Car Seat Facts

Doctors Recommend Rear-Facing Car Seats Until Tots Are 2; Test Your Knowledge

March 21, 2011

For many parents, a tot's first birthday is not only cause for a party, but it is the milestone they use to switch their baby from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing one. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics is revising their long-held recommendations and advising parents to keep their lil ones facing back until they turn 2-years-old, or they reach the height and weight guidelines on the seat.

Car safety recommendations have evolved significantly over the years. Take this quiz to see how much you really know about them.

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5 Comments

princessya 2 years 9 weeks

That last question is written weird-- "assumed to be". It would have been more straightforward if it said, "are installed improperly".

pattilup 3 years 39 weeks

that 80% statistic is frightening. but, i don't doubt it. for the life of them, my in laws do not know how to put a car seat in properly. every single time they want to take my daughter in their car, i have to check the seat and i ALWAYS have to fix it. she may as well not be in one they way the slap it in. i was in a car accident with my children where the car flipped over and b/c i had my car seats in properly, the kids were fine. now i never assume that anyone else knows what they're doing.

3 years 39 weeks

I have 7 cousins and a younger brother. I've also been working with children for over 10 years. I have put in more than my fair share of car seats. I also have a newer car, and can use the latch system in it. I did, however, feel that one of my charges' (I'm a nanny) seat seemed too loose. They lived down the street from a fire station. On our way on an outing, I stopped by for a second. Someone looked at how it was strapped and and was told that it was in correctly and I didn't have to worry about it. It put my mind at rest. I highly recommend anyone who is around children that travel in car seats do this when the seat is first installed in the car, also. Have them take it out and watch them put it in again, in case the seat should ever need to be removed from the car and then replaced. If the child is awake and you're someplace where they can be on a blanket playing or held, they shouldn't be in the seat. I also agree that question #1 was worded oddly. I know the answer to it, but got it wrong due to the wording.

3 years 39 weeks

Question 4 doesn't say rear-facing carseats, so you can get other answers. Forward facing seats, the straps should be at or just above their shoulder, rear-facing, it's at or just below. cheersdarlin, they're recommending they not be regularly used for overnight sleeping. Napping or for a medical reason here and there is still considered safe. Regular overnight sleeping, where the child and seat or unattended, can increase risks as well as cause problems from the straps being on them every night for hours on end. #1's also worded oddly, but at least this time lil finally put 1 year AND 20 lbs in her answer. I highly recommend everyone attend a carseat safety function or even just visit your local fire or police department for a check. With 80% of carseats installed incorrectly, chances are yours is one of them.

cheersdarlin916 3 years 39 weeks

I am surprised my son is still alive and doing well with everything that these researchers are coming up with now a days. If my son fell asleep in his car seat I would just carry the seat in and let him sleep. I was not about to risk waking him up to move him into his crib. Sleeping babies...good...cranky babies....not good. I also put him in his car seat to sleep when he had a bad cold so that he could breath better. If I laid him down he would get all congested and not be able to sleep.

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