Tori Spelling and son Liam spotted out and about

Actress Tori Spelling, 34, buckled son Liam Aaron, 13 months, into his car seat during a recent outing in Los Angeles, CA. Tori and husband Dean McDermott are currently expecting their second child together — a daughter — in early June.

Photo by Startraks.

CBB note: Tori works with Startraks, hence her being okay with the upclose photo.

Click below for fashion and gear info.

Liam is holding Todd Harris Goldman’s Girls Are Weirdos But They Smell Pretty ($9).

He is wearing a Small Paul Light Blue Julius Tee ($20).

Tori is strapping Liam into a Graco SafeSeat Step 2 Toddler Seat ($130).

Comments

Liam is so cute!!! And Tori looks great!

- tink1217 on April 10th, 2008

What a cutie. That’s an horribly close shot though. Kinda scary.

- Mandii on April 10th, 2008

did she let the paparazzi into her car for the shot or was this posted somewhere by dean? honestly, this level of access kind of freaks me out.

- rachel on April 10th, 2008

Um, how close were the paparazzi in this pic?

Cute book

- Ava on April 10th, 2008

This question seems a little odd, but how did the paparazzi get a photo from the inside of her car? I’m really not trying to be ugly, I was just wondering.

- Mary on April 10th, 2008

I love the title of that book!

- J. on April 10th, 2008

He’s a cutie — looks like the Graco Safeseat 2 in Iconic – good choice :O)

- Rachel K. on April 10th, 2008

That’s what I was thinking? Are the paps in the car?! very weird unless it was staged for some kind of PR thing?

I’m thinking “Lily” or something similar for this little girl Any thoughts?

- brannon on April 10th, 2008

Is the paparazzi in her car???

Liam is gorgeous! So cute that he’s reading that book – preparing for his sister I suspect lol

- Amy on April 10th, 2008

Aw Liam is so cute. I love his little shoes!

- Amanda on April 10th, 2008

Liam is so cute, look at his little booties, too precious! Tori looks wonderful.

- Nicole on April 10th, 2008

HOW FUNNY THAT HE WOULD HAVE THAT BOOK BEING THAT HE HAS A BABY SISTER ON THE WAY! THAT IS HYSTERICAL!

…..TORI, LOOKING FAB AS ALWAYS!

- gigi on April 10th, 2008

Mandii – I though the same thing, like the paps came right into the drivers side. I don’t know how comfortable that would make me!

- Heather on April 10th, 2008

He is so adorable.
I wanted to know what kind of shoes or slippers is Liam wearing.

- [e-mail] on April 10th, 2008

Adore the shoes! Does anyone have a clue as to where they came from? I can’t tell if they are shoes or just shoes covers but my gosh they are so so cute!

- Mary on April 10th, 2008

mm must have been a photo op hey- trust tori to never miss one!

- ekaterina on April 10th, 2008

how appropriate that he would have that book being that he has a baby sister on the way! that is hysterical!

…..tori, looking fab as always!

- gigi on April 10th, 2008

Liam is so cute, and tori looks good.

- brooke on April 10th, 2008

Bummer he isn’t still rear-facing in his car seat.

- Principesa on April 10th, 2008

What a cutie pie! What a shame he’s not still in a rear-facing car seat … until 2 years and 30 lbs is best!

- BookMama on April 10th, 2008

I wondered if there was a boy version of this book, because I was trying to think of what it would be called, but I couldn’t come up with anything positive about boys for the subtitle (I’m more referring to men. I’m just having one of those moments.) This being the internet, I found the actual book: “Boys are Stupid – Throw Rocks at Them.” The author couldn’t come up with anything good to say either, and he’s a man!

Liam is cute, and his parents always look happy. Sounds like a good family to me.

- nona on April 10th, 2008

Rear facing until 2? You’ve got to be kidding? I’ve never heard that one. My kids were too long for their infant scoops by 6 months. If I’d kept them rear facing past a year they would have had their knees in their faces.

Shoot, with my oldest, we turned him around at 6 months – but he’s almost 16. My youngest was 23 pounds at 8 months, I had to buy him a new carseat as our old one was only to 20# rear facing.

- Anonymous on April 10th, 2008

Very cute baby. That book isn’t really a children’s book.

- Elizabeth on April 10th, 2008

Um, 2 years and rear facing? I don’t think so. Where is the kid supposed to put his legs? I am the mother of 3 small kids with one on the way and the laws are 1 year AND 20 lbs. Where is this rule of 2 years and 30 lbs being best?

