Rear Facing vs forward facing

So how long do I have to keep them rear facing?

I think the questions should be: how long can I keep them rear facing?

Rear facing is by far the safest position that your baby can be in! By Saskatchewan law, the earliest you can turn a child forward facing is: 1 year of age, 22 lbs and walking unassisted. But recently the AAP advised that kids remain in a rear facing car seat until 2 years of age, or the maximum weight of the seat - and if you ask any Car Seat Technician, they will likely tell you the same thing. Don't rush to get to the next stage. If your little one is still within the limits of the seat... just keep him there!

There is tremendous force in a crash. If you have the choice to reduce those forces to your child, I say - why not?

I want to share a video with you to compare the forces from a crash on your child in a forward facing position versus a rear facing position.

When a child is rear facing, the forces are spread out through the back of the seat. When a child is forward facing, there is so much more force on the head, neck and spine. The diagram below illustrates the different proportions of infants, toddlers, children, teens and adults.  Until adulthood, a far greater proportion of body weight is in the upper body and head.  Vehicle seat belts and safety systems are designed for adult proportions, while a rear facing car seat is designed for the proportions of a child.  

Here are some common questions with rear facing:

My son has really long legs and they touch the back of the seat! ~ That's ok! Kids are generally comfortable bending their knees, curling their legs, or hanging them over the side of the seat. The purpose of rear facing is to protect the head, neck and spine. We are not aware of any cases of broken legs from a crash in a rear facing position, but if your child was to sustain an injury in a crash, wouldn't you rather it be to her legs than to her spine?

(source of the photo off a blog of a mom who keeps her preschooler rear facing here: http://journeytocrunchville.wordpress.com/2007/07/19/the-importance-of-keeping-toddlers-preschoolers-rear-facing/) 

My daughter get bored and cries the whole time!  ~ Once kids learn that they can move, most don't like to be confined to a car seat. Any car seat. Any position. If they have only been rear facing, they don't know any different, so they don't know what it'll look like the other way around. Use soft (so they don't become a hard projectile in a crash) books or soft toys to occupy them. 

I can't see my child when he cries ~ It's dangerous for you to be looking anywhere other then the road. If your child is crying, you only have three safe options, all of which will work no matter what position they are in: talk to them from the front seat, turn the music up louder, or pull over to comfort them. 

I have some people bugging me that my child is too big to be rear facing ~ The reality is, there's going to be at least one thing you do on a daily basis that someone has a problem with. You've made your decisions for a reason. If you've done your research, and you are comfortable with your decision - then stick to it! We need to make it 'normal' for people to see. If people don't see it, then they are often confused about why it should be done. Here are some things you can say if you need "I talked to a car seat technician and they recommended it," or "SGI suggests it for as long as they fit the weight limit," or "I feel it's the safest thing for our child." If anyone is looking for more information than you feel comfortable providing, they are welcome to come by and chat with me, or stop by my office! 

Tons and tons of information can be found in the internet. Here are a few of my favourites:

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/

http://www.rearfacing.co.uk/index.php  (this one is UK but still great information, photos and videos!)

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-car-time-stages-1083.htm  Transport Canada

You can also go onto SGI's website and find a technician or a car seat clinic in your area to get your seat checked or ask any questions you might have! 

http://www.sgi.sk.ca/online_services/locators/carseatclinics/index.html

There is lots of information regarding car seats. If you have any questions - feel free to contact me! You can also find my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/urbanbabybugs and post questions there! 

Car Seats on Shopping Carts

I have been a little hesitant to talk about this. But it needs to be talked about.

The car seat on the top of the cart. 

I don't like this. It breaks my heart to see this. Why? That car seat is not stable up there, and it has happened, that the whole cart has fallen over. Maybe there's a guy not looking where he's going, maybe a toddler decided to try climbing the side and took the whole thing over. It happens. There are so many reasons why NOT to do this:

-  it makes the cart top heavy. YES, it has happened that carts have fallen over. Do you shop with a toddler? Or with other customers in the store? It wouldn't take much more then a little bump from someone... and your baby would be on the floor.
- the car seat is NOT designed to snap into the top. Yes, sometimes it snaps, but they were not built together, so they do not go together. And if you do hear it snap, that is no guarantee it will stay there.
- the angle of the seat is usually wrong - which means your little humans chin is touching the chest and their air supply is then limited.

Please don't do this. There are other options!

- Babywear! You can get a lot more done anyway, and that moment you happen to walk away from your cart to grab that thing off the shelf, your baby will be with you, so if someone knocks over the cart - your baby will be safe!
- Bring another adult with you. A friend, the dad, your dad, you mom, your sister, your friend. Not many people complain when asked to hold a baby. 
If you HAVE to bring your car seat in with you (like you can't find another option) place it inside the main part of the cart. I am not recommending this, but it's a better option then on top. Please remember to check the angle of the seat!! Often times the carseat will be at a bad angle and the baby's chin is touching the chest - remember they need to be able to breathe :)

I would be happy to help if you have any questions!
Take care, and take care of those littles, they are only little for a very short time!

Wendy :)