Forward and rear facing child seats can be viewed as a parent cradling a child’s head for protection. In an accident a child’s head in a forward facing seat will move away from the protection of a parent’s hand, whilst a child’s head in a rear facing seat will move into the protection of a parent’s hand, thus offering the head and neck the vital cushioning it needs. Click this link for full article on forward facing vs rear facing child seats.
Forward and Rear Facing Child Seat with Head Protection
Comparing the protective qualities of forward and rear-facing child seats in accidents.