As many of you know, both my children are still rear facing in their car seats at the ripe old age of 3 and 18 months. Why you ask? It is 5x safer in a collision than forward facing. When a young child is forward facing, when they have a collision, the straps hold the child's body back. With nothing securing their large head it flies forward. They are so flexible their vertebrae can stretch up to 4-6 inches. Their actual spinal cord only 1/4 of an inch. You can picture what happens. The spinal cord snaps. This is called internal decapitation. I saw this once on an almost 2 year old boy on a call :( He died. That is when I got interested in car seat safety.
Sweden has routinely kept their children rear facing since the 1960's. They rear face until age 4-5 and then go straight to a booster. In fact, they never really do forward facing harnessed seats. The most interesting part? In 10 years they have had NINE children died in car accidents. NINE! Do you know how many the US has in ONE year? Thousands. It's the number one killer of children. So children die every day here in car accidents....yet less than 1 a year there. Think they know something we don't know?
We are so behind the times. People are so stuck in their ways. They refuse to change. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been advocated since 2002 to rear face to the limits of the convertible carseat (up to 35 lbs in the US). But parents here refuse. Their reasons? "he wants to look out the window." "he cries in the car" "I can't see him" "his legs will get squished or hurt" "he has good neck control". As a certified car seat tech I've heard EVERY excuse in the book while doing car seat checks. Know what? I don't care. I could care less if my kid screams. Chances are it has NOTHING to do with what direction they are facing, just that they hate being restrained. I could care less if he can't see out the window. I'd rather have a miserable child (which mine are NOT) than a dead child.
I explain the benefits, show the videos, explain that the experts recommend it, explain that I've seen a child die from it. You know what they do? 90% of the time they say "Ok. I think we'll still put him forward facing though. He really hates being backwards." HOW DOES HE KNOW ANY DIFFERENTLY!!!! This drives me nuts! He has nothing to compare it to. He just hates being in the car, period. It has NOTHING to do with rear facing. 90% of the time I see them later and guess what? Their kid is still fussing in the car. Not only are they now still fussing....they are fusing AND not as safe as they could be. I will never understand some parent's mentality I guess.
I intend to keep my children rearfacing until they outgrow their seats which have a weight limit of 35 lbs. Evelyn is 25 and Sophia is 24. They have YEARS left to rear face. I am glad. I'd love to get to age 4 at least.
I get strange looks from people, but until they've seen a child die they have no clue what they are talking about.
I had considered turning Evelyn forward facing this winter to make it easier with messy boots. I have now changed my mind.
So if you are reading this and have young children please consider turning them back rearfacing if their seat allows it. If I can just help save one life, that is enough for me. And they won't care. Honest! Evelyn was 2 years 4 months when she was turned back rearfacing after being forward facing since 11 months (what were we thinking?!?!?). She had no problems. She loves it now. She can sit back and relax.
Kids don't know differently if they've always been rearfacing. It's not like magically at age 1 they will demand you turn them. What they don't know.....they can't want. So if you have a child under age 1 please don't turn them at 1. Please try your hardest to get to age 2 at a minimum. The limits of the seats (30-35 lbs) is best. I would hate for any children I know to get injured or killed in a car accident.
And yes...you will get flack from family and friends. But you know what? It's your child. I showed Patrick this rear facing video and he was convinced. Prior to this he was not. Please watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo
A grandfather posted this on the car seat chat board I belong to. He confirmed the fact that what we are doing is right. I just wanted to share it with you. The pictures above are about a little boy named Joel who was in a forward facing car seat during a 35 mph (hardly uncommon) car crash. He suffered what's called "internal decapitation". They are before and after pictures taken just weeks apart. If he had been in a rear facing seat he would not have suffered these injuries. It has been 4 weeks since his accident and he is slowly getting better per the grandfather. I have no clue what his permanent injuries will be :(
The other picture is of my children still rear facing comfortably at age 3 and 18 months. They do not fuss being backwards at all. They prefer it. No dangling legs to fall asleep or head falling forward while sleeping. They both still have plenty of room. I wanted to show this picture to let people see even my insanely tall 3 year old still can fit, is happy, and has TONS of room to grow rear facing.