- angelbaby33 on April 10th, 2008

I have read recently that the recommendation from safety experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics is to rearface for as long as possible, and that changing to forward facing at 1 year and 20-22lbs is slightly outdated.
Although this comes 4 years late for me, my son was forward facing at 13 months.

Anyway, apparently infant carseats are outgrown when the child reaches the weight limit OR the child has less than one inch of plastic shell above their heads. And they should then be moved to a rearfacing convertible carseat and stay rearfacing until the limits of the seat (30-35lbs).

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868
this says
“Two years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics quietly added this wording to its guidelines: If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.”
“In Scandinavian countries it’s common to keep children rear facing up to 3 or 4 years old and there’s some good data there that proves it’s effective,”

the MSNBC article is pretty interesting. I had definitely not heard of this before.

- Ellia on April 10th, 2008

Bravo Ellia! You saved me typing out the same post! My daughter, Chloe, is actually pictured on cpsafety.com’s rearfacing website.

- Lorus on April 11th, 2008

maybe they were filming something for Inn Love and Tori let them take a pic? liam is so placid and sweet.it seems like having the startraks guys around is tori&dean’s way of making liam feel comfortable with paps and cameras etc.to let him know he doesn’t need to be frightened and these guys r familiar to him and they’re just doing their job…

- ang on April 11th, 2008

Here are some excerpts from an article in the March 2008 issue of “Pediatrics” – the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“One significant change in counseling is now emerging that may greatly inprove the safety of infants and young children. A recent analysis of the protection provided in rear-facing compared with forward-facing car safety seats has revealed that children under the age of 2 years are 75% less likely to die or sustain serious injury when they are in a rear-facing seat.”

“…it is notable that rear-facing car safety seats were more effective than forward-facing car safety seats for both infants under 1 year and children aged 12 to 23 months.”

“The odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.”

“Now we are challenged by greater evidence to implement what we know to be best practice: children should ride in a rear-facing seat to the highest weight or height allowed for use rear-facing by the manufacturer of the seat. As an infant approaches 20 lb, when his or her head is within an inch of the top of the seat, and at the 4-, 6-, or 9-month visit, it is appropriate to counsel families that they should transfer the infant to a convertible seat that is approved for rear-facing use to higher weight and height limits.”

“Parents may be helped to understand the importance of using the convertible car safety seat in the rear-facing position longer than 1 year if they are counseled that children are 5 times safer [rear facing]…into the second year of life.”

“Another barrier to implementation of this best-practice recommendation is the common myth that if a child’s feet or legs reach the back of the vehicle seat, he or she is at an increased risk for a lower-extremity injury. Current data do not substantiate this myth. [...] In addition…these injuries, as well as injuries to the head and spine, have been described in forward-facing children in child-restraint systems.”

“Hence the challenge: counsel parents that for best protection, their child should ride in a rear-facing seat to the highest weight or height allowed for use rear-facing by the manufacturer of the convertible seat.”

“When facing forward, a seat with a full harness should be used until the child exceeds the height or weight specifications of the seat in that orientation, and then the child should transition to a seat with a harness to a higher weight or to a belt-positioning booster.”

My 23 month old daughter is still happily rear facing and she is the height of an average 3 year old. Just because you haven’t heard about it doesn’t mean it’s not safer. Recommendations change as more studies are done.

- Catherine on April 11th, 2008

I forgot to add two things.

In Sweden children rear face to age 4 of 5 and they have the lowest child mortality rates in car crashes.

Yes the law says “1 AND 20lb” but that really should be considered the minimum and is certainly no longer considered “best practice”

- Catherine on April 11th, 2008

he is adorable. what a chubby little guy. I remember watching 90210 back in the day when Tori was in the show.

- Mary on April 11th, 2008

My kid is 3 this year and is still rear-facing in his car seat. We plan to keep him so until he reaches the RF limits as designated for his particular car seat.

What does he do with his legs? He bends his knees. No kid keeps their legs straight, right?

Besides, if by some chance there is a car accident while he is RF, he is still in the ideal position.

The likelihood of having a broken leg is quite small; the alternative? Turn him front facing and risk a neck and/or spinal injury in a rear end collision. That’s a lot of force to a child who head is heavy in relation to their body.

Don’t believe me? Check out the videos of the crash test results. I bet anyone who FF their kid early and below their car seat limits will be shocked to see how a seemingly small accident can do some major damage. I hope parents are moved to action. I know it convinced me to keep my son RF as long as possible!

Thanks for posting the links, Ellia.

