New car seat guidelines from the AAp

[jodifla]

what does "official" mean? Isn't it state by state?

These are just guidelines. The law goes state by state.

I don't have a problem with them being guidelines, but I sure would if they made all these things law.

 

[scrapquitler]

Aren't a 2 year olds legs going to be too long to be in a rear facing seat?

I can't imagine a 12 year old in a booster seat either.

My DD sat in the booster seat until she was 12, the seatbelt didn't sit properly across her lap and chest until then. She never had a problem with it.

I've read in the past that the legs being bent and jammed up against the seat back isn't that bad for the kids...better to get a broken leg than a broken neck in an accident. I've also read that in Sweden and a number of other European countries they keep kids rear facing until age 3 or 4 because it is much safer, but their carseats are obviously designed for the heavier weights.

 

[jodifla]

My DD sat in the booster seat until she was 12, the seatbelt didn't sit properly across her lap and chest until then. She never had a problem with it.

I've read in the past that the legs being bent and jammed up against the seat back isn't that bad for the kids...better to get a broken leg than a broken neck in an accident. I've also read that in Sweden and a number of other European countries they keep kids rear facing until age 3 or 4 because it is much safer, but their carseats are obviously designed for the heavier weights.

They thing about comparing us to Europe is they drive way less because they use mass transit, and they have far fewer children than people do in the U.S.

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't count on it, my nearly 10 year old isn't even 70lbs!

My 10 year old just hit 60 (and is still in a booster). Only ds12 got out at 8 - he was 80 pounds, and 4'9").

 

[locolala]

My DD is 3 1/2, just under 30 lbs, and in a Britax Frontier. That seat harnesses to 85 lbs, but I'm not entirely sure if keep her harnessed that long (she's so petite she'll probably be 8 before she's 85 lbs!). My DS is in a Marathon and he'll stay rear-facing until he's 2, even though he's a chunky monkey at 20 lbs at 8 months!

I didn't break 85lbs till 6th grade! Looking back I should have been in a booster until 5th or 6th grade. We'll keep my daughter harnessed still she can safely sit in a booster, and then boostered until she can pass the 5 step test. If that's 6th grade, so be it. Safety comes first.

 

[rchristiansen]

So I read over the journal study that was cited in many of these news reports (http://fcs.tamu.edu/safety/passenger_safety/certified-tech/rear-facing2.pdf). While yes there was a significance regarding the number of injuries based on facing vs forward facing, the study has a number of flaws in it not discussed. It only sampled data from 1998 - 2003. There is no control for the year, make and model of the vehicles. It considered the TYPE of vehicle, but not anything else. Vehicle crash safety has increased over the last 10 years. In addition, the study has a full page of the limitations regarding the methods and data.

I'm all for safety, when there is no negative impact on who the safety recommendation is aimed at. I think the recommendation for keeping kids in a booster as long as possible is a good one. However, squishing your kid into a car in the name of safety doesn't sit well with me. Why not just take it a step further and tell people not to drive with their kids in the car? And don't tell me the kids don't mind having their legs all bent. Unless and until they can make rear facing car seats that can properly accommodate the bigger kids, recommendations like this only serve to freak out the general population.

 

[camlace]

And no 12 year old would sit in a booster!

Why not...for kids nowadays it is "normal" to be in a carseat, harness, booster seat, whatever much longer than when I was a kid. When I was 12 if my mother put me in a booster I would have put up a fight because "no one else was doing it", but today...its the "norm", so why would my 8-12 yo think that there was anything unusual about sitting in a booster.

And to all the short adults/small adults I most certainly think their should be some type of adjustment to be able to be made to the seat because 4'9" is 4'9" whether you are 8 or 88...the seatbelt won't fit you properly.

For the ones that worry about the too long legs, just watch a toddler sit on the floor with their legs totally flat on the floor, knees bent and feet in the back. They are extremely flexible at such a young age, that sitting criss cross in a rear facing seat really is no big deal.

Very happy the recommendations are official and hopefully states will be on top of this and change their laws

 

[luvmy3]

Soon everyone in the car will be in a carseat, and it will be recommended that only the driver face foward.

I can't say whether or not I agree unless I read why the change.

 

[scrapquitler]

They thing about comparing us to Europe is they drive way less because they use mass transit, and they have far fewer children than people do in the U.S.

So because we have more children or use less mass transit we shouldn't keep our children as safe? I don't think the laws of physics work differently in Europe than they do in the US.

 

[SaraJayne]

Why not...for kids nowadays it is "normal" to be in a carseat, harness, booster seat, whatever much longer than when I was a kid. When I was 12 if my mother put me in a booster I would have put up a fight because "no one else was doing it", but today...its the "norm", so why would my 8-12 yo think that there was anything unusual about sitting in a booster.

And to all the short adults/small adults I most certainly think their should be some type of adjustment to be able to be made to the seat because 4'9" is 4'9" whether you are 8 or 88...the seatbelt won't fit you properly.

For the ones that worry about the too long legs, just watch a toddler sit on the floor with their legs totally flat on the floor, knees bent and feet in the back. They are extremely flexible at such a young age, that sitting criss cross in a rear facing seat really is no big deal.

Very happy the recommendations are official and hopefully states will be on top of this and change their laws

I couldn't name one kid over 7 years old that I know that still sits in a booster.

