Research shows rearward facing as long as possible
is the safest way to go. When a child is riding rearward facing, the car seat absorbs the impact,
protecting the child’s head, neck and spine — even up to 73% more than forward facing.1
Most crashes are at the front or from the side
with a front angle.
Facing the facts: Crashes
Most crashes and the most severe crashes
happen at the front of a vehicle.
In fact, 62% of crashes are frontal, and while
25% of crashes are from the side, nearly all of these have a frontal component.
Reinforced by research
“...relatively few passenger cars involved in
fatal collisions are struck in rear locations (5%) compared with front (62%) and
side (25%) impact locations.”2
National Highway Traffic Safety Administartion. Traffic safety facts 1995.
(DOT-Hs-808-471.) Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation, 1996.
front facing danger
A child’s body is propelled forward, which can
result in severe injury.
Facing the facts: Forward
When forward facing, children move forward
during a crash, leaving the protective cocoon of the child safety seat.
Reinforced by research
“When in an FFCS [forward facing car seat], a
frontal crash component causes the child’s head to move forward and further away
from the car seat, limiting or removing any benefit of the side wings.”3
“Forward-facing infants and young children are
particularly susceptible when compared with older children and adults to cervical
spinal injuries because their relatively large head, lax cervical anatomy
contributes to increased cervical spinal cord tension load during a frontal MVC
[motor vehicle collision].”4
B Henary, C P Sherwood, J R Crandall, R W Kent, F E Vaca, K B Arbogast, M J Bull
Injury Prevention 2007;13:398-402. doi: 10.1136/ip.2006.015115
Stalnaker RL. Spinal cord injuries to children in real world accidents. Child
Occupant Protection 2nd Symposium. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE 933100), 1997:173-83.
rearward facing safety
A child’s body is securely cocooned while the
safety seat absorbs the impact.
Facing the facts: Rearward
During a frontal crash, a child’s body moves
into the safety seat, which spreads the force over the entire body and absorbs the
impact.
This not only protects the child from flying
debris or intrusions into the vehicle, but also prevents extreme strain on their
delicate body.
Reinforced by research
“A rear-facing child seat reduces the risk of
injury in a head-on collision by more than 80% when compared to a conventional
forward-facing seat with harness system, as the force of an impact is distributed
evenly over a large area.”3
“In rear facing car seats, the head, neck, and
spine are kept fully aligned, and the crash forces are distributed over all of these
body areas.”6
“...children are less likely to suffer severe
crash injuries when sitting in a rear-facing seat than in a front-facing seat.” It
is “estimated that children were around 75% less likely to suffer severe injuries in
rear-facing seats.”7
VTI — Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute (Rapport 489A, 2003)
Elizabeth A Watson,1 Michael J Monteiro2 Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b1994
doi:10.1136/bmj.b1994
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/06June/Pages/CarSeatWarning.aspx citing research
published in the British Medical Journal
points of protection
during impact when rearward facing vs. forward facing
70%
less risk of head injury
73%
less tension on neck
34%
less neck rotational force
anatomy of safety
Even adults would be safer sitting rearward facing;
however, young children’s delicate and developing bodies make riding rearward even more important.
during impact when rearward facing vs. forward facing
head injury concern
Head injuries are the most common and most severe form of
injury for children during a crash. This is because babies and toddlers have disproportionately
large and underdeveloped skulls.8
full developed at 20
In fact, the skull is not completely developed until age
20, and children’s skulls are particularly thin and pliable, making them more vulnerable to
injury.8
head to body ratio
What’s more, with the head composing approximately 25% of
a child’s weight (compared to 6% in an adult), a child’s delicate musculature cannot sustain as much
force on the head and neck.8
susceptible spines
A child’s spine is hypermobile, and the vertebrae have
not completely fused to form the protective column present in adults.8
rearfacing Q&A
Globally renowned doctors, pediatricians and child safety experts answer your
key rearward versus forward facing questions.
What about my child’s
scrunched leg when rearward facing? It looks dangerous and uncomfortable.
What the doctors say: Broken legs can be fixed. But injured
spines are not easy to repair.
Look back longer fact: There are more leg injuries when kids
are facing forward vs. rearward. When forward facing in an impact, the legs fly forward, hit the
back of the front seat and can break.
Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury
Research and Prevention. http://www.chop.edu/carseat
Since I can’t see my child’s
spine developing, how do I know when it’s safe for my child to ride forward facing?
What the doctors say: Although you cannot see the
development, it gradually occurs through the first several years of a child’s life. Each child
develops at a unique rate but according to the i-Size ECE R129/01 standard children should ride
rearward facing until at least 15 months. Many global safety experts recommend continuing past
15 months, up to two years, three years or even up to 4 years as required in Sweden.
Look back longer fact 1: Medical professionals liken the
child’s spinal development and head size to that of an apple on a stem. A surprising but
effective way to describe how fragile and delicate young necks are compared to the
disproportionate weight of their heads.
Look back longer fact 2: Although an adult’s spine is more
developed and head is more proportioned to the body as compared to a young child’s — even adults
would be safer riding rearward facing!
Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury
Research and Prevention. http://www.chop.edu/carseat
Do any parents really keep
their kids rearward facing up to 4 years old? How is that possible?
What the experts say: Yes! Parents do. In fact, in Sweden
children have been riding rearward facing up to 4 years old for the past 30+ years.
Look back longer fact: According to Thomas Turbell, “over a
million rearward-facing seats are in use in Sweden, and we do not know of any cases where a
child in a rearward-facing car seat has been seriously injured in a frontal collision.”
What about ease of loading
my child into the car when rearward facing?
What the experts say: It’s actually easier to load children
when rearward vs. forward facing because the car door is not in the way.
Look back longer fact: We tested this theory. The experts are
right! Give it a try.
What about the social
interaction we are missing when rearward facing?
What the experts say: It is better to be safe than social.
Look back longer fact: Children’s social skills develop
through all types of communication, verbal and auditory. Plus they likely receive plenty of
social stimulation outside your car drives. However, you can still talk, sing, play games and
socially engage even without eye contact.
What about the fact all my
other friends are turning their children forward? It just seems like it’s time. My child is very
developed and looks ready.
What the experts say: It is well understood you are excited
for your child to grow, develop and progress. However changing from rearward to forward facing
is one milestone you should delay as long as possible.
Look back longer fact: You can be a trend setter and a safety
advocate by being the first in your circle of friends to keep your child rearward even after
your friends have switched their children forward facing. Maybe they will follow your lead and
keep their children rearward facing longer. You could play a part in raising awareness,
spreading the safety message and saving children’s lives.
ready to ride rearward longer?
Meet Joie’s child safety seats that look back longer, up to 18kg and 4
years old
Sources utilised to learn the benefits of keeping children
rearward facing longer.
2015 internal ECE testing with Q1.5 dummies. Based on performance averages of all Joie rearward
and forward facing car seats.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic safety facts 1995. (DOT-HS-808-471.)
Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation, 1996.
B Henary, C P Sherwood, J R Crandall, R W Kent, F E Vaca, K B Arbogast, M J Bull Injury
Prevention 2007;13:398-402. doi: 10.1136/ip.2006.015115
Stalnaker RL. Spinal cord injuries to children in real world accidents. Child Occupant
Protection 2nd Symposium. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE 933100),
1997:173-83.
VTI — Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute (Rapport 489A, 2003)
Elizabeth A Watson,1 Michael J Monteiro2 Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b1994 doi:10.1136/bmj.b1994
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/06June/Pages/CarSeatWarning.aspx citing research published in the
British Medical Journal
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention.
http://www.chop.edu/carseat
