Parents are always excited when their baby reaches a milestone such as crawling, eating solid food or facing forward in the car seat. Unfortunately many parents are a little too anxious to turn their baby’s car seat forward facing, not realizing that by doing so they are putting their baby at risk of serious or deadly spinal cord injuries.

Two year old in convertible seat that rear faces to 33 pounds.

In a frontal crash (the most common type), a forward facing child’s neck can experience extreme forces that pull the head away from the body. A baby’s body is not ready to withstand crash forces in this manner. The bones, including the spine, of very young children are still soft and can stretch and possibly separate under tension. If this happens, the spinal cord is vulnerable. The spinal cord, which can only stretch up to ¼ inch, can rupture as the head is pulled away from the body of a forward facing baby. Rear facing, on the other hand, allows the baby’s head to be cradled and move at the same time with the body, minimizing any pull on the neck.

Also, according to an article published in the December 2007 issue of Injury Prevention, during the second year of life children are five times less likely to die or sustain serious injuries when they ride in rear-facing car seats compared to forward-facing car seats. This research applies to all types of crashes including side impact which are typically the most severe. Dr. Marilyn Bull, medical director and founder of the Automotive Safety Program and Kohl's Center for Safe Transportation of Children at Riley Hospital for Children, co-authored the article in the prestigious medical journal. “This is the most exciting and significant research to emerge regarding car seat safety in recent years,” Dr. Bull said. “It is essential that we communicate this message to all families to ensure our children are riding as safely as possible.”

According to Kathy Weber, previously of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, “Another aspect of the facing-direction issue that is often overlooked is the additional benefit a child gains in a side impact [collision].” (Click here to view Weber article, “Crash Protection for Child Passengers.”). A forward facing child’s head is often thrown outside the protection of the side wings of the car seat whereas a rear facing child’s head remains in the protection of the shell of the car seat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride rear facing until they are at least one year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds, and remain rear facing in a convertible child safety seat until they have reached the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. The newest version of the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program Curriculum agrees and states that children should ride rear facing as long as possible without exceeding the manufacturer’s weight and height limits. It also points out that the top of the child’s head should be at least an inch below the top of the car seat shell. Since most newer convertible seats have an upper rear facing weight limit of 30-35 pounds children are able to and should remain rear facing well beyond a year to receive maximum protection in a crash.