What are the AAP recommendations for rearfacing and where to find?

Marvin711 · Jun 17, 2009

Wondering what the official statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics is on rear-facing? (Not that it will change what I'm doing!! lol)

But just curious, as I've talked with our family doctor a couple of times re:erf . Last time we talked, I told him I thought that the AAP had updated their recommendations to say basically it was still ok to turn children around at 1 year AND 20lbs but that remaining rearfacing until your child exceeds the weight and height limit for your seat might be best practice??? Did I dream this, or is that right?

I saw someone quote the AAP in one thread as now saying RF'ing until age 2 is the correct way, but I can't find that "officially".

Please point me to the correct info!

MomToEliEm · Jun 17, 2009

There was an article published via AAP newsletters with some information about rearfacing to at least 2 years of age (http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/30/4/12-a), but that was not the official recommendations. I read somewhere that AAP was going to review their recommendations in 2010 though so maybe we will see something official next year.

Here is their current recommendations:
http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

Some excerpts

At a minimum, children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds.

Q: What if my baby weighs more than 20 pounds but is not yet 1 year old ?
A:Use a seat that can be used rear-facing by children who weigh more than 20 pounds and keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible into the second year of life, or at least until he has reached his first birthday.

Once your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the seat for rear-facing, she can ride forward-facing in a convertible seat. However, it is best for her to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of her car safety seat.

wendytthomas · Jun 18, 2009

Or here, http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;109/3/550

First bullet under Recommendations:

"# Children should face the rear of the vehicle until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lb to decrease the risk of cervical spine injury in the event of a crash. Infants who weigh 20 lb before 1 year of age should ride rear facing in a convertible seat or infant seat approved for higher weights until at least 1 year of age.3,4 If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.3 "

Dated March 2002.

Wendy