HOw long should my baby sit rear-facing?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should ride rear-facing to the maximum weight or height of the rear-facing convertible seat for the best protection. Look in your car seat owner’s manual or labels on the seat for this information. When your baby outgrows the infant-only seat, move him/her to a rear-facing convertible seat, which will allow you to keep the baby backwards for a longer period of time. Minimum recommendations for forward-facing usage are one year old* and 20 pounds. In addition, medically fragile children should ride rear-facing as long as possible. Click here for a copy of AAP’s policy statement pertaining to the transportation of children. *Babies born pre-maturely must continue to ride backwards for a minimum of one year from their full-term due date and a minimum of 20 pounds.
