What You Need to Know About Rear Facing Child Car Seats—and Why Kids Need to Stay There Longer

The rule of thumb for rear facing child car seats lately has been “4 years or 40 pounds.” But that’s a pretty general guideline, and advice and laws can vary greatly: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, state regulators and car seat makers have all weighed in on regulations and all their advice can differ slightly.

And then, there’s the car to consider: Will your child car seat fit? Can you fit more than one? And can they be safely, easily and properly installed?

Related: 7 Fantastic Child Car Seats That Will Transform Daily Drives and Road Trips

There are three different types of car seats that can be installed rear-facing:

• An all-in-one seat is the most expensive option, but it doesn’t require you to buy more than one type of car seat. It can be rear-facing, front-facing, or used as a booster seat. 
• Rear-facing baby seat These are specially designed for newborns and infants. They are meant to be rear-facing only, ideal for preemies. Due to their design, the NHTSA does not recommend them after the child turns one.  
• Convertible car seats can be used for rear-facing and then turned around for front-facing after the child has reached height and weight specifications. This is achieved by adjusting the angle of the seat. Because of a convertible seat’s versatile nature, bigger children can be rear-facing for longer.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About LATCH Kids Car Seat Systems

As a mom who does her research, you’ve likely realized that finding consistent information is difficult. The NHTSA writes, “Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.” Then the agency recommends a rear-facing seat until a child is three, but can be front-facing from year one to seven as long as they meet the height and weight specifications of the car seat. 

Thankfully, if you’ve lost the manual for your car seat, the manufacturer’s recommendation can be found on your car seat’s webpage. For instance, I use the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 seat for both of my girls under three, which says they can be forward facing as long as they’re 22-65 pounds or more, and are at least 49 inches tall. 

All manufacturers have different specifications, so it’s important to find the exact parameters for your car seat. Either consult the manual that came with the seat, or look at your seat’s official webpage for resources straight from the company.

Related: Safest Cars On the Road Under $30,000 — Loaded with Safety and Tech

Sarah Tilton, Director, Advocacy and Compliance at Britax Child Safety said those recommendations should be adhered to, but parents are strongly encouraged to keep their children rear-facing even when height and weight requirements are met. That’s because rear-facing seats better protect the neck, spine, and head in crashes. Tilton also said frontal crashes were the most common. In her many years as a safety authority, she has heard the same concerns from parents about keeping their children rear-facing.

“The most common pushbacks include concerns about legroom as the child grows, difficulty seeing the child, and the perception that rear-facing is less comfortable for toddlers,” wrote Tilton in an email. “Some parents also feel pressure to move forward-facing once their child reaches a certain age.”

Convertible car seats, like the ones Britax and others produce, are addressing those concerns by making rear-facing car seats more adjustable without compromising integrity. The NHTSA has a free online tool to help you find which car seat is best for your car’s make and model year. It also incorporates your child’s weight and height before loading results to make a more accurate suggestion.

Different manufacturers have varying recommendations on the safest place to put a rear-facing car seat, and that all depends on what safety features your car has. For instance, the owner’s manual of my 2011 Subaru Forester says the safest place for a rear-facing car seat is the rear seat on the passenger’s side by the window due to the automatic locking seatbelts. Additionally, the passenger’s side is almost always against a curb when parked, adding extra security when removing a little one from their seat.

However, newer Subaru Foresters suggest the middle seat is the best place for a rear-facing car seat due to concerns about airbags. Rear passenger airbags are meant for adults, and cause serious injury or death if they deploy at an infant. Some cars have the option to turn off rear passenger airbags. If you have this ability and you have a rear-facing car seat, then you definitely should. If you don’t have that option and only have one car seat, Mayo Clinic suggests placing them in the center seat. With two car seats, it’s best to have them in the rear next to the windows. 

A car seat is only as good as the installation quality, so it’s important to understand how to properly install the seat and secure your baby. All seats come with specific instructions on how to install the seat in your car. And, each car has different ways to secure a car seat (lower anchors versus using the seat belt to secure the seat, for instance), so it’s important to prepare for installing a car seat by familiarizing yourself with your car’s features (or lack thereof).

But reading the instructions isn’t always the easiest way to understand proper installation. In addition to reading the manual, you can find videos for many car seats on line. The best way, though may be to have a certified child passenger safety technician show you how to install your child car seats. Most fire stations and hospitals have a certified CPST on staff and will gladly give you a tutorial.

