Rear Facing Child Car Seats - Baby Care

Are rear facing child car seats safer?

There is mounting evidence that suggests parents are too quick to change from rear facing to front facing child car seats and that rear facing car seats should be used until the age of four. In Sweden it is common practice to use a rear-facing car seat until the child is four years old, whereas in the UK parents tend to change babies to a front facing seat when an average boy weighs 9kg/20lb at around eight months old.

Studies backed by safety experts have indicated that there would have been a higher survival rate if a child had been restrained by a rear facing child car seat, resulting in fewer neck and chest injuries compared with forward facing car seats.

Crash Forces - Front Facing Child Seats

With forward facing car seats, a child's head contiues to move forward while the body is held back by the straps. This can excessively stretch the spinal cord due the relatively large mass of the head in young children.

Crash Forces - Rear Facing Child Seats

Rear facing car seats align the head, neck and spine distributing crash forces, cradling the child with frontal impact.

Use rear facing car seats for longer

Although forward facing child seats aren't dangerous the evidence suggests that it is safer for children to travel rearward-facing for as long as possible.

Current Rear Facing Child Car Seats available at Baby Care

Britax Multi Tech Car Seat Coming Soon

The Britax Multi Tech is a rearward facing child car seat that takes a child up to 6-8 years old. This item can not be sold via the internet as it will have to be fitted by a specially trained Baby Care member of staff. Please watch this space for further details.

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