As a parent, I take a few things more seriously than others. Bedtime and sleep routines have always been a top priority in our household. I wanted to establish good, independent sleep habits early on so our kids could become confident sleepers. When it came to introducing solids, I chose baby-led weaning with all three of my girls, and I’m proud to say that it has made them adventurous eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods.
But among all of these decisions, one thing that I have always taken very seriously is car seat safety—specifically, extended rear-facing.
As parents, we all want to keep our kids as safe as possible, and to me, rear-facing in the car is one of the best ways to ensure their protection. Like many parenting decisions, this can be controversial, and I know it’s a subject that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it’s something I believe is worth talking about.
In Connecticut, like in many other states, car seat laws outline specific ages and weights for transitioning from rear-facing to forward-facing, from a five-point harness to a booster seat, and from a booster to using just a seatbelt. However, when I first read through these laws, I felt that the guidelines for rear-facing and other transitions were often on the low end. For example, some children can legally switch from rear-facing to forward-facing as early as two years old, which always seemed too soon to me.
It’s easy to assume that once kids hit those milestones, they’re ready for the next step in their car seat journey, but research and safety recommendations tell a different story. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children remain rear-facing for as long as possible, ideally until the age of four or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. This advice is based on the fact that rear-facing offers the best protection for a child’s head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash.
The science behind rear-facing car seats is clear: they offer superior protection.
For our family, this scientific evidence was a game-changer. Even though our state’s law may have said it was time to turn the car seats around, I wasn’t comfortable making that switch until we had fully exhausted the rear-facing options. Sometimes, having a rear-facing kid and a five-point harness kid is inconvenient. But those minor inconveniences do not outweigh the safety benefits for my girls. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the more time they have to grow and develop the strength to ride forward-facing safely.
When I was pregnant with my third, we had to update the car seats to fit three across our SUV’s bench seat. One detail I looked at was the weight limits for each car seat. I wanted seats that would fit in my car but also allowed for extended safety and weight limits.
It’s peace of mind knowing that my kids would be the safest possible if a crash happened!
Regarding car seat safety, there is no room for compromise. I’ve always felt that the extra effort it takes to keep my kids rear-facing longer is worth it for their safety. My youngest is almost three and still has quite a way to go until she hits the weight limit for her rear-facing seat. My six-and-a-half-year-old is still safe in her five-point harness. It can be inconvenient, especially when other parents may switch to forward-facing seats earlier. But for me, it’s never been a question.
We’ve kept our girls rear-facing until they reach the weight and height limits set by our car seats. I have no regrets about delaying the switch to forward-facing, and I believe that by doing so, we’ve kept them safer in the event of a car accident. As parents, it’s our job to make decisions based on what’s best for our children, even when it means going against the grain.