As soon as mine met the minimum weights, they were turned around...and everyone was much happier that way.

 

[rchristiansen]

but today...its the "norm", so why would my 8-12 yo think that there was anything unusual about sitting in a booster....

I don't know any 12 year old in a booster. My 8 year old already complains that she's the only one in her class still in a booster. And she's still in a booster because she's the youngest and the shortest in her class. I think she has a few inches left.

They are extremely flexible at such a young age, that sitting criss cross in a rear facing seat really is no big deal.

Right, when they CHOOSE to sit that way. I do not understand how it's OK to force them to sit that way. Make the car seats to accommodate the longer legs, not the other way around. Forcing my child to sit in a position like that for an extended period of time seems harmful.

 

[monkeybug]

I don't know any 12 year old in a booster. My 8 year old already complains that she's the only one in her class still in a booster. And she's still in a booster because she's the youngest and the shortest in her class. I think she has a few inches left.



Right, when they CHOOSE to sit that way. I do not understand how OKforce them to sit that way. Make the car seats to accommodate the longer legs, not the other way around. Forcing my child to sit in a position like that for an extended period of time seems harmful.

My daughter is 8 and in a booster and so are all of her classmates that I know of. We are all constantly swapping seats back and forth between our cars, and I've never heard anyone complain.


While it may seem that little legs being squished is more harmful, I guess physics has proved otherwise.

 

[monkeybug]

My 6 month old is 23lbs. I just bought a Britax Boulevard because of the higher weight limits. He is almost out of his infant carrier.

I just have to give you some major props if your still carrying around an infant carrier! My 6 month old was 19lbs at his last appointment and I switched him to a boulevard about 3 weeks ago. My scrawny arms couldn't handle it anymore!!
You must have big guns by now mama!!

 

[rchristiansen]

My daughter is 8 and in a booster and so are all of her classmates that I know of. .

Right, my daughter is 8 and in a booster, probably only for another year. All her classmates are 9. It's reasonable for her to be in the booster because she's short enough for that booster. But her classmates are a whole head taller than her.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I couldn't name one kid over 7 years old that I know that still sits in a booster.

In Indiana the law is 8 so all 7 year olds are in boosters. When my DS turned 8, our pediatrician told us the research showed 4'9" was when the kids should come out of a booster, not age 8. So my oldest got out of a booster at 10 1/2. His sister will be lucky if she is 4"9" by 11.

A lot of kids get out of boosters at age 8, but I am not the only one with kids past that age.

 

[grafxgirl]

Among the changes in AAP guidelines:
Children should ride rear-facing to age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. (The old policy from 2002 cited age 12 months and 20 pounds as a minimum for when to turn a seat around.)
Children should use a booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years old.
Children should ride in the rear of a vehicle until they are 13 years old.


My poor short skinny kids are going to be in their seats until they are 12!!

Goodness! I'm only 5'1"... guess I should go buy myself a booster seat!

I can't imagine a 2 year old in a rear facing seat. My kids have always been tall for their ages. In fact one was 21 inches at birth and the other was 22.5 inches at birth.

 

[moburg]

Soon everyone in the car will be in a carseat, and it will be recommended that only the driver face foward.

I can't say whether or not I agree unless I read why the change.

Why not just turn everyone in the car around to be rear facing. The driver can use cameras and video screens. After all, it would be safer!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Mine were both well over 2 also. The legs never bothered them. I'd rather not risk a spinal injury but that's me.

Safety experts have been recommend these guidelines for at least 10 years. Now we just need the car seat laws to catch up.

My nearly 10 year old is out of a booster in my car but not in his dad's. The seatbelt just fits him better w/the booster in the other car. He should be out of it soon. He prefers it so he doesn't have the seatbelt across his neck.

DD is 3 and is front facing now even though she is just 27lbs (the seat goes to 30 or 35 rear facing) because it is easier for school carpool.

I have no plans to take her out of a harnessed seat any time soon. DS was harnessed until kindergarten.

That is not called for. If you want people to listen to your reasons and hopefully inform them about something that you feel passionate about then insulting them is not the way to go.
I personally do not think it is remotely comfortable to sit with your legs over your head or constantly crossed. None of my kids sit like that when watching tv or whatever. While I think that safety is paramount I think that there is something to be said for comfort as well. I would never want my children to be injured and I don't know anyone who would but I do think that sometimes these reccomendations are a bit over the top. Also, 4'9" is different on different people. A person can have a long torso that leaves their head touching the top of the car in a booster. That is not safe. I also do not know anyone who puts their 12 year old in a booster seat. I was in 8th grade when I was 12! There was no way my Mom would have been able to put me in a booster seat. I would have walked instead.
It is good to be informed and there is risk with everything but I think sometimes we need to be reasonable. These giant carseats that 5 point harness to 100lbs are like thrones! Now I want my kids to be safe but where on earth are you going to put more than one or two of those in a car? They won't even fit! At what point are we going too far with it?
Like I said, safety is of course the most important issue but I also think we need to be reasonable about it.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Why not just turn everyone in the car around to be rear facing. The driver can use cameras and video screens. After all, it would be safer!!

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[superme80]

I was happy to see this. DS is still rear facing at almost 2 and a half. He hasn't hit the weight limit, so he will be rear facing till he does. I should have been in a booster until 7th grade since I didn't hit 4'9 till then!