The American Academy of Pediatrics has announced some new guidelines for transporting kids in a car from one point to another.

Nothing much has actually changed but the main update is on car safety seats is that parents should choose the type of seat to use judging by their child’s size, not age.

Adding on, the organisation believes that children should be strapped into a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, till they reach the highest weight or height stipulated by the seat. Before this, the organsiation recommended that the children should remain rear-facing at least until they are 2-years old.

This is because when in a frontal car crash, the head, neck and spine are all supported by the hard shell of the car safety seat in contrast to front-facing seats whereby the kids’ heads are thrown forward, increasing the risk of spine and head injuries.

The organisation also said that as the kids outgrow the seats, the transition from from rear-facing to forward-facing, from forward-facing to booster seat, and from booster seat to seatbelt alone - reduces the protection to the child.