The following was written by Joel's grandfather. Permission was granted by the grandfather to share his story and pictures on blogs to spread the word about extended rear facing. Thank you to "luv2bfishin" on car-seat.org for allowing all of us to share your heartbreaking story. I hope it will help many to change their minds regarding rear facing. Here is his story:
PLEASE, for your childrens sake, consider leaving them in REAR-FACING (RF) car seats as longs as you can. Although it is "suggested" by many people and organizations, that you can turn them forward facing at 1 yr / 20 lbs, and seats are made to accommodate that, it doesn't mean they will not be subjected to cervical spine injuries in an accident. Sure, it'll hold their body in place, as it did for my grandson. But their head is thrown violently forward!! Actually, if you do your homework, front facing children "75% more likely to be injured" in a crash ( http://www.carseatsite.com/rf.htm ).
I am Grandpa, and here's my personal view. My 18 mo old grandson, Joel, was injured in a front impact car crash 4 weeks ago. He is a "beefy" boy, weighing in at 34lbs and about 39" tall. According to his mom, the doctor told her it was "okay" to put him in a front facing car seat, because he was a "big boy". So she did. And he was securely strapped in the rear seat. The car hit a tree, for reasons unknown, at city speed limit of approx 35 mph.
At the accident scene, the EMT crew took Joel out of the car while in the car seat and all, and transported him to the hospital. They had to "bag" him at the scene to restart his breathing. The true miracle is that the ambulance was driving by, and some people flagged it down. They didn't even get time to call 911. You can bet God had his hand in that!!! they were on the scene in about 60 seconds!!
Below are some photos of Joel, before and after. YOU decide whats best for your child.......not anyone else!!! He sustained dislocated top 2 vertebrae in his spine (C-1 & C-2). Some of the doctors put it in very simple terms...his skull, internally, became detached from his body... and was basically held on with his skin.
In the last few weeks, I've scoured the internet to find these facts:
* a young child's head is approx 25% of his/her bodywieight. If that were true of adults, my head (I'm 220lbs) would weigh 55lbs! as it is, an adults head is only about 6% of their body weight. So, kids are very top-heavy.
* Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland recommend rear facing until 4 yrs old
* look on You Tube at the crash test videos of front facing vs. rear facing. you'll be amazed.
YouTube - Crash Test - http://babyproducts.about.com/od/car...ear_facing.htm
* if a young childs spine is "stretched" a 1/4 of an inch, it could result in total paralysis or death.
* and this is amazing! There was an article published in Pediatrics (the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) earlier this year that states: ""A recent analysis of the protection provided in rear-facing compared with forward-facing car safety seats has revealed that children under the age of 2 years are 75% less likely to die or sustain serious injury when they are in a rear-facing seat.2 This finding was true regardless of direction of the crash, even those crashes with side impact, which typically are the most severe."
"Parents may be helped to understand the importance of using the convertible car safety seat in the rear-facing position longer than 1 year if they are counseled that children are 5 times safer than when riding in a forward-facing seat into the second year of life."
After hearing about that, I contacted the AAP via email, and asked what their position is on this issue. Their response was "While this was published in the Academy's journal, it does not necessarily constitute AAP policy" and "Because riding rear-facing does provide significantly more protection to children's heads, necks, and spines, the Academy does recommend it for as long as possible, but the only minimum we have set is 12 months/20 pounds. This policy statement is under revision but is current at this time."
The policy statement is under revision.... at this time??
Do you're home work folks!!! Oh, and you'll also find out that in the USA, rear facing seats only go up to about 35lbs. In Europe, whose testing standards seem to exceed US standards (http://daddytypes.com/2007/01/05/con...e_car_seat.php), the RF car seats can be purchased up to 55 lbs. AND, made by the same manufacturers as in the US.
So, the question is, why can't we get them?? And don;t worry about legroom. check out these larger RF seats:http://forum.nybaktmamma.com/showthread.php?t=524428
Sure, they can break a leg in a violent crash, but I think bones are easier to fix than a broken neck!!! Heck, it's better to mount a portable CD player in the back window shelf and let them watch it, then to risk their life! Think about it....their body is strapped down to a car seat that is strapped down, and the car comes to an abrupt stop!! where is their headgoing to go? FORWARD, and at a tremedous velocity!! The back of their neck/ spinal cord is vunerable to injury.
But the BIG question is....... for you to decide. I know you want to see their darling faces. But you don't want to see them in a halo.
I know this is a very long blog, but if it saves one child...or one family, the agony of what we've endured these last 4 weeks, it is worth the read!! The pic's below are about six weeks apart. he was eating cake by himself....very cute.
And now, he is is headed for intense physical therapy. he does move his fingers and his legs, but he doesn't pick up his arms. The therapy people are very optimistic, given the movement in his extremities. Doctors believe it was some compression of the shoulder nerves from the car seat straps acroos his collar bone area. You had to see those big, wide bruise marks. Again...front facing will do it.!!
