After new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), AAA is encouraging drivers to keep their rear-facing car seats strapped in a little longer.
The AAP previously recommended keeping children in rear-facing seats until age 2, but now say that it is safer to keep kids in those sears until they reach the height and weight limits. Rear-facing seats add an element of support to a child's head and neck in a way that forward-facing seats cannot.
"Their heads are a little heavier, so when you turn around forward-facing if you're in an accident their head's just going to fall forward whereas their chest is protected but not that head and they're more susceptible to neck and spine injuries," says Lima AAA Sales Manager Cindy Nelson. "When they're rear-facing, that's all protected."
After they outgrow their rear-facing seats, children should move on to a forward-facing car seat and stay in that until they meet the height and weight limits before moving on to a booster seat. Children should use a booster seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
