The Importance of Rear-Facing: Version 2

[graygraysmama]

We are still rear facing our 18 month old. Our doctor told us 2 is the minimum age to turn him forward. It hasn't really seemed like a big deal. Our doctor said it was safer for him so we just left the car seat turned rear facing. Our son doesn't mind and even though he is short for his age he seems to prefer sitting cross legged once he is buckled. I don't understand how parents justify turning them forward facing so young other than the law saying 1 and 20 lbs

[blondie027]

and what if you get hit anywhere else? all car crashes don't just happen from the front!

[xsunshinegirlie]

@blondie027 over 90% of accidents are front impact. Children are safer rear facing in side impact crashes as well. Back end collisions are very rare, and the research is inconclusive as to whether or not rear facing kids are "worse off" when hit from behind. It's a very rare instance, and many cases have shown that the rear facing children are still safer, even in back end collisions :)

[modestmightymouse]

hmm, nope pretty sure I was just reading your commentary.. but if you want to think of me as an idiot that's fine.. I don't respect your opinion anyway.

[modestmightymouse]

You really think TAPE would hold the head in place at that velocity. You're an idiot!

[suminfishy]

Yes, and if you do some simple searching around the internet, Such as "100 mile per hour tape" you will see that um. Yep it can be cut into smaller strips and um yep it's pretty strong. But then again, you have to be able to think for yourself versus being told how to think... Be careful whom you call an idiot as you might be looking in a reflective surface.

[1979sunshine]

I'm pretty sure this is addressed in earlier comments, but that isn't TAPE on the dummy's head in the rear-facing video. It is a sensor for head movement and would allow movement of the dummy's head if there were any.

[lenats31]

@1979sunshine You are right. There is indeed no tape in this video. What you see happens to be a sensor band that sends dummy data to a computer in the crash lab. It isn´t holding the dummy in any way what-so-ever

.I have this from VERY reliable sources in the carseat industry.

[KaraBooKaraBeaner]

There's so much wrong with your logic. First, that's the amount of movement you will see in a crash when the seat belt is as tight as it can possibly be upon installation. Seat belts are designed to stretch to reduce the amount of impact the body endures. The seat belt absorbs part of the crash impact by being flexible.

And do you really think a piece of tape would prevent the head from moving in an impact like that?? If so, maybe they need to just start selling that tape instead of car seats!

[suminfishy]

First off I am not an advocate of NOT using rear facing seats, however if you watch the video again, you can see the head POP back from the so called SENSOR. And FYI, I personally know of tape that I used in the military that is strong enough to use as a Seat Belt. We called it 100 MPH tape cause it was STRONG. In the video look at the chin. it pops up in a downard motion. Watch the video again and be honest. Again, I think they need to use a different type of sensor not TAPE.

[lenats31]

@suminfishy Yeah I´m pretty sure that the Swedes would fake the T-Plus test results so obviously. Look here´s an idea. Copy all your replies to these videos and and add them to a mail that you send to VTI in Sweden. You might as well send a copy of that to Volvo in Sweden as well while you are at it.

[rambojuliuscaesar]

you wrote the same dumb ass comment on the other video...

[suminfishy]

Ok since you appear to be vastly more intelligent then the rest of us out here. Oh yea. I do testing for a LIVING so I kinda know a little about this. Why does the video look so different, why are the angles of the cameras different. ......

Again, I am not against rear facing car seats, i would simply love to see a test that appears to have the same METRICS used in it. While they may be exactly the same from a CAMERAs POV it appears different.

[Daddy2AnL]

Loanesay - it is supposed to be "manipulative" as you call it. It is a plea for parents to keep their kids rear-facing to keep them safe. That's what persuasive videos DO is "manipulate". Just depends on what spin you want to put on it. Personally, I think it was a well-done video and I've used it with people in my life who turn their babies forward-facing as soon as possible because they don't know better. These crash tests are pretty convincing!

[wingsafire]

I was in an accident in March, hit by a driver out of control during an ice storm, my daughter is rear facing and I was told she was uninjured because of that. Her seat did not budge! The only research I need is the proof in my beautiful little girls smile! She is 2 years 4 months old and still rear facing (only 25lbs).

[jsrcamp]

@wingsafire soo cool that you have that story and can tell people about it! thank you so much, I am a carseat advocate and post Videos all the time on Face Book about the benifits and safty of Refacing and even keeping their kids in a 5 point harness longer then the usaly 40lbs that the cheaper carseats go to. i have a 4 and a half year old daughter that is still in a 5 point harness at 53lbs(the Graco natulis) and my 10month old daughter will be ERF till the limit of her seat RF.

[loanesay]

what a manipulative video. it contains true facts but the music and presentation are VERY manipulative. that said, my son will rear face for a few years yet.

