Welcome to our ongoing Mythbusting Series where we explore common myths regarding kids and car seats.
Myth: Backseat baby mirrors present a life-threatening danger in a crash
There are a lot of black and white things in child passenger safety. Always read the manual. Always follow the manual. Harness should always pass the pinch test. But when you get outside of those black and white things, you’ll find a lot of gray areas. And those gray areas can almost always be categorized as “parental discretion”.
As CPS Technicians, we can give you suggestions about things that may or may not be dangerous, but we don’t always have the hard evidence for these things like we do for the black and white things.
One such gray area is the mirrors that attach to the rear vehicle seat head restraints so parents can see their rear-facing babies and toddlers. There are some CPS Techs who will tell every single parent that these are absolutely unsafe because they are a projectile in a crash. Other CPS Techs who are also parents will use them in their own vehicles. So which is it – are they deadly projectiles or perfectly safe? Or neither?
Alright, so let’s look at the science:
Well. Technically there is none. No studies on this to cite, no federal safety standards that mirrors have to pass in order to be sold. However, we might still be able to make a determination based on evidence. Let’s look more abstractly at the science. Specifically, how does speed impact the effect a projectile can have on a child? For this, we have to go back to high school physics. The force an object exerts is equal to that object’s mass times its acceleration. So let’s apply this to mirrors.
Based on a quick Amazon search, the average weight of a mirror is around 1 pound, which is equal to .45kg. So let’s say you were hit while traveling 30 miles per hour or 13.41 meters per second (for simplicity’s sake we’re going to say this happened in 1 second. This is not mathematically accurate, I am aware). If Force = mass x acceleration, the force of the mirror would be equal to .45kg x 13.41m/s, which comes out to 6.03N (newton). I know what you’re thinking. Cool math, Katie. But what does it mean?
What is 6N in real life? What does any of this mean?
6N is equivalent to the force of hitting your child with a 5-pound object traveling at 5 miles per hour. Or throwing a 10-pound object at your child traveling 3 miles per hour. Those all exert the same force.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to linger on the math. Basically, the faster an object travels, the more force it exerts. A 1-pound mirror may seem insignificant but when it’s traveling at 30 miles per hour, that will dramatically increase the force it exerts on whatever it impacts.
But, is it deadly?
Well, for it to strike the child, first, it would have to dislodge from the vehicle head restraint. There are a variety of ways that mirrors attach to the head restraint. Some attach to the vehicle’s top tethers, others buckle or hook to plastic hooks around the top or back of the headrest, others just use velcro to keep it in place.
There is a chance that these attachments could break or fail in a crash, and logically, it would be more likely for a heavy mirror (like the ones with batteries and moving lights and music speakers), to break from its attachment than a light one. This all goes back to that force equation- the heavier mirrors will impart more force during rapid deceleration, and the straps have to be able to restrain them.
Assuming the mirror did dislodge, the injury to the child would depend greatly upon the speed of the crash, the weight of the mirror, and the part of the child’s body that was struck. I would also argue the design of the mirror is also worth considering. Obviously, a heavy mirror will exert more force and a faster crash will likewise increase the force but I think we also need to consider the design of the product. A mirror with hard plastic edges is more likely to result in significant injuries than a mirror with soft padded edges, even if it strikes with the same amount of force.
After extensive research, I haven’t been able to find mention of any injuries from backseat mirrors and certainly no fatalities from them. In terms of physical injuries caused by mirrors, I think we are left to assume that it is possible for a child to be injured by a poorly attached heavy mirror that becomes dislodged in a crash.
Before we rule on this myth, are there other dangers we’re not considering with regard to mirrors?
As a CPS Technician who makes the personal choice to use a mirror, I can tell you without question that they can be distracting. It’s easy to spend just an extra second checking to see if baby is asleep and in that second, the traffic ahead of you could have stopped suddenly.
Anytime you take your eyes off the road, you put yourself and your passengers at risk. I personally believe (and again, I’m not anti-mirror), that a parent can be distracted enough by a backseat mirror to cause a crash.
So, what about our myth? Do backseat baby mirrors present a life-threatening danger in a crash?
Verdict: This myth is a tough one. We have no scientific proof that it has happened or will happen, but I think when looking at the physics, it is PLAUSIBLE.
If you are going to use a mirror, there are a few things that you can do to lower the risks.
First, choose one that is lightweight and has soft edges. The Brica Baby in Sight mirror is one such product. There are even a few mirrors made by car seat manufacturers. The Evenflo Back Seat Baby Mirror and the Britax Baby Car Mirror are among several lightweight options with soft edges. To clarify, I’m not endorsing any particular product but some appear to be better made and less risky than others.
Second, make sure that it is securely attached to a vehicle head restraint. Designs and attachment systems vary a lot from one product to the next and some appear more secure than others. Also, keep in mind that not all head restraint designs can be used to securely mount a mirror. Once the mirror is properly secured, give it a good tug and decide if you think that it would stay put in a moderate impact.