If you want to see photos of Joel, before and after, visit: http://forum.carseatdata.org/convert...rue-story.html
I welcome all comments, as I would like to see: the FF threshold raised to 24 months, and largers RF seats available in the US. Thank you
I am Grandpa, and here's my personal view. My 18 mo old grandson, Joel, was injured in a front impact car crash 4 weeks ago. He is a "beefy" boy, weighing in at 34lbs and about 39" tall. According to his mom, the doctor told her it was "okay" to put him in a front facing car seat, because he was a "big boy". So she did. And he was securely strapped in the rear seat. The car hit a tree, for reasons unknown, at city speed limit of approx 35 mph.
At the accident scene, the EMT crew took Joel out of the car while in the car seat and all, and transported him to the hospital. They had to "bag" him at the scene to restart his breathing. The true miracle is that the ambulance was driving by, and some people flagged it down. They didn't even get time to call 911. You can bet God had his hand in that!!! they were on the scene in about 60 seconds!!
Below are some photos of Joel, before and after. YOU decide whats best for your child.......not anyone else!!! He sustained dislocated top 2 vertebrae in his spine (C-1 & C-2). Some of the doctors put it in very simple terms...his skull, internally, became detached from his body... and was basically held on with his skin.
In the last few weeks, I've scoured the internet to find these facts:
* a young child's head is approx 25% of his/her bodywieight. If that were true of adults, my head (I'm 220lbs) would weigh 55lbs! as it is, an adults head is only about 6% of their body weight. So, kids are very top-heavy.
* Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland recommend rear facing until 4 yrs old
* look on You Tube at the crash test videos of front facing vs. rear facing. you'll be amazed.
YouTube - Crash Test - http://babyproducts.about.com/od/car...ear_facing.htm
* if a young childs spine is "stretched" a 1/4 of an inch, it could result in total paralysis or death.
* and this is amazing! There was an article published in Pediatrics (the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) earlier this year that states: ""A recent analysis of the protection provided in rear-facing compared with forward-facing car safety seats has revealed that children under the age of 2 years are 75% less likely to die or sustain serious injury when they are in a rear-facing seat.2 This finding was true regardless of direction of the crash, even those crashes with side impact, which typically are the most severe."
"Parents may be helped to understand the importance of using the convertible car safety seat in the rear-facing position longer than 1 year if they are counseled that children are 5 times safer than when riding in a forward-facing seat into the second year of life."
After hearing about that, I contacted the AAP via email, and asked what their position is on this issue. Their response was "While this was published in the Academy's journal, it does not necessarily constitute AAP policy" and "Because riding rear-facing does provide significantly more protection to children's heads, necks, and spines, the Academy does recommend it for as long as possible, but the only minimum we have set is 12 months/20 pounds. This policy statement is under revision but is current at this time."
The policy statement is under revision.... at this time??
Do you're home work folks!!! Oh, and you'll also find out that in the USA, rear facing seats only go up to about 35lbs. In Europe, whose testing standards seem to exceed US standards (http://daddytypes.com/2007/01/05/con...e_car_seat.php), the RF car seats can be purchased up to 55 lbs. AND, made by the same manufacturers as in the US.
So, the question is, why can't we get them?? And don;t worry about legroom. check out these larger RF seats:http://forum.nybaktmamma.com/showthread.php?t=524428
Sure, they can break a leg in a violent crash, but I think bones are easier to fix than a broken neck!!! Heck, it's better to mount a portable CD player in the back window shelf and let them watch it, then to risk their life! Think about it....their body is strapped down to a car seat that is strapped down, and the car comes to an abrupt stop!! where is their headgoing to go? FORWARD, and at a tremedous velocity!! The back of their neck/ spinal cord is vunerable to injury.
But the BIG question is....... for you to decide. I know you want to see their darling faces. But you don't want to see them in a halo.
I know this is a very long blog, but if it saves one child...or one family, the agony of what we've endured these last 4 weeks, it is worth the read!! The pic's below are about six weeks apart. he was eating cake by himself....very cute.
And now, he is is headed for intense physical therapy. he does move his fingers and his legs, but he doesn't pick up his arms. The therapy people are very optimistic, given the movement in his extremities. Doctors believe it was some compression of the shoulder nerves from the car seat straps acroos his collar bone area. You had to see those big, wide bruise marks. Again...front facing will do it.!!
If you want to see photos of Joel, before and after, visit: http://forum.carseatdata.org/convert...rue-story.html
I welcome all comments, as I would like to see: the FF threshold raised to 24 months, and largers RF seats available in the US. Thank you
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