[indiaryofjane]

This is a great video!!! I've learned a lot from car seat forum and this hits it all right on the nose. Plus it's great to see some of those cute kiddos that I talk to their parents on the forum with!!! A+ for RF in my book!

[14mondays]

Gee, if the tape is just a sensor, how come there isn't one on the FF dummy? The tape clearly attaches the head to the seat--you can see the head pulling on the tape, and that the tape is preventing the head from going forward.

I'm not saying Rf'ing is not safer than FF'ing--I'm just saying that this video is misleading.

[owensark]

I don't understand how that's misleading- with that head thrusting forward the way it does, do you really think a piece of tape is going to HOLD it there? And in the RF car seat, the SEAT is holding the head- not a piece of tape. The difference is OBVIOUS to me anyway. Tape, or no tape. JMO

[14mondays]

look at a video of a rf'ing dummy without a "sensor"--the head does move. Anyone who knows basic physics will tell you that in a crash, after the initial propulsion forward, there is movement in the other direction. Obviously, the force is lessened dramatically though.

Like I said, I'm not disputing that rf'ing is safer. I am just saying that this video makes it seem like little Johnny is not going to move at all in a crash, and that is simply not the case.

[famillelauzon]

Actually yes a childs legs who are too long to be rear facing can kill them! Obviously you didn't do all your research before making this video. Breaking your femal artery in your leg can cause you to bleed to death! Putting a 4 year old rear facing is not necessary. I'm so tired of some parents making other parents who follow government guidelines!!! (1 year or 20lbs!) feel bad for not rear facing longer. My child , my decision. Your child, your decision, simple as that.

[firemomof3]

A child is safer rear facing vs forward facing...the research is in....and they are conclusive....end of discussion. You need to do your own research before posting incorrect information

[famillelauzon]

If the research is in and is conclusive how come it's legal to have them turned around at the age of 1? Right, so obviously it's not as dangerous as you think or else the legal age to turn the carseat around would be 4 :)

[tessabianca]

Since when does the government care more than the very bare minimum about our kids? It is up to the parents to provide exceptional safety. With your reason, giving whole grapes to babies would be illegal. As parents we know that could cause a child to die. Those of us with common sense choose to do the right thing with the information we've received. If you choose to ignore this info, that's your choice, unfortunately, it's a choice you make for your child as well.

[Daddy2AnL]

It is still legal to turn babies forward-facing at one year old because laws take YEARS to get passed. And because some parents don't want the government telling them what to do with their kids. And because some parents can't afford car seats that allow rear-facing until 4. And because some children won't fit in a car seat rear-facing until 4. DO THE RESEARCH. It is dangerous for 1 year old to be forward-facing. Period.

[swtgi1982]

@Daddy2AnL thank you, also many parents do not listen to the law anyways even if it were to change it would take a long time for parents to change their ways. I know plenty of parents who turn their child at 20lbs, even if the child is not yet a year. I am not a supporter of them nor will I have anything to do with it.

My three kids ride rear facing until the limits of their seats, which my oldest at 4.5yr old still has not reached.

[mama2noah07]

The Rear-Facing "dummy" head is NOT taped down to the seat. It's just measuring how much the head flies forward.

I will never get why parents choose to forward face so early! Car accidents are the #1 killer of children and forward facing too soon and premature booster usage are the reasons why! In Sweden children Rear Face to age 4 or 5! And approx. 1 child a year dies in auto accidents. We need to catch up with sweden!

[mjmcvey]

did you notice that the rear facing "dummy" has his head tapped to the carseat? Obviously he's not going any where! :-P just thought that was slightly humorous...but yes rear facing is safer...I just wouldn't recommend taping your babies head to the seat :-) hehehe

[NicolaMonk]

Even if you were right, then we would be advocating taping children to their car seats, wouldn't we?

[lstacherski]

That called measuring of volocity! its not taped down..... geez

[thinkfaster]

very poorly done video that worries more about presentational drama than simply showing the crash videos and information.

[lenats31]

No,

The "tape" is a band with sensors, that meassures the loads/forces applied to the child´s head, upper spine and neck as well as far the child´s head moves forward at 35 mph. The sensor band does not hold the dummy´s head at all. It is used to test car seats to the Swedish T-Standard, which allows far less movement and far lower loads than those allowed in the ECE R standard in Europe.

[Simwookiee]

My youngest just turned 1 yesterday. I know he's over 20 pounds, but is going to remain rear facing until the limits of his seat. I bought him the Evenflo Triumph Advance with a 35 pound rear facing limit. He's happy and can actually see his brothers better rear facing. My older 3 children are too big to rear face at 7, almost 6, and 4.5. My 4 and 6 year olds ride in Graco Nautilus' using the harness. My 7 year old rides in a Graco HBB

[JustKheli]

Thank You!

