While the law in Australia states the minimum age to turn forward facing is 6months this is a MINIMUM. Read through multiple medical studies, journal articles or even crash test statistics and you will see an alarming number of internal decapitations/spinal cord snapping occurring when forward facing.
A child's spine does not ossify until 4-6years old, leaving the spinal cord susceptible to EASILY detaching from the skull. The spine only needs to stretch 0.5cm to SNAP, now think of the whip lash we get as adults when someone slams on the brakes!
In a 40km/hr accident when forward facing there is 180-220kg of force applied to the neck.
When rear facing it is only 40-60kg!
Car seat manufacturers even advocate for extended rear facing! Now just imagine how many crash tests they have performed on their seats and seen how to ensure the best outcomes.
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