IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Tots safer riding backward

Children under 4 years of age fare better in motor vehicle accidents when they are sitting in rear-facing rather than forward-facing car seats, according to a report published online in the British Medical Journal.

Infants are typically switched from a rear- to a forward-facing seat when they reach about 9 kilograms, which occurs at roughly 8 months of age for an average boy, say study authors Dr Elizabeth A. Watson and Dr Michael J. Monteiro, from Royal Surrey County Hospital. They add, however, that growing evidence suggests it may be best to delay the switch until 4 years of age.