I always had mixed feelings when I would put my baby into his rear car seat facing backwards. It didn’t seem fair that he was always seeing where we had been instead of where we were going. It also bothered me that I couldn’t see him as we drove. When he was fussing or cooing, I knew he was all right. When he was quiet, however, I never knew if he was sleeping or was having a problem. If not for the known safety benefits of rear-facing car seats, I would have faced him forward for my own convenience. I looked forward facing him forward on his first birthday, until I found that current advice is to leave children rear facing for as long as possible, up to two years.
The Child’s Frustration
photo credit: momsquest
When my son was just an infant, it didn’t matter to him in which direction he faced. He would be happy with his bottle, cooing at the mobile that was suspended from the headliner, or napping as we drove. As he got older, however, his need to socialize and be part of the “action” began to surface. He would fuss and try to face forward. When other people were in the car, including children of friends, he’d became acutely aware that he was facing the wrong way for socializing and would fuss accordingly.
Safety is Paramount
My decision to turn him to face forward on his first birthday relieved some of my stress about his facing backward, until his first birthday arrived and I realized that he was not tall enough for his head to be above the rear of his car seat, and could still be better protected by facing the rear. I did a search on the internet for information about car seat safety. What I found, especially pictures of the child’s spinal cord, head, and neck and how they would be affected in both a rear-facing and forward-facing crash, convinced me to stay with the rear facing seat as long as possible.
A child’s spinal cord is undeveloped, with a higher ratio of cartilage to bone than that found in adults. In a forward facing crash, the head snaps forward and can stretch, even break the spinal cord. I decided to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics suggestion that a child would be safer he used a rear-facing car seat until the age of two or until he reached the height and weight limits that would require him to move to a forward facing seat. I’d find another way to deal with his irritation and discomfort.
A Social Solution
My husband and I decided that, when on family trips with the baby, one of us would sit in the back with him, unless he was asleep. This would make him feel less isolated and more secure. When I went on shopping trips, when possible, I’d go with one of my sisters or with a neighborhood babysitter. I’d have her sit in back to provide company and socialization. When the baby and I travelled alone, I’d bring lots of interesting soft toys to entertain him. On longer trips, I would plan for time out of the car to give him a change of pace.
The Ultimate Reward
My child is nearly four years old now. He sits in our favorite booster seat-Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat in the car’s back seat. We can now visually communicate through the rear view mirror. When I see him safe and healthy, I think of the times, when he sat rear facing, that I had to slam on the brakes at an intersection, swerve to avoid an accident, or experience a near miss on our weekly shopping trips. Thanks to his Britax Advocate 70 CS convertible car seat which can be both rear faced and forward faced, he sat there safe and healthy. Extended use of a rear-facing car seat can seem like a burden, but the protection offered makes it a blessing. As a prudent parent, it’s the right thing to do to ensure that you child grows up healthy and happy.
More reading:
>>Rear facing vs. Forward Facing Car Seats, Be on a Safer Side
>>Best Britax Car Seat: My Review of Britax Advocate 70 CS Convertible Car Seat
>>Best Britax Booster Car Seat – Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat Review