Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro
Pediatrician
Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
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LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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  • Attending Physician, Providence Tarzana Regional Medical Center
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 6
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Attention Parents: New Car Seat Recommendations
16
Posted in Adoption by Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro on May 04, 2009
 

Based on the recent discussions I've had with the parents of young children in my practice, I realize many are unaware of the new car seat recommendations for children less than 2 years of age.  So I'd like to take this opportunity to make sure I do my part in spreading the word about this very important safety measure stemming from recent research which has shown children aged 1-2 years of age are 5 times safer when riding rear-facing as compared to same aged children who ride forward facing.  I repeat...5 times safer...or, in other terms, 75% less likely to die or have a serious injury when rear facing.

 

Specifically, rear facing seats are known to support the head, neck and back and pelvis as it more evenly distributes the force from a crash as compared to children less than 2 who are forward facing.  In fact, in Sweden, recommendations are to keep children rear facing until 4 years of age but bear in mind Swedish car seats are designed differently than ones used in the U.S.

 

So just as important as the "back to sleep" campaign for the prevention of SIDS and wearing a helmet and other appropriate safety gear when on a bicycle/tricycle, I will now equally stress how essential it is to have a child less than 2 years of age continue to ride rear facing as long as they appropriately fit in their car seats.

 

For more information about general car seat safety guidelines, I refer you to the American Academy of Pediatrics...http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm.  Unfortunately, the new recommendations have not made its way to the website just yet.

 

 

Dr. Jeremy


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Displaying comments 16-1 of 16
16
It is very interesting!
Regards,
Sildenafil
By mar4ela  Sep 30, 2009
15
Just me a Grandmaw. I hate car seats. I lived with out them and so did my kids. I know that I will get lots of bad mouthing about saying this, but it is true. I always had a van and my kids could lay on the floor and sleep, when we had been on a trip.
By mscorgi  May 17, 2009
14
I see the points here but how can a 2 year old fit into a rear facing car seat?
By BaByBuMp08  May 12, 2009
13
Hi Rene,
A child who is 8.5 months needs to be in a rear facing seat.
Dr. Jeremy
By DrJeremy  May 09, 2009
12
Thank you so much, I still want to know this though, my mother in law, insist on a front facing car seat. and if thats not bad enough , she buckles it in the middle of the back seat. To me, that seems wrong, I think of an accident, GOD FORBID, but when in the middle of a car in the back, of course, but if something was to happen, you have that huge space in between the two front seats. which could have something go threw the window, by pass the front seats and right in the middle of the back seat, where the baby is. I think that putting her in a bigger rear facing car seat on either side, but not in the middle, would be more safer to me, What do you think Dr. or am i wrong, before you answer, let me tell you this, my granddaughter is 8 1/2 months old, and weighs about 25 pds shes a big baby to me anyways, But i want whats best for her, so im asking you, plz advise, so i can print and let other granny see what a DOCTOR with passion for children says, thank you
By rene601  May 08, 2009
11
Wow! Thanks!
By dorothiec  May 08, 2009
10
Since I was instrumental in getting the carseat law passed in Washington State many changes have been made. Thanks for giving parents the "heads-up" and keep up the good work! SARA
By shakysara  May 07, 2009
9
My DD was rear-facing for precisely 3 months. At that point she went into a cast for hip dysplasia and simply would no longer fit. I drove on egg shells until she turned one. Now I know it should have been until she turned 2 :-)

She's almost 3, so I guess its fine now. I always felt I was being a bad mom, but I really had no other choice.
By ClaresMom  May 06, 2009
8
Actually adults would even be safer rear facing too, but it's hard to drive that way! We kept our son rear facing until he was almost 18 mo for this reason. (I had to fight my husband to keep him rear facing for that long so thanks for the info... maybe it will help with keeping our second rear facing) By then he was just so anxious to look out the windows, he needed to turn around. It made driving around much easier with him. I don't know what will happen with our second one, since he will probably want to be like his big brother and face forward. I know in Finland they want them rear facing until 3.
By hthomas98  May 06, 2009
7
Rsisland, Great point about the legs but the thought is leg trauma is less of a concern than head trauma.
By DrJeremy  May 06, 2009
6
I think it is a great idea. I am curious about how it would work though. Our kids are all grown so no car seats here anymore. What about their little legs? Are the newer seats designed to have room for their legs?
By rsisland  May 06, 2009
5
HI
I just read your article and this has been the case in Australia for many years I believe it goes by weight and most children are facing forward by 12 months.
Janette
By 1959  May 06, 2009
4
i had no idea that you were suppose to keep the car seat rear facing until atleast two yrs of age. in nj i was told to turn them when they are one or have reached the twenty pound mark. thanks for the info
By erin0718  May 05, 2009
3
This is an excellent article! My son was rear facing until he was 3.5 years old... only turned forward because of weight. There is actually a new seat coming out this summer from Graco that rear faces to 40lbs. I always advise parents to use their seats to the limit and also to harness past 40lbs.
By StrugglingtoSurvive  May 04, 2009
2
I kept mine rear facing as long as I could - but his legs were so long I finally had to change him. I wonder how the seats are designed in Sweden.
By Thriver  May 04, 2009
1
Interesting. I had no idea that the car seat should be kept rear-facing until age two.
By DLR77  May 04, 2009
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