Jeff Lupient: Are Rear-Facing Car Seats Safer?

 

Jeff Lupient: The Best Position for Your Car Seat

Many parents don't know when it's safe to switch their child's rear-facing car seat to the forward-facing position, notes Jeff Lupient. Expert organizations used to say it's safe to turn your child's car seat around at age 2. However, the recommendations have changed in recent years.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that children stay rear-facing as long as possible, even after turning 2, and making the switch shouldn't be based on age. The reason? Rear-facing car seats are better at protecting the head, neck, and spine in the event of a car crash.

Rear-facing car seats and convertible seats

According to Jeff Lupient, infants should always be in rear-facing car seats. Two types are safe for young children.

Many parents prefer to start with a rear-facing car seat because they're portable, lightweight, and convenient. Rear-facing car seats come with a base plus a seat that clicks into place, so you can quickly take the seat in and out, explains Jeff Lupient. Infant car seats also have handles that make them easy to carry when your infant is inside.

The downside? Babies tend to outgrow infant car seats well before they're ready to face forward. Most rear-facing car seats have an upper weight limit between 30 and 35 pounds and an upper height limit of 30 to 35 inches. An upgrade is necessary once your infant reaches the maximum height or weight, whichever comes first. The next step is to buy a convertible car seat that can start in a rear-facing position and eventually face forward when your child is much bigger.

Convertible car seats are typically heavy and bulky and are designed to stay put in your car, explains Jeff Lupient. You can't easily carry them around, so many parents choose to start with a lightweight rear-facing infant seat. 

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Still, convertible car seats are safe for infants, notes the AAP. They can be an excellent option for families who'd prefer not to eventually buy another car seat: Convertible seats can be used rear-facing until a child is between 40 and 50 pounds and then can face forward until a child is 65 pounds or more, explains Jeff Lupient.

Why are rear-facing car seats safer for children?

Infants and toddlers have less mature connective tissues and bones at greater risk for serious injury. Rear-facing seats act as a protective cradle — particularly for your child's delicate neck and spinal cord — in a serious accident. They give young children more protection, and age alone isn't enough to determine whether a child is physically developed to sit in a front-facing seat, adds Jeff Lupient. 

For more discussions on car seat safety and features, follow this Jeff Lupient page.

Jeff Lupient Discusses Rear-Facing Child Car Seats

 

Learn About Rear-Facing Car Seats with Jeff Lupient

According to Jeff Lupient, the three types of rear-facing seats are rear-facing only, convertible, and all-in-one. The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear-facing seats starting with their first ride home from the hospital. In addition, all infants and young children have to ride in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible or until they reach the maximum weight and height their car seat manufacturer allows.

Almost all convertible seats have limits. These allow children to ride rear-facing for two years or more. However, as children reach the maximum weight and height or length allowed by the manufacturer for their rear-facing–only seat, they have to continue riding rear-facing seats in a convertible or all-in-one seat.

 

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On that note, here are the three types of rear-facing seats in child car seats.

1. Rear-Facing Only   

Rear-facing seats are meant to be used for and by infants up to 22 to 35 pounds and 26 to 35 inches. It depends on the model. Most models are small and have carrying handles. They also typically come with a base that can be left inside the car. The seat clicks into and out of the base; thus, you don't have to install it each time you use it, explains Jeff Lupient. Parents can buy more than one base if they have additional vehicles.

Some models of rear-facing car seats include load leg or anti-rebound bars, which help absorb the energy of a crash. Load legs decrease forward rotation in the initial phase of a crash. The anti-rebound bars protect children during the second phase of a crash from rearward rotation.  

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2. Convertible   

Convertible car seats can be rear-facing and then converted to forward-facing when children outgrow the weight or height and length limit for rear-facing. This also means your child can use convertible car seats longer, adds Jeff Lupient. 

Convertible seats are bulkier than infant seats. They don't come with carrying handles or separate bases. They are also designed to stay in the car. Many convertible car seats have higher limits in rear-facing weight, up to 40 to 50 pounds. This feature makes convertible seats ideal for babies who are bigger and toddlers.  

3. All-In-One

All-in-one car seats can be used as rear-facing, forward-facing, or belt-positioning boosters. It also means your child may use the seat longer as they grow. This type of car seat is often bigger, so you'll have to check if it fits in the vehicle when facing the rear.

All-in-one car seats don't have a carrying handle or separate base, but like convertible car seats, many models have higher limits in rear-facing weight of up to 40 to 50 pounds, says Jeff Lupient.  

