Babies are adorable creatures. You can just imagine how much joy they give especially if they are showing off their progress and doing their firsts. For instance, the very first time he crawls and the very first time he calls your mama or papa.
Having a baby is one thing, but taking very good care of him is another big story. You can just imagine how much responsibility you have to take on to ensure that he is well provided from the moment that he is conceived and from the moment that you take him home from the hospital. Given that, one of the first things that you will be getting for him is an infant car seat. Remember that you cannot take him home from the hospital without one, so you need to make sure that you are getting the right one for him.However, the dilemma of most parents is this, how long do babies use rear facing car seats? Here are some important things that you need to know.
No matter what type of car seat you use, it can be an infant or a convertible one, it is important for you to take note that your baby should not be less than 35 pounds before switching him to a new position. Before, it was required that your baby should be at least 1 year old before he can use the front facing orientation; but now, authorities highly recommend that your baby should be at least 2 years old before switching him. This is because they believe that rear facing is the safest position especially for smaller children.
Although a lot of parents consider that their babies should be not less than 35 pounds before using a front facing position, many are now contemplating that babies should be at least 40 to 45 pounds before switching to a new position. Again, this is because of the fact that rear facing is the safest position.
What makes this position the safest?
Rear facing is the safest because your baby will be put in a semi-recumbent position; semi-recumbent means that his body is partially laid down in the car seat. Given that his body is partially laid down, you can expect that there is much support particularly on his spine, head and neck. His body is wrapped in a cocoon-like position thus, making it safer for him. So, should there be any car crash, you can expect that there is less injuries or none at all.
So, if you ask the question how long do babies use rear facing car seats? Always remember that if you are using an infant seat, follow the weight recommendations of the product, it can be up to 35 pounds or 45 pounds. Should your child be using a convertible seat, it is highly recommended to switch him once he turns 2 years old or if he reaches up to 45 pounds. This allows you to give more protection to your precious bundle of joy.
