Recently, it was brought to my attention that some individuals who are certified to properly install a car seat are having new parents take down the mirrors that allow drivers to see their rear facing babies. I did some research and found that these certified individuals are not all in agreement about these mirrors. Since there is no definitive answer regarding this topic, I will provide information from both sides and leave the decision up to you.
Those in favor of taking down the mirror feel that this can first and foremost be a distraction for the driver. If the driver is frequently looking in the rear-view mirror to check on the baby instead of paying attention to the road, the driver is more likely to get in an accident. In addition, they believe that the baby mirror could become dislodged in an accident and injure or kill the baby. They state the when dislodged the mirror could either hit the baby with force or cut the baby if the mirror breaks. There were no reported statistics regarding either of these two scenarios.
Those in favor of the mirror feel that parents are better able to monitor a baby in a rear-facing car seat with the mirror. They also stated the there were no reported infant injuries due to these mirrors, although there have been a few reports of parents intervening when their baby was choking or vomiting in their car seat. They do acknowledge that these mirrors can be a distraction for the driver but raising awareness about this may reduce this risk.
My feelings on this topic are as follows: being aware that these mirrors may be a distraction to your driving and only checking on baby when it is safe may eliminate most of the concerns. The models most at risk for becoming a projectile in an accident seem to be those mirrors that have additional things attached such as music, lights and toys or those models that rely solely on velcro to attach it to the car. They are heavier and may be more likely to dislodge. Mirrors that are lightweight and have rounded edges that are cushioned might be a better choice. In addition, I found several companies that had developed a mirror that could be placed in the middle seat and angled so that the baby could be monitored from the rear-view mirror. Other designs attach to headrest with velcro and hooks as well. A third option that I found was a mirror that attached to the ceiling of the car like a tension rod.
No matter what your decision regarding the mirror is, always drive safely. Remember you have precious cargo on board.
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