When is it ok for my baby to face forward in his car seat?

Kristin - posted on 01/23/2009

Hi!  Where we live in Ohio, the state law (I believe) is that the infant must remain rear facing until they are a year old AND 20 pounds.  There have been serveral times that I want to turn our daughter around so that we can see her, but I'm not sure if we could get in trouble for that.  We go to the Dr's on Monday for 9 month shots, so I'll ask :-)

Amy - posted on 01/23/2009

In Maine it is a year old AND atleast 20 lbs.... I just bought a carseat that is rear and front facing!! Im not sure where you live but you can get them most anywhere... Good luck its sooooo much easier!

Jennifer - posted on 01/10/2009

Most "convertible" car seats will be both forward and rear facing. They say that the reason you need to stay rear facing until after a year even if your child is over 20 lbs is because the neck isn't strong enough to withstand a forward facing accident until after approximately age 1. Maybe you have been looking at the booster seats which are made for the toddlers. My daughter is 8 1/2 months old and I had to switch seats from the infant carrier about 2 months ago. Good luck.

Brooke - posted on 01/07/2009

No either ors on this one.  Keep your child rear facing until they are 1 year old!  You can buy a new car seat for them that can be both rear and forward facing.  In other countries children are rear facing for up to three years!  If you YouTube car seat safety they will show you a video on why rear facing is so important!  I have an eight month old that wont front face until she's two! 

Julie - posted on 01/07/2009

I went tot he car seat clinic and they said up to 1 year old is recommended, but try to keep them in a rear facing as long as possible - my rear facing seat is from Zellers and goes up to 30lb, then converts to a forward facing.  It's a great seat!

Christina - posted on 01/06/2009

In Massachusetts you need to keep the seat rear-facing until he/she is a year old.  I'm not sure of the weight.  If he/she is outgrowing the infant seat you can upgrade him/her to the regular seat but it needs to be installed rear-facing until he/she is a year.  Good luck!

Colleen - posted on 01/06/2009

They have good seats that you can turn front or back. I have the Britax Marathon and another Britax in my husbands car that I use for my nine month old. He has been out of the carrier since 7 months. I couldn't lug that carrier anymore! I do miss the days where he would fall asleep and we could bring him into the house asleep though! Taking him out of a regular car seat he always wakes up!

Dianna - posted on 01/06/2009

Quoting Gloria:

What if my child already weighs 20lbs but is only 8mnths old?

I understand, mine is in the same buat, but the law is 20 pounds AND 1 year.  They have to meet both.

Colleen - posted on 01/06/2009

In NJ it's 20 pounds and a year old. My son will be over 20 lbs by a year.. I will turn him then

Pamela - posted on 01/06/2009

it doesn't matter in Canada they have to be over a year.  You can phone the ambulance place to find out or you insurance provider.  My rear facing goes up to 30 lbs rear and then 80 lbs forward.

Gloria - posted on 01/06/2009

What if my child already weighs 20lbs but is only 8mnths old?

Dianna - posted on 01/05/2009

In California they have to be 1 year and 20 pounds - for now - they are trying to put some sort of height requirnment on it, I hope it does not pass.

Anita - posted on 01/05/2009

hey gloria iam from Australia and the baby are allow to face front way when there 6 months old here..... ive only know that 6 months they can gace forward...

Pamela - posted on 01/05/2009

once he is a year old or over 22 lbs.  They do sell reversibles that go up to 30 lbs rear facing.  I don't know if you have a sears where you live but they sell them there.  Toys r us, wal-mart, zellers.  Hope this helps