Car seats are vitally important in preventing injuries to children during car accidents. However, recent studies indicate many of us are not using car seats in the best possible manner. Because many of our regular readers are acutely concerned with child safety, we would like to share these recent findings with you.

After a child turns one, many parents make the switch from rear-facing car seats to car seats that face forward. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report last week stating that severe or fatal injuries to toddlers are less likely when they are seated in a rear-facing seat during a car accident.

The lead author of the study said that children under the age of two do not have neck bones that are mature enough to properly support their head during an accident, but they are better supported when they are facing the rear. If the child is facing forward during a violent crash, their head and neck are more likely to be seriously injured in a car accident.

The report also suggests that parents seat their children in a booster seat until they are at least 4'9" and more than eight years old. A booster seat will ensure that the shoulder and lap belts are properly proportioned to the child's body.

Previous Academy of Pediatrics policies said that a child must be at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds or more before the parent could turn their car seat forward. Health care and safety professionals hope that parents adhere to the suggestions of the new policy and do not continue to place children in forward facing seats before they turn two years old.

Children in Sweden do not face forward in a vehicle until they are at least four years old and Sweden has the lowest highway fatality rate for young children in the world. Doctors say that this statistic demonstrates the benefits of rear-facing seating, and they hope that parents will consider the Academy's research to ensure the safety of their young children.

Source: New York Times, "Rear-Facing Car Seats Advised at Least to Age of 2," Madonna Behen, 3/21/2011