> La position la plus sûre : Le dos - route

The safest position for your child:
The back-to-front position

If you're asking yourself the question, ‘Which way should I orientate my child's car seat in my vehicle?’ You won't be asking it for much longer.

We've got plenty to tell you on the subject, and it could well help you make the best choice for your child's safety and comfort.

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The child's morphology

As you already know, a child is not as robust and resistant as an adult. Their heads are proportionately larger and heavier. Their necks and spines are still very fragile. Their reflexes and ability to react are limited. It's only from the age of 4 onwards that your child's sensitive areas become more robust. Before then, you need to be extremely vigilant.

Head weight as a function of age
(head-to-body ratio)

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The movements of the child's body
in the event of a head-on collision

If the child is facing the road

His body is restrained by the harnesses and his head is thrown forward with considerable force.

Depending on the child's age and the violence of the impact, the shoulders, neck and head, which are still very fragile, can suffer serious trauma.

If the child is facing away from the road

The child's body is pushed to the bottom of the car seat instead of being thrown. The energy of a head-on collision is distributed evenly over the surface of the seat and the sensitive areas of the child's body are perfectly protected.

See for yourself ...

In the video below, you can see the difference in body movements between the front-to-road and back-to-road positions in a head-on collision. Does this help you to better understand the importance of car seat orientation?

POSITION

ROAD FACE

40% risk of serious injury

(Risk of ‘whiplash’, shoulder / pelvis injuries, and possible shin splints for taller riders)

POSITION

ROAD BACK

8% less risk of serious injury

(neck better preserved, legs grouped together in foetal position)

Preconceived ideas about the road-back position

No. 1: Comfort

‘It's not comfortable for my child and there's no legroom’.

According to some parents, the rear-facing position is uncomfortable for their children because it doesn't offer enough legroom. Children are more supple and flexible than adults. They prefer to bend or cross their legs when they are in their car seat rather than let them dangle in the air (numbness, tingling, etc.) Many back-to-the-road car seats are suitable for growing children. Some even offer up to 30 cm extra legroom.

No. 2: Visibility

‘My child can't see out of a rear-facing car seat’.

Some adults are opposed to rear-facing car seats because they believe that their children cannot enjoy the view and that this makes their journey boring. It should therefore be pointed out that rearward-facing car seats are higher than forward-facing car seats and allow your children to observe the world around them through the side window. What's more, by removing the headrest from your car, your child can have a clear view out of the rear window instead of having to fix the front seat.

No.3: Motion sickness

‘My child will be car sick

Nausea in the car is generally not due to the orientation of the car seat, but rather to other factors (heat, visibility, etc.). If your child is easily taken ill in the car, remember to maintain a good temperature in the car, make sure they can see out of the window and avoid heavy meals just before the journey.

Are you convinced by all these explanations? Are you going to opt for a rear-facing car seat for your child?

Before the R129 standard, it was compulsory, for their safety, to transport children in a back-to-front car seat until they reached a weight of 9kg (around 9 months).

Now, with this new standard, it is compulsory to leave them in this position until they are 15 months old.

We, the Babylor team, advise you to leave your children in the rear-facing position for as long as possible, at least until they are 4 years old.

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Discover our selection of back-rest car seats