How long should a child's carseat remain rear facing?

Extended rear facing until the child reaches the maximum height or weight limits of the carseat is the safest option. When a child is sitting forward facing in a frontal collision a large amount of force is exerted onto the head, neck and shoulders leading to serious injury like paralysis or death. If the child is sitting rear facing during a collision, the force is spread over a greater area of the body with less pressure on the neck, head, and inner organs. Children should sit rear facing as long as possible, in case of collision it reduces the risk of serious injury or death by more than 90%. You should consult your car seat's manual to determine the maximum height and weight restrictions.