Last but most importantly, remember that looking at the mirror while driving is a distraction and that distracted driving is dangerous driving. If you’re going to use a mirror, check it as briefly and sparingly as possible. If you find that you are getting distracted by it, take it off. If you don’t give your children food or toys with small parts, you don’t have to worry about choking. Most other car seat issues can be triaged when you arrive at your destination or make a pit stop.
Ultimately, while back seat baby mirrors may be controversial, we still think it’s an important topic to discuss. When parents are better informed, they can make better choices.
Check out more of CSB’s popular Mythbusting series:
You can damage your car seat by installing it too tightly
3-Across & Adjacent Car Seat Installations
Rear-facing car seats can’t touch front vehicle seats
Legs bent or feet touching the backseat when rear-facing is dangerous
We’re all going to die in an airplane crash, so using a carseat is pointless
A 5-point harness is safer than a booster seat for older kids
Your pediatrician is a car seat expert
You need an infant carseat (RFO) for a newborn
LATCH is safer than a seat belt installation
Vehicle headrests are meant to break vehicle windows
Physics prof here (with a new baby). You’ve confused velocity and acceleration. Acceleration has units of m/s^2, velocity has units of m/s. You’ve actually calculated a momentum, not a force. To get the force, you need the change in momentum (which is relatively simple since the mirror stops and has zero momentum) and the time the collision that stops the mirror happens in.
my oldest could scream for 2 HRS straight in the car unless someone sat in the backseat. That was FAR more dangerous and distraction than mirror. I don’t watch the mirror all the time either. Just glance at it occasionally. Anything lose in the car becomes a projectile in a crash. I’ve had a wreck as a teenager and everything lose was upfront after crash so kids toys,blankets,etc in the backseat probably aren’t safe either. Our 3 yr old is still rear facing so I use a mirror for her.
I fully agree that these mirrors can be a major distraction, which can be unsafe. Also, in my car, they block some of my ability to view the road behind me.
All that being said, I DO use them for my RFing child. The reason is simple – after swerving dangerously on the freeway while twisting in my seat trying to check on my newborn, I concluded there was nothing about these mirrors that was more dangerous than what I had just done!
I have one. I try to only glance at it when I am stopped. There was one time, though, when my older daughter was about 7 months old and really starting to get into playing peek-a-boo. She instigated a game while we were driving — pulling a blanket over her face and then giggling hysterically when I asked where she was. She did not get tired of this game when traffic started moving again and for the first time I realized how distracting that mirror could be! Luckily nothing happened, but it has made me very aware of how carefully I need to monitor my use of the mirror.
I use them. I’ve had car screamers. It’s more distracting to have a screaming hiccuping infant and not know if he’s ok than it is for me to check a mirror and drive knowing he’s ok, just mad. The toddler distraction bit is a bonus. My two year old loves his
I have the one pictured here a couple of times, the one with the soft edges (Brica baby in sight). It is only 8 oz, which is less than a full sippy cup. I wish someone would do a bunch of tests to see how much force it really takes to dislodge one of these because I just can’t see it happening. Anyway, the best part of the mirror is that it keeps the RF 2 year old amused, he loves looking at himself and lip syncing in the mirror. I also like to be able to make sure he isn’t choking when he gets quiet since he is prone to picking up small objects without us knowing.
You know, this is one I’ve struggled with. I know they are strongly discouraged by many, and considered an absolute no-no by some, so I’ve wrestled with whether to keep one in my car. Being aware that they are a distraction is important, and I have to discipline myself to check it only when stopped (I do sometimes slip up). However, a few weeks ago, having a mirror in our car could very well have saved our toddler’s life. It was late in the afternoon and we had just left a store. She had picked up a small rock in the parking lot, unbeknownst to us. Several minutes down the road, while at a stop light, I (riding as the passenger with my husband driving) looked back to check the mirror to see if our daughter was still awake. It was late enough in the day that we didn’t want her having a nap and messing up bed time :). Literally seconds after I turned around, she started to open her mouth and turn her head weird and I saw a look of panic come into her eyes and I immediately knew she was choking. Full-on, can’t-breath choking. Thankfully we were at a stoplight and my husband jumped out while I turned around to unbuckle her and he was able to perform the heimlich and dislodge the rock we didn’t even know she had. Without the mirror there for me to see her face, I wouldn’t have known she was choking. She very well could have gone unconscious shortly after and no hearing her babbling in the backseat, I would have assumed she was sleeping. It was a terrifying experience, and even knowing some of the dangers that a mirror can present, I was so darn grateful for it in that moment!
OMG! That is terrifying! I’m so glad you were able to figure out what was happening in time to do something about it. Kids do crazy things sometimes. I’m so happy that your story ends with her being okay!
My main concern with these is actually the distraction factor. I advise parents of that first and foremost. As projectiles go a lightweight well secured mirror without electronic components doesn’t scare me much, but distraction can be as bad as intoxication.