As a parent, one of the most important purchases you will make is a car seat for your child. If you haven't bought one yet, you've probably done some research on which are safest and noticed that there are a ton of recommendations out there!
However, one of the most important tips comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and states that moms and dads should keep their lovebugs in rear-facing seats until they are 2 years old or exceed the height or weight limit, which is usually found on the back of the seat.
In the past, safety guidelines advised moms and dads to flip the car seat so it was forward-facing once their little one turned 1 year old, so many parents are unaware of the AAP's new recommendations.
A 2007 study published by Injury Prevention highlights current best practices for parents. This report revealed that kids under 2 years old are approximately 75 percent less likely to be killed or severely injured in a car accident if the car seat they are in is rear-facing.
''A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,'' pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention Dennis Durbin said in a statement.
In order to ensure that your child not only stays secure, but that you don't get limited use out of your car seat, consider purchasing a convertible model. These items are rear-facing until your child turns two and then it can be flipped around so that it becomes forward-facing. At Kid's Stuff Superstore, we sell a wide variety of brands and styles that are not only safe, but affordable too.