At a National Safety Highway Conference last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced a new recommendation on the use of rear-facing car seats. Their research shows that toddlers are five times safer in rear-facing seats until they turn two. (Previously, the recommendation was to switch to a forward-facing seat when a child is a year old and at least 20 lbs in weight.) So, while most children will have outgrown their infant seat by 12 months, the AAP recommend that you rear-face your convertible car seat to keep your toddler safe for a further 12 months. Almost all convertible car seats have rear-facing upper weight restrictions of 35 lbs.You may need to use a bolster or adjust the angle of the seat to level the car seat when it is used in rear-facing mode so that your child's head doesn't flop forward -- check your manufacturer's guidelines or have a certified child restraint technician help with the installation. In Calgary, I recommend LaVonne Ries of Keepin' Baby Safe. She runs regular car seat clinics. The next one scheduled is April 24 at Strathcona Community Centre.