[CountessBatula]

This video gave me goosebumps - I cringe to think of my 4 children in that situation! I will be leaving the baby rear facing for a long time now!

[jrcharfauros]

Proud parent of a rear facing toddler at 26lbs and 2.5 years old.  When it comes to safety for our children there really should be no question, DO NOT forward face a child before they absolutely must be!

[GlidingEagleWoman]

I can't believe how many people think it is okay to face their babies forward in a car seat before recommended age.

[psychopopek]

I don't have kids of my own yet, but wow that was really imformative I will be sure to tell my patients and everyone else I know thank you

[faeriemama2007]

My DD is 17 months and around 25 lbs. STILL rear facing! I love her and care about her too much to switch that car-seat!! She's the best thing that ever happened to me and I just can't imagine losing her just because I decided to turn her carseat around. When she's finally ready to be forward facing, I'm going to get a Graco Nautilus, because it has 5-point harness until 65 lbs! But for now, she's staying rear-facing. I may even buy a different rear-facing carseat bc mine only goes to 30lb

[MamaCatCat]

My mom bought a car seat that says the child must be twenty- TWO pounds, not just 20 pounds. My daughter is 15 months and 20 pounds. My mom had her forward facing in that carseat... let me tell you I WAS PISSED.

[anjomi1986]

My kids will stay RFing as long as possible! I love them to much!

[kerriebeth21]

I get hassled about my baby boy being rear-facing. I cry when I watch this video. I KNOW I'm doing the best thing for him. My seat is good at rear-facing position until 35 lbs, so he will remain that way until that day. Thank you so much for this amazing video!

[MorganandEedna]

I was disappointed to see that my neighbors 10 month old twins are foward facing. They have great car seats ( Britax Roundabouts) but they are not rear facing. When I have kids they are going to rear face until they litterly cant anymore. Rear facing is soooo much safer!!

[pingbns]

tekk your neighbors about rear facing

[nateandsuzi]

Awesome video! My husband & I are both CPSTs, and we love sharing videos with parents & caregivers! Your video has great info!

-mommy to a 25 month old, 30 lb ERFer!

[MENTAL100]

Wow my son went to a front facing seat at 8months as he had outgrown his baby seat, if I had known I would have put the second stage seat rear facing

[pixieemt]

As a CPST and mother I share this video w/ parents and caregivers. My son is 15 months 26lbs and still rearfacing in his covertible seats. 1y/o and 20lbs is THE MINIMUM! Extended Rearfacing is the best gift you can give your child!

[jtmidnight]

I knew rear facing for toddler is recommended, but I didn't know how important it is. I am placing my 15 month old nephew backwards again whether he likes it or not. And make sure my sister does the same. Safety comes first. I will also seek more reasearch on this topic. Also great soundtrack.

[MeganFaye1983]

I'm nanny to two boys. One is almost 5, and too tall to be rear facing, but at 34 pounds, still in a 5-point harness, and his 20 mo. old brother, in an identical car seat, is rear facing.

Thank you for making and sharing this video.

[aderialdream]

Glad to see other toddlers still rear-facing, my 19 month old 25 lb daughter still comfortably sits rear-facing.

[mikeganino]

What a great video...thanks for educating parents and caregivers.

[kcmillerfamily]

Absolutely fantastic! Such an important message and all too often ignored!

[emoney8181]

The pictures were very powerful. It was good to see the taller toddlers still sitting comfortably rear facing. I was getting nervous that my 12 month old was getting too tall for rear facing, but not anymore!

[PickledRednecks]

Beautiful, I am known as the car seat nazi in my family and my 21 month old is still rearfacing in a Radian. If the family doesn't put her rear facing, they aren't allowed to have her.

[forphuksake]

Great job! My ds will definitely be staying rear facing for for as long as possible!

[becka00]

This is such a great video im sending to all my email contacts! great job! well done!!

[scatterbunny]

So nice to have all the relevant safety information AND photos of older kids happily rear-facing. :o) Great video!

[shebro79]

Awesome! I'm sure this will save some lives :-)

My son is still happily rear facing at 24 months old!

[jessiebear65]

I'm saving this to send to all my friends- more people need to know about this! That crashtest clip is seriously scary....

[wallewomble]

Good one :)

[heansa]

you did an awesome job and i agree with sam ...i loved seeing my happy baby in there

[SamPaceyJoshua]

You did a great job on this video and it's great to see all those happy rear-facing kiddos (especially mine, of course)!

[Dragonflyby73]

Great job, thanks for getting the message out. I'm letting all my friends know about this video.