The American Academy of Pediatrics recently established a new policy recommending children ride rear-facing up to 2 years, or to the upper weight limits of the car seat. Parents who are not familiar with the benefits of extended rear-facing are puzzled why this should be the recommendation. After all, most parents are anxious to see their baby while they are driving the car so they can keep an eye on them. I did when my first born was younger. As a matter of fact, his pediatrician at the time said he was big enough to go forward-facing at nine months old. You can imagine how delighted I was! Now, after 11 years of being a CPS instructor, I am horrified to think what would have happened if we were in a crash. While it is tempting to turn babies around to face the front of the vehicle, it is important...

Allana Pinkerton stays busy as Diono's Child Passenger Safety Advocate.  Her job not only includes keeping children safe, but encompasses many duties within our company. The main component of her job is to train retail staff. This is important to parents as they shop for a new car seat. As you know, there are hundreds of child restraints on the store shelves and it can be confusing when trying to choose one. It is reassuring to a parent when the retail staff can tell them about safety features, conveniences and guide them to resources within their community. Allana doesn't just go into our retail customers' store and try to sell them on a Diono seat. She actually teaches beyond the Radian and Monterey. Most retail employees are parents or grandparents too. With great passion, Allana explains the issues with Child Passenger Safety, teaches about crash dynamics, rattles off statistics, and talks...