The Law
The law can vary from state to state and country to country. For brevity, I'll review the law as it stands in California.- Children that meet either of these requirements must be in a child restraint system, in the back seat.
- under six years old
- under 60 pounds
- That same child may ride in the front if
- There is no rear seat, or
- The rear seats are side or rear facing jump seats, or
- The safety seat can not be safely installed in the back seat, or
- All of the back seats are taken up by children under 12
- a valid medical reason exists
- Children may not ride in the front seat with an airbag active if they are
- Under one, or
- Less than 20 pounds, or
- in a rear-facing child restraint system
Strangely, I found nothing in California Law specifying that a rear facing safety seat must be used. I did find, however, that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that rear facing seats be used at the very least by children who are under 1 year of age and by children who weigh under 20 pounds who are older than 1.
Why
More children suffer terminal injuries every year in car accidents than by any other means. Just because Mom and Dad are safe drivers, that doesn't mean that everybody else on the road is. Rear facing seats are safest for both adults and children. Babies face a greater risk of spinal cord injury in car accidents. A rear facing seat spreads the force of a frontal crash (accounting for nearly 3/4 of all car accidents) over the whole area of the baby's back, head, and neck. They also prevent the head from snapping relative to the body in a frontal crash.
Making Sure Your Kids are Safe
Poorly installed car seats are not safe. Loosely attached child safety seats, and loose fitting harnesses on child safety seats will cause greater injuries. The seats and children need to be strapped in tightly to avoid causing additional impact injuries. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration provides comprehensive information for ensuring that your seats are properly attached. Car dealers and major childrens stores frequently bring in trained and knowledgable people to verify car seat installation and to provide tips to parents. Take the time to visit one of these events and have your car checked out.
Join The Child Car Seat Safety Discussion