1. Where are the lower anchors? If my car is older, does it even have lower anchors? 
2. What is the weight limit for the lower anchors? If there are no obvious indications, the NHTSA says it can be calculated by subtracting the weight of the car seat from 65 pounds. Once the combined weight of the car seat and the child surpasses the limit, it’s time to use the seatbelt to secure the seat rather than the anchors.
   • For example: The lower anchor weight limit for my 2011 Subaru Forester is 65 pounds. My Graco car seat weighs 19.47 pounds, and my daughter weighs 28 pounds. The combined weight is under 65 pounds, meaning it’s safe to continue using the lower anchors.
3. What does my owner’s manual say about the safest place to put a car seat? Some manufacturers say the center seat, while some say the rear passenger side seat. 
4. Where are my top tethers for when my child can be front-facing? Some cars have them on the roof towards the back. Some have them on the floor of the rear, and some tethers are attached to the back of the rear seat. 
5. Where can I have my car seat installation inspected? For new parents, it’s important to make sure the car seat is installed properly before putting your newborn in it. Hospitals won’t inspect how you secure your infant, but a certified safety technician can double check for you, free of charge. The NHTSA has a free online tool to help find a technician close by.
6. Where can I register my car seat? After buying a car seat that’s right for your car, it’s important to register the seat’s serial number with the manufacturer to stay up-to-date with any recall information.

As technology improves, new research methods are developing. Crash test results are becoming more accurate, and safety for young riders is thankfully improving as a result. It’s a large reason why car seat manufacturers like Graco push parents to dispose of their car seat – not repurpose or reuse – after six to 10 years. This is because the safety technology and designs are considered “old” or “outdated” after that time.

Additionally, regular use of the car seat can stretch out the straps and wear down the buckles, making them less effective and potentially dangerous. The foam and padding designed to absorb the impact of a crash will also wear over time. Plastics in the seat tend to get brittle after years of changing temperatures and UV exposure.

Aside from improvements in technology and research findings, some states are also putting pressure on manufacturers and parents to improve child passenger safety. As of 2024, eight states have strict child passenger safety laws. The only two states that don’t have specific laws are Florida and South Dakota.

• California, Oregon, Connecticut, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and South Carolina require children under 2 years old to be in a rear-facing seat. 
• In Virginia, children under seven need to be in a rear-facing seat if possible. 
• Alabama mandates children under six to be in a rear-facing seat or convertible seat. 
• Wisconsin, though, says children only need to be in a rear-facing seat until they turn one, or weigh less than 20 pounds. 

The aforementioned states consider these “primary” laws, so an officer can pull someone over if they spot an improperly restrained child according to the local laws. Only Nebraska and Ohio consider them “secondary” laws. This means an officer must have pulled a driver over for a different reason, and cited the child seat violation as a separate violation, according to The Bump.

Depending on the car seat manufacturer, these regulations can differ from state laws. It’s important to research state laws to make sure your seat can meet those regulations to avoid being ticketed. In Nevada, an improperly secured child can land a parent a $500 fine—even if they’re within the seat manufacturer’s suggested parameters.

The reality is that some toddlers (like mine) don’t care how much safer they are. My 2-year-old, on every car ride, no matter how short, was miserable. She’d squirm, scream, kick, cry, and throw a Grade A tantrum to get out of her seat. 

In addition to toys, screens, snacks and songs deployed by parents, car seat makers like Britax are working to make rear-facing car seats more comfortable with more legroom and features.

A rotating car seat can often be a great option because it allows a child to be secured in in a more natural position before turning the seat rear-facing.

Before relenting and turning her around, I tried these tips to calm her down during rides. They didn’t work for my stubborn little girl, but they may work for your child, so it’s worth a try:

• Try removing the headrest, so they can see a little more of the world around them.
• Try mounting a mirror on the headrest. For a while, she enjoyed making faces at her reflection (with my asking her to make a sad face, angry face, happy face), and I had the added reassurance that I could look in the rearview mirror and see her face. This can also help if you suspect your baby is crying because they can’t see you.
• Play music that they enjoy, preferably music that engages them. My girls both love Danny Go!’s music, as it’s catchy and encourages them to use their hands. Ms. Moni and Ms. Rachel are also good alternatives. 
• Try books or toys. My toddler loved being able to leaf through her board books, though that joy was short lived. Toys that make noise like rattles or other instruments worked for a while, too. 
• Talking with them or singing can help them realize you haven’t left them.
• Double-check that the straps aren’t too tight to make sure their issue isn’t comfort-related. 
• Make sure the buckle is at armpit level, as anything higher or lower can be uncomfortable, too. 

A recent study found that 60 percent of respondents indicated that safety was the most important factor considered before buying a vehicle. Commissioned by Rivian and conducted by Harris Poll, the study found that safety impacts parents’ purchasing decisions.

Most new cars meet or exceed federal safety standards and it can take several years for new models to be crash tested. So what should you look at for safety in car?

In addition to driver assist and safety features like automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring, ensure that rear seats are wide enough to fit the seat your child needs; that child passenger safety features are easy to use and that you can install both the seat and the child: The ease of access to lower anchor points, the upper tether location and space for other passengers. Another important factor is legroom for when children are in booster seats (the more legroom, the less likely your seat is to being kicked). 

It takes a lot to ensure our kids are safe in the car. If your head is swimming, just watch this short video again.