There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, some car seats allow children to ride rear-facing until they are 3 years old or weigh up to 50 pounds. If you are not sure whether your child is ready to move to a forward-facing car seat, talk to your child's doctor.
Here are some of the reasons why the AAP recommends that children ride rear-facing for as long as possible:
* Rear-facing car seats provide better protection for children's heads, necks, and spines in the event of a crash.
* Children's bones are not fully developed until they are about 12 years old. Rear-facing car seats help to protect children's fragile bones from injury in a crash.
* Children's lungs are also not fully developed until they are about 8 years old. Rear-facing car seats help to protect children's lungs from injury in a crash.
Moving your child to a forward-facing car seat is not something to be taken lightly. Children who are too young or too small to ride in a forward-facing car seat are at an increased risk of injury or death in a crash. If you are not sure whether your child is ready to move to a forward-facing car seat, talk to your child's doctor.