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Jeff Lupient's Tips on Safely Installing Car Seats

 

Jeff Lupient on Ensuring Properly Installed Car Seats

Securing a car seat in your vehicle is critical to ensuring your child's safety. Jeff Lupient shares essential steps and tips to ensure the car seat fits perfectly in your vehicle.

1. Check compatibility. 

Do your research before purchasing a car seat. Look for information in the car seat's user manual or the manufacturer's website to ensure compatibility with your vehicle's make and model. According to Jeff Lupient, some car seats are designed with specific vehicles in mind, so matching them appropriately is crucial. Review your vehicle's owner's manual for instructions and recommendations for child safety restraints and car seat installation. This will give you insights into your car's specific requirements.

3. Seek professional help. 

Jeff Lupient suggests visiting a retailer or child passenger safety inspection station when in doubt. Certified technicians are available to assist you in ensuring the car seat fits your vehicle perfectly and is installed correctly. They can also provide valuable insights and demonstrate the proper installation process.

4. Measure the vehicle. 

Before buying a car seat, take measurements of your vehicle's back seat. Jeff Lupient says paying attention to the width, depth, and spacing between seat belts or LATCH anchors is crucial. Ensure there is ample space for the car seat without any obstructions.

5. Check the angle indicator. 

Most car seats have an angle indicator to help you achieve the correct recline angle. Ensure that your vehicle's seats allow for the proper angle without causing interference with the car seat's installation.

6. Inspect seat belts and LATCH anchor points.
Examine your vehicle's seat belts and LATCH anchor points for functionality. These are critical for securing the car seat correctly. Double-check that there are no damaged or malfunctioning components.

7. Secure the installation. 

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the car seat in your vehicle. Ensure it is secure and does not move more than one inch in any direction when properly installed. Use your body weight to fasten it securely. Check that the car seat fits snugly against the seat, with no visible movement or gaps between the two.

8. Consider rear-facing vs. forward-facing. 

Depending on your child's age and size, you may need to choose between a rear-facing and forward-facing car seat. Jeff Lupient suggests checking if your vehicle can accommodate the type of car seat you require. If you have multiple vehicles, test the car seat's fit in each one. Different car seats may fit better in various vehicles.

Properly installing a car seat will give you peace of mind, knowing that your child is secure and protected while on the road. Remember, the safety of your little one should always be a consideration.

Jeff Lupient will discuss more tips and advice on buying and installing car seats in future articles. Follow this page for updates.

Jeff Lupient: Important Information Regarding Car Seats

Jeff Lupient shares vital information about car seats.

Jeff Lupient: Important Facts About Car Seats

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When driving your car, your most important responsibility is keeping your passengers safe. If you're a parent, odds are your passenger is your child.

Every year, many children get hurt in car crashes. Because of this, it's paramount to use car safety seats properly. However, because so many different seats are available on the market, Jeff Lupient says many parents have difficulty choosing. To help out, he shares some important facts about car seats for children, which could aid parents in choosing the best and safest car seat for them.

On seat belts

If you install a car seat using the car's seat belt, Jeff Lupient says you must ensure the seat belt locks and holds the seat tightly. In a majority of newer cars, you can lock the belt by pulling it all the way out before allowing it to retract. It will keep the seat belt tight around the car safety seat. 

In addition, car safety seats come with built-in lock-offs, which means you can lock the belt, and you don't have to lock the seat belt separately. 

You can check the vehicle owner's manual for details on how your seat belt locks.

On the safest spot in the car for children

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The safest place in a vehicle for children younger than 13 is the back seat, according to Jeff Lupient. If possible, it may be best for the child to ride specifically in the middle of the back seat. That said, installing a car safety seat tightly and securely in the middle is sometimes challenging, especially if the vehicle seat is narrow or uneven. Many vehicles don't have lower anchors for this position.

It is safest and best to put the car seat in a position where you can install it tightly and securely with either the lower anchor system or the seat belt. Jeff Lupient mentions that in some cases, this position may be on one of the back seat's sides, not the middle. Child passenger safety technicians (CPST or CPS technicians) are available to help you decide which place is best to install the seat in your vehicle.

On features that absorb crash energy

There are load legs and anti-rebound bars in rear-facing seats that help absorb the energy of a crash. Load legs decrease forward rotation in the initial phase of a car crash. On the other hand, anti-rebound bars protect the child during the second phase of a car crash from rearward rotation, explains Jeff Lupient.

More discussions and information about car seat installation and safety will be featured on this Jeff Lupient page.