Rear facing car seat

It once seemed logical that when a baby reached their first birthday, they'd graduate from their rear-facing infant car seat to a forward-facing "big" car seat.

In fact, this was American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy until 2011.

We now know that keeping a child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible is a much safer option. Extended rear-facing (ERF) is a practice embraced by safety-minded parents.

And since 2018, it's been AAP policy, too.

How long should my child ride in a rear-facing car seat?

The guidelines aren't based on age, but on the maximum height and weight requirements set by the car seat manufacturer.

Both the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend that all babies and toddlers face the back of the car until they reach the upper limit for rear-facing height and weight. Infant car seats, convertible car seats, and all-in-one car seats can be used rear facing.

Different car seats have different

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