- Principesa on April 11th, 2008

In my state, there is no law that mandates one must turn the child front facing from RF, either at age one. It is simply a recommendation – one which I am happily to dismissed.

(The point was discussed ad naseum when Britney Spears had her youngest child FF at one year old during the start of her crash and burn. Remember?)

- Principesa on April 11th, 2008

Heck, how about 3 years and rearfacing! My sons rearfaced until 32 months old, when their heads were too close to the top of the carseat shell. They just folded their legs and were quite comfortable. The AAP recommends rearfacing to the height and weight of your carseat, which for many is up to 32 lbs.

Otherwise, I think this is a cute picture!

- Christine on April 11th, 2008

Interesting, first that si by startraks which is people she works with, right??? SO nice to invite them into the car…

2nd, I have 4 children and my 3rd and 4th are almost 4 years apart so I had ni idea the standards have changed for rearfacing…I will have to look into this. I have always wanted to wait till 1 year and 20 pounds, but my poor middle daughter….riding backwards also meant throwing up EVERYTIME we went anywhere…so she was turned early, about 10 months, with the blessing of our ped. He said it was better to turn her forward and have her not vomit that it was to keep her rear facing and then have a risk of aspirating.

My son is 10 months old now, and weighs 24 pounds and is still rear facing…he already has to bend his knees cause he is long. I will keep him that way as long as I can now.

- Courtney on April 11th, 2008

Amen to all who support extended RF and are sharing the facts with others out there.

I know I hear it a lot “but the feet touch the back of the seat and that’s dangerous” or that it couldn’t possibly be comfortable… they are babies, they’re flexible and it doesn’t bother them at all and secondly, if God forbid my child were to ever be in a wreck I would certainly take an ankle or leg injury over a neck injury any day and considering there’s absolutely no evidence to show that leg injuries from rear facing occur whereas neck injuries from forward facing definitely do my kids will rf as long as possible.

That said, the recommendation that comes from pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics and that is located on every carseat out there is that a child should rear face until they are at least 20 lbs AND 1 year of age so no one can be faulted for turning their child around. I wouldn’t have known about the benefits if it weren’t for my degree and my studies.

- Rachel K. on April 11th, 2008

Love the book! It isnt appropriate for children, but I have it… Its hilarious! BTW- Im assuming you arent aware that the Graco Toddler Booster Step 2 (which Liam is in, but I cannot remember the pattern) is only approved for forward facing??? It is 22lbs and 1 year forward facing ONLY! Also, it only goes to 40lbs max. I personally think this is a waste of 150$ and you are better off with a Marathon or Boulevard. I dont sell a lot of these, but they are nice. (i work as a mgr at babies r us)… So Liam has to be forward facing for this car seat…

- stephanie on April 11th, 2008

Yeah Stephanie you’re right. I really like the Safeseat 2 but I’m a bit puzzled as to why Graco created a seat that only goes up to 40 lbs and ONLY forward faces. If I were interested in a forward only facing seat I’d go with the Graco Nautilus which is the new seat that is WAY nicer for only around $10 more and lasts up to 100 lbs — 65 lbs harnessed which is wonderful and has really high harness slots for taller kids.

I’ve seen Tori photographed at several Graco events though so my guesses are they hand out these carseats to the stars like they’re candy *wink*. It would definitely be a nice seat for free!

- Rachel K. on April 11th, 2008

I find it a little funny that she used the orbit travel system that is over $900.00 to purchase, and when it was time to switch him to the big car seat she spent $130.00 on a graco. Don’t get me wrong, I personally love graco compared to the other seats I have used as an aunty. I just find it a little weird. On a side note Tori looks beuatiful as always and Liam is a cute little peanut.

- Angela Lake on April 11th, 2008

Funny back 25 years ago when I was born carseats were only used for about a year and then we sat in seatbelts and now the recommendations list just keeps growing and growing and growing!

I don’t know most kids I think would look odd scrunching their feet up at 3 and staring at the back of the car! My niece was forward facing since a year old and I loved being able to look in my rear view mirror and talk to her and watch her look around!

I think a year old is fine to turn them around (unless they’re tiny for their age then of course I wouldn’t).

- J.M. on April 11th, 2008

Can’t one picture be posted without someone resorting to a tirade about what the celeb mom is doing “wrong”?

- Stef on April 11th, 2008

I hope that anyone here who still thinks rear facing their child as long as possible is being an alarmist, I challenge you to watch this.

If this can not convince you to change your mind on this important subject, nothing will.

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

- Principesa on April 11th, 2008

No one has said she’s doing anything wrong! People were just taking this opportunity to share safety information with others on a website where there may be a lot of other Mom’s of bubs and toddlers.

