What is the rear-facing seat guideline for weight/height limits beyond age 2?

• A. Move to forward-facing after reaching the weight/height limit.
• B. Keep child rear-facing to the highest weight/height allowed by the seat, typically until at least age 2 or longer if seat allows.
• C. Use forward-facing only if the seat has a top weight.
• D. Switch to forward-facing as soon as the child can sit upright.

Answer: (B)

Keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows is the safest approach. In a crash, the harness and seat cradle the child and distribute forces along the back of the seat, which protects the head, neck, and spine much better than a forward-facing position. The limits that matter are the weight and height specified by the car seat, not age alone. Many seats allow rear-facing well beyond age 2, sometimes up to 40 pounds or more, and some even higher. So the guideline beyond age 2 is to stay rear-facing until the child reaches the seat’s maximum weight or height, then transition to forward-facing with a proper harness. Switching earlier—based on age or other factors like the child being able to sit upright—reduces the protection afforded by continuing rear-facing.