How long should my child stay rear-facing in a car seat?
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height your car seat allows, which for many convertible seats means age 3 or 4. Get the harness fit right and never buckle a baby in a bulky coat.
Rear-facing as long as possible
Both NHTSA and the AAP advise keeping infants and toddlers rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. The standard is the seat's limits, not a fixed age.
The older advice of turning around at age 2 is out of date. The AAP moved away from that line in 2018 in favor of the manufacturer's height and weight limits. Many convertible seats let a child stay rear-facing for 2 years or more, often to age 3 or 4.
A rear-facing seat cradles and supports a young child's head, neck, and spine in a crash, which is why staying rear-facing longer is safer.
Getting the harness fit right
A correct fit is as important as facing the right direction.
- Tighten the harness so you cannot pinch any slack at the shoulder.
- For rear-facing, the harness straps should be at or below your child's shoulders.
- Place the chest clip at the center of the chest, level with the armpits.
- Recline the seat to the angle marked by the manufacturer so a young baby's head does not flop forward.
No bulky coats, and the progression after rear-facing
Do not buckle your child into the harness while they are wearing a bulky coat or snowsuit. In a crash the padding compresses and leaves the straps too loose. Buckle the harness over thin layers, then lay a coat or blanket over the top.
Once your child reaches the rear-facing limits of the seat, move to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether, used until they reach its top height or weight limit.
After that comes a booster seat in the back seat, used until the seat belt fits properly on its own. Children are safest in the back seat through at least age 12.
Related questions
- Is there still a rule to keep kids rear-facing until age 2?
- No, that rule is out of date. The AAP dropped the until-age-2 line in 2018, and both the AAP and NHTSA now advise keeping a child rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. For many convertible seats that means staying rear-facing to age 3 or 4.
- How should a rear-facing car seat harness fit?
- Tighten the harness so you cannot pinch any slack at the shoulder. For rear-facing, the straps should sit at or below your child's shoulders, and the chest clip should be at the center of the chest, level with the armpits. Recline the seat to the angle marked by the manufacturer so a young baby's head does not flop forward.
- Can my baby wear a winter coat in the car seat?
- No. Do not buckle the harness over a bulky coat or snowsuit, because the padding compresses in a crash and leaves the straps too loose. Buckle the harness snugly over thin layers, then lay a coat or blanket over the top of the buckled harness to keep your baby warm.
Sources & further reading
ParentFlow: one free app, newborn to age six
ParentFlow is a free baby tracker that logs feeds, sleep, diapers, pumping and growth in one tap, with your daily summary, trends, and reminders based on your own logs. Free for everyday tracking on iPhone, Android, and the web.
App Store Google Play Open Web AppThis article reflects current AAP, CDC, and other public-health guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.