At diono we are proud of our safety heritage. Not only are our car seats tested and engineered to the highest standards, but they are meticulously designed to help parents keep their children as safe as possible.
Here in Seattle, we became famous for our pioneering vision of rear-facing for longer and now our range of All-in-One convertible car seats are rear-facing for even longer up to 50 lb, approx. 4 years old. But how did we arrive here? And why do we believe in rear-facing for as long as possible? Our team of safety experts take you through the benefits of rear-facing car seats…
Who’d have thought going backwards was the way forwards?
No parent wants to be involved in a collision, but sadly it can happen to even the safest of drivers. In the United States, car accidents are still the leading cause of unintentional death and injury in children under the age of 13. (Source: American SPCC)
Following years of extensive research from physicians and industry bodies we always recommend keeping your child travelling rear-facing for as long as possible to reduce the risk of injury.
The most common collisions are frontal, so when a child is rear-facing their delicate head, neck and spine are supported by the car seat shell, which absorbs most of the crash forces. When forward-facing the 5-point safety harness restrains the body, but the head and neck are unprotected and thrust forward with the impact force, which is more likely to end in spine and head injuries.
Diagram shows dissipation of energy on impact when a child is rear-facing
REAR-FACING FACTS:
- Riding in the right car seat correctly reduces the chance of death or serious injury by more than 70%. (Source: AAP)
- The concept of using rear-facing seats to transport young children was conceived by a Swedish Professor in 1963, and since then all Swedish children have been traveling rear-facing until they are at least four years old. (Source: CarSeat.se)
- The results have been dramatic, with road deaths and serious injuries in children under five virtually eliminated in Sweden. (Source: Carseat.se)
- The AAP recommends keeping your child travelling in a rear-facing car safety seat for as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat. Some states have laws requiring that kids ride rear-facing until the age of two. Diono seats offer the advantage of extended rear-facing to 50 lbs so don’t be in a hurry to turn them forward-facing! (Source: AAP)
- A baby’s and toddler’s head are heavy and disproportionate in size in relation to the rest of their body. In a frontal collision, the head is thrust forward, subjecting the neck to significant force that may cause serious injury. (Source: AAP)
Diagram shows dissipation of energy on impact when a child is forward-facing
WHAT ABOUT FORWARD-FACING?
Although we always recommend rear-facing for as long as possible, our diono safety doesn’t stop there. As children grow at different rates, some may need to switch to forward-facing if they outgrow the rear-facing height or weight capacity of their seat at a younger age.
Our All-in-One convertible car seats not only include 5-point safety harness to spread the force of impact, we also include the diono Safe Stop®. Safe Stop® is a load-limiting device designed to absorb energy and reduce impact to a smaller, forward-facing child in the event of an accident and significantly reduce the force affecting a child’s head, neck, and chest.
The diono Safe Stop® combined with superior side impact protection, energy-absorbing foam and adjustable headrests give added protection forward-facing. So diono parents are confident that as your little one grows, there is the option to move to forward facing safely when you feel the time is right.
SHOP DIONO REAR-FACING CAR SEATS
All diono All-in-One convertible car seats are rear-facing for even longer up to 50 lb (approx. 4 years old)
