Why Is Rear Facing So Much Safer?

Trying to explain the huge benefits of rear facing can be an uphill battle.  “My child is 10 months and her neck is very strong.  She will be fine in a crash even if she sits forward facing”. Maybe, but probably not.  Rear facing is much safer, 500% safer up to 2 years of , and benefits continue to be large after that as well.  But why is it safer?

• Rear facing spread the force evenly over the whole back in a collision.  The head, neck and spine area is not violently thrown forward at impact.  That’s the simple reason.

This can easily been see in crash test footage. Click here for a short clip of a forward facing crash test.  Click here for a rear facing crash test. Look at the neck, head, and spine area.  See the huge difference? Where would you like to seat your child?  To see a comparison of rear facing and forward facing next to each other, please click here. As you can see, the rear facing child is going through the crash without any force on head, neck or spine.

Rear facing is far safer for a 3-year old but it’s also safer for a 55 year old.  The rear facing benefits are always there regardless of age.  A child has muscles, bone and tissue which is far from developed.  The head, neck and spine are delicate, there are cases where children have broken theri neck at minor speeds while forward facing.  Like Joel who was 18 months and 33 lbs. when he was in a minor crash and broke his neck while forward facing. His grandfather Jim made an inspiring video about Joel and and rear facing,  click here to see it.

To read more about background of rear facing and and detailed safety benefits, go over to the rear facing area.