My rear-facing carseat is touching the back of the seat in front of it? Is that OK?
Please consult the owner’s manual of your carseat. For most carseats, this is not a problem and may actually improve safety. At least one carseat, the Century Smart Move, does require the seat to be able to rotate freely toward the back of the vehicle in a crash. Best practice from the NHTSA training manual states, “A rear-facing seat can be installed so it rests against the back of the vehicle seat ahead if not counter to manufacturers instructions….If the gap is small or the child is on the heavy side, it is much better to be already touching any forward structure prior to a crash than to hit it during the crash. Resting against a forward seat back is only one way to achieve these benefits.
