For how long should your child sit in a rear-facing car seat?

The recommendation for children to remain in a rear-facing car seat is that they should do so for as long as possible, as long as they meet the height and weight requirements outlined by the car seat manufacturer. Rear-facing car seats provide better support for a child's head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash, as they allow the forces of a collision to be distributed more evenly across the child's body.

It is especially important during the early years of a child's life because their bodies are still developing, and the rear-facing position significantly reduces the risk of severe injury in a crash. Many safety organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, urge parents to keep their child in a rear-facing seat for as long as they can, ideally until they exceed the maximum height or weight limit set by the car seat manufacturer.

While the other choices discuss specific age, ability to sit up, or reaching height limits, they do not reflect the current recommendation of maximum use of rear-facing seats until the child outgrows them, making them less aligned with safety best practices.