My friends jokingly call me the "car seat nazi." I am proud to accept that title. I take the safety of my son VERY seriously, above anything else, as I assume sure most parents do for their children. It absolutely breaks my heart to see children secured unsafely in car seats. It is so easy to become well versed in car seat safety. It is impossible to bring back your child after an accident costing their life.

Liam hates his car seat. He fights being strapped down, fusses on the way to our destination, and is desperate to escape the torture straps. Numerous people have given their advice, but the tip that makes me cringe the most? "Just turn him around!"

Did you know that a child is five times more likely to suffer life threatening injuries in an accident while forward facing? FIVE. TIMES. A minuscule percentage wouldn't be a risk I would be willing to take, but FIVE TIMES?

A child's first birthday is something parents both dread and look forward to from the time their bundle is born. A first smash cake. First candle. First party. A milestone too many people think automatically comes with a first birthday is a first car ride forward facing. One isn't some magical number in which you have to turn your child around. In fact, The AAP recommends keeping children rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

Imagine a one year old, barely toddling along. Clumsy, the motion of "one foot in front of the other" is fresh (if even developed yet.) Now, imagine that same toddling baby being thrown forward at 60 MPH. The neck isn't developed enough yet to withstand such force. Rear-facing, the child would be forced into the cocoon of the car seat if involved in an accident. A safety net. So many parent's use the excuse, "They are too long! Their legs touch the seat!" Let me ask you this: Would you rather be purchasing a cast, or a casket?

Every car seat is assembled with a chest strap. CHEST strap. Not a crotch strap. I am glad I have this blog to vent, because I would probably lose alot of IRL friends if I were to vent on the numerous pictures a day I see of this mishap taking place. A chest strap applying stress to your child's unprotected abdomen at 60 MPH during a crash will most likely kill them. Not only that, but they are more likely to be ejected, since the main support system is too low to hold the upper-half of their body in place.

I STRONGLY urge every parent to become knowledgeable in car seat safety. It is one of the most important things you can do for your most precious cargo.