As for the U.S. auto fatality rate compared to other countries, I wonder if the fact that so many people don’t use car seats at all, or even seat belts, contributes to that statistic? (and I’m sure you know how frustrating it is to see an SUV w/ a bunch of kids jumping around the back, not a safety seat in sight, and of course no police officer around to even give them a ticket!). We’re an “independent-no-ones-gonna-tell-me-what-to-do-this-is-America” type society. I mean, look how hard it is to get motorcycle helmet laws passed? I’m not saying it’s right, but it is what it is.
In Christ,
Ellen
Great job keeping your kids rear facing so long! That’s amazing! We rarely if ever see anyone past age 1 so I’m glad to see here
You are correct. The US fatality rate is so high because of misuse or non use of child car seats, boosters, and seat belts. However, they have found in other countries with great car seat usage, that rear facing still provides a much needed benefit that lowers those numbers even more.
As for the article mentioning age 4. Let me explain that better. When a child is young, their vertebrae are not fused together. They can stretch. In fact they can stretch up to 3-5 inches. The fragile spinal cord inside can only stretch 1/4 of an inch (see
joelsjourney.org). In a car accident when a child is forward facing, the straps hold the child’s body back but the heavy head is thrown violently forward (same as adults but more pronounced due to how heavy their head is in relation to their body). The spinal column bones continue to stretch those 3-5 inches. But the spinal cord breaks after 1/4 an inch. This is called internal decapitation. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to when this happens. The child I referenced who was 2 and died of internal decapitation in a car accident was properly restrained forward facing. It was a “minor” accident at about 25mph with no other injuries. It seems to have happened to all ages (including adults) from 15mph crashes up to 90 mph crashes. Yet, there also have been young children forward facing at 40mph head on crashes who don’t suffer it. They have yet to figure out what causes it exactly other than some seem more susceptible to it.
Anyways…back to my blabbing. These vetebrae that stretch so far causing fatal spinal cord severing start to fuse between ages 3-6. Sometime between this age range, they fuse and harden and no longer can stretch that far. Only a little bit. This considerably gets rid of the risk of internal decaptiation. There is always a risk, even in adults, but it lessens considerably especially for those low speed crashes.
Since there is no way to tell when in that age range of 3-6 this harnedning and fusing occurs, we want parents to get as far into the age range as possible. That is why my own children rear face until age 4. It is also looking at Sweden’s statistics who has routinely rear faced until age 4-6 since the 1960’s. The data seems to show right around age 4 seems to be the sudden drop in spinal cord injuries and deaths while forward facing.
I believe these two components is why the article stated age 4.
However, as car seat techs we don’t really think they went about it the right away. The US recommendations are to rear face as long as possible. Until they outgrow the rear facing seat by weight (35-40 lbs) or their head is within an inch of the top of the carseat. Depending on the carseat, the majority of children can get to age 3. With certain seats (2 I can think of) the majority of kid can get to 4 or so. It’s not a great idea to tell a parent an age because what if their kid hits the weight limit at age 2? That parent will feel horrible they couldn’t get to “what was recommended.” Thats is why we recommend “rear facing until the child no longer fits by height or weight, whichever comes first.”.
My 4 year old is average sized height wise but skinny. She is 40" though which is a normal 4 year old height. She still fits in the seat we have with atleast 2 inches to spare to grow. Even if she were a normal 50-75% weight, she’d still fit by weight. Most kids don’t hit 35 lbs until around age 3 or so. My younger child is a normal weight and height. She is 26 months, 30 lbs and 36". Pretty much 50-60% for height and weight. She has TONS of room to grow rear facing in her Graco seat and her Britax seat. One is cheaper, one is more expensive. Both protect her the same with the same amount of growing room. The Graco seat does offer rear facing until 40 lbs meaning if she gains quickly I get that extra protection.
So the article is flawed in that way. There is no “magical” age. Seats in the US don’t always accomodate to age 4 rear facing. Swedish seats are built differently and give extra leg room and US seats don’t (again, legs don’t matter but squished legs freak out parents and it’s the #1 reason parents won’t rear face) so it’d be nice if they brought them here. They also rear face up to 55 lbs on their seats and here it is 40 lbs max. So with the shorter seats, 40 lb max and less leg room, age 4 in the US isn’t always realistic. That is why we tell parents to just strive to age 2. It seems to sit better with parents
That being said, the average US convertible seat whether it’s $50 or $300 will fit most kids rear facing up to age 3. There are several that will fit way beyond.
I hope this explains why they chose that high age. Car seat advocates have known for years this is safer and have done it for years on their own children. It seems it is finally getting out to the general public and that is why it is suddenly talked about. But rest assured, it’s nothing new. It’s been recommended by the AAP since 2002
It’s just getting into mainstream media finally is all.
I hope that helps explain things!
), but, there are already so many reasons society gives not to have more than 2 kids, this just adds another: not being able to afford more than 2 (super expensive that a 3 y/o will fit in) car seats, or a car large enough to hold more than 2 rear facing seats. Plus, the added stress of dealing w/ a child who doesn’t want to rear face, in addition to dealing w/ the older child who resents riding to elementary school in a booster seat b/c she’s not 4 feet 9 inches yet (going through this right now, everyday we have the argument, (even though all of her classmates are also in boosters, so it’s not like she’s being made fun of or anything 
), and the kid still has a foot to grow, so I’ll be dealing w/ it for awhile yet!), adds up to “I can’t emotionally handle more than 2 kids!”.
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