I think it isn’t correct to compare this with the furore over Britney as that was about a child being turned ff before age 1, whereas this is just a discussion of new recommendations. Tori certainly isn’t breaking any laws.

I also feel that if you invite the pap (albeit “friends” of hers) into your car to take a pic of your child in a car seat that you have to expect that people are going to make comments about it. She’s happy to have these photos taken as they help her business by keeping her in eye of the public, so if she’s using her child as a marketing tool then I don’t see anything wrong with people using this opportunity to point out that while she’s not breaking the law there is change in the recommendations about keeping kids rf longer.

I have to disagree with RachelK, as I pointed out earlier the AAP no longer recommends 1 and 20, they recommend rf to the limit of the seat and that it should be at least 30lb.

Please don’t trust a car seat manufacturer to advise you on when to turn a child rf, or move them to a booster!!! There main concern is their bottom line, not your child’s safety.

- Catherine on April 11th, 2008

Okay, I guess I’ll be the first to say it. Isn’t that book a little inappropriate for a toddler? I don’t know if anyone commenting on it knows that it is meant as an adult ‘joke’ book. Talking about silly things women do like boob jobs and stuff.
I still like Tori and I’ll pretend he was just holding it to keep him happy rather than something she actually reads to him

- Amanda on April 11th, 2008

Catherine — thanks for clarifying my info :O)
I actually do realize that there are new recommendations made by the AAP, however until those recommendations are placed on all of the carseats (they aren’t at this point they still say 20 lbs, 1 year) and pediatricians are aware of these changes — my friend was just told it was safe to turn her 12 month old daughter around last week (at 21 lbs) — then it is, in my opinion, still considered the “recommendation.” It will take time to be changed and sink in.

And I totally agree with you about not taking the advice of the carseat manufacturer. They are only required to list a MINIMUM amount of information. One that annoys me every time is the booster seat. I see little 2 year olds in booster seats with seat belts daily. The recommendation for a child to be in an unharnessed booster is 4 years AND 40 lbs. Booster seats often list weights but fail to reveal that height is the bigger issue. My tall 3 1/2 year old godson still does not safely fit in the Graco Turbo even though he is above both the height and weight limits for that seat. He is long legged and his torso is no where near tall enough to ride safely. The seat belt lays across his neck. There are a lot of things to think about when looking for and buying a seat.

- Rachel K. on April 11th, 2008

RachelK ~ I know what you mean! There are HEAPS of boosters that state you can use them from 3 years and 30lb! So not safe (not to mention illegal in many states)

In reference to the book, I imagine it was just put there as a “prop” because she’s having a girl, not because she reads it to him or anything.

I also want to add that although I’ve been commenting on car seats I’d also like to say that Tori is looking really good. I think pregnancy definitely agrees with her!

- Catherine on April 12th, 2008

having your knees up to your chin can’t be comfortable for a tall 2 year old. and sitting with my legs crossed bothers me after a little while so i can’t see it not bothering my 2 year old. if the child is small then maybe being kept rear facing would work.

- danielle on April 12th, 2008

Um, J.M. I don’t know where you grew up (I’m from NYC) but I’m a only a year older than you and I used a carseat at least until I was 3, and a booster seat after that. I don’t know anyone who let their kids ride without a carseat before age 3 or 4.

- emily on April 12th, 2008

Danielle ~ It’s a common misconception that older children will be uncomfortable rear facing. Most children prefer not sitting with their legs straight out – just watch them playing on the floor.

My daughter is 23 months but is above the 97th percentile for height making her only slightly shorter than an average 3.5 year old, and she is still comfortably rear facing.

Here is a gallery of older rear facing children

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx

Just click on the pic to get a better view.

- Catherine on April 12th, 2008

My daughter, Ruthie is on that album!!

as for why Graco did the weight limits they did… the seat has been through testing to get approval to 50lbs TWICE and it did NOT pass.

They gave up and moved on… creating the Nautilus.

Still, she should have chosen a different seat, that would allow him to rearface longer ideally, but as long as he meets the minimums and it’s installed and being used properly, that’s good enough for me.

I spread the word on rearfacing and harnessing as long as possible, but I settle for proper use every single time.

- Kat on April 14th, 2008

I love watching this show. I just have to say I turned my son Forward facing at 13 months, and then turned him back around Rear facing at 26 months. He is now 30 pounds, 37 inches and still rear facing. He loves rearfacing. http://www.myspace.com/carseatsafteynut

- Carrie on July 9th, 2008