Infants under one year of age should be in a child safety seat that faces ____________.

Infants under one year of age should be placed in a child safety seat that faces the back of the car. This positioning is crucial for their safety and protection during a crash. In the event of a collision, a rear-facing seat provides better support for the baby’s head, neck, and spine, which are still developing during the first year of life. The back-facing orientation helps to absorb the impact forces much more effectively, reducing the risk of severe injuries.

Research and safety guidelines from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics support that children should remain in a rear-facing seat until they are at least two years old or until they reach the maximum weight or height limit set by the safety seat manufacturer. By facing the back, the seat distributes crash forces across the entire body, minimizing the potential for injury compared to other orientations that may not provide the same level of protection for infants.