriously injured in a crash when they were rear-facing. Currently, this is not law. The legal limits vary (here's a chart - https://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=car_seat_laws).

This video illustrates why it's so much safer to be rear-facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIeExpDLDA&feature=related.

As for the booster seat recommedations, the actual numbers are until 4'9" and at least 8-12 years old. This is ensure proper positioning of the seatbelts.

So basically, if you want your child to be as safe as possible in the car, make sure you use a rear-facing convertible car seat until your kid hits the height/weight limit and is at least 2 years old, then move to a forward-facing, 5 point harness until your kid outgrows that height/weight limit, then use a booster until 4'9" and at least 8 years old, and keep all kids under age 13 out of the front seats.

MsCrispy

I read this and it didn't seem like it was really new. I did wonder about the convertible seats, at what point is the kid too long to side backwards? I thought their legs start hitting the seat before they hit the upper weight limits on some of the seats.

Also, I understand why the rules are there, but I could not imagine being in a carseat when I was 12. Do parents not carpool anywhere?

mrsmikey

MsCrispy:

I read this and it didn't seem like it was really new. I did wonder about the convertible seats, at what point is the kid too long to side backwards? I thought their legs start hitting the seat before they hit the upper weight limits on some of the seats.

Also, I understand why the rules are there, but I could not imagine being in a carseat when I was 12. Do parents not carpool anywhere?

This is not a problem.  As long as they haven't exceeded the height limit for the seat RF, it's ok if they have to bend their legs or sit with them crossed.

I also wonder about the booster thing though, some kids are REALLY old before they're that tall, even into their teenage years.  But these are 'recommendations', not necessarily the laws in your state.  So I guess at some point you just have to weigh out the pros & cons of the situation depending on your state's laws.

TheFannins729

MsCrispy:

I read this and it didn't seem like it was really new. I did wonder about the convertible seats, at what point is the kid too long to side backwards? I thought their legs start hitting the seat before they hit the upper weight limits on some of the seats.

Also, I understand why the rules are there, but I could not imagine being in a carseat when I was 12. Do parents not carpool anywhere?

ds's legs started hitting the back of the seat around 8 months.  you are going to hear a lot of "better to have a broken leg than a broken neck"

I didn't really think any of this was "new" information, but I guess they are just now making it official.

ShannonSky

mrsmikey:

MsCrispy:

I read this and it didn't seem like it was really new. I did wonder about the convertible seats, at what point is the kid too long to side backwards? I thought their legs start hitting the seat before they hit the upper weight limits on some of the seats.

Also, I understand why the rules are there, but I could not imagine being in a carseat when I was 12. Do parents not carpool anywhere?

This is not a problem.  As long as they haven't exceeded the height limit for the seat RF, it's ok if they have to bend their legs or sit with them crossed.

I also wonder about the booster thing though, some kids are REALLY old before they're that tall, even into their teenage years.  But these are 'recommendations', not necessarily the laws in your state.  So I guess at some point you just have to weigh out the pros & cons of the situation depending on your state's laws.

Well, they do recommend the booster for under 4'9" only through age 12, so after that I think you just have to take your chances. And honestly, if you have a car with adjustable seatbelts in the backseat, you'd probably be OK even before that. But I know I'm only 5'1" and a lot of the seatbelts in cars I've ridden in are uncomfortable for me since they aren't positioned correctly. It isn't a problem when I'm in cars w/adjustable belts.