Any lucky toddlers still rear facing in the car?

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/04/2010

My pediatritionnalso said I can forward face my son at a year she also aid I can wean him from breastfeeding at a year. Both of which could badly affect his health and safety.
I say, just because it's legal for me to smoke cigarettes does that mean I should?
Law is the bare minimum, not the safest option.
I'm buying a seat so Eric can be rearfacing till 45lbs and 53in so I won't be forward facing him for years. But it's expensive so I'm saving my money as it is a priority for me. I will save my Christmas money too for the seat. I know it's worth it!

Rachael - posted on 11/03/2010

if his head was 2 inches of less from the top of the carseat then it is time to switch him due to height. The feet being scrunched up is not an indicator to switch. Do your research, then follow what you feel is best for your child. You are his mother no one else can or should try to make these decisions but you. Very smart having the police install the car seat for you. although the advice they give on how he "should" face is the legal ( 1 year AND 20 lbs) NOT the safety recommendations of the max rear facing weight limit for the seat or when the head is less than 2 inches below the top of the headrest in its highest position. ( if your seat is in the way have you tried switching him to a different seat in the car? Alexander also has special toys that are only for the car, so they are special for him to get to play with during car trips. Good luck!

Kimberly - posted on 11/03/2010

i did have a mirror for him rear facing his feet were pushed against the back of the seat and i cant sit that close to the steering wheel either. his head is almost to the bottom of the head rest in my car. and when he falls asleep his head doesnt go foward. but when he is rear facing his head always went foward. anyway im going to the local police department to ask them how he should be seated in the car so i feel at ease. :) and they will set my carseat up in my car

Rachael - posted on 11/03/2010

As an EMT I have seen too many little ones seriously injured or worse (internal decapitation) in accidents where the injuries could have been lessened or prevented by continued rear facing car seat use. Sadly many physicians are not well educated in this arena. The best place to look for information is the national highway safety commission. They actually have a video with crash test dummies and the same crash parameters one front facing one rear facing car seat. Alexander will sit rear facing until he exceeds the weight limit for the rear facing seat, or until his head is less than 2 inches from the top of the seat. When I shopped for car seats I made sure the one I chose had adequate rear facing weight limit to accomodate him rear facing until at least 3 when his head will no longer be disproportionately large for his body and his neck muscles will be more fully developed. Make sure grandma and grandpa keep them rear facing as well. (most of the time toddlers cry about the car seat is because they have nothing to watch. get them a safety mirror for the rear seat and they can see themselves and play)

Kimberly - posted on 11/03/2010

I for one wont have my son rear facing anymore he is way to big he would cry n scream when I got into the car he is a big boy standing at 36.5 inches and 31lbs his feet would hit the back seat doctor said to move him toward facing so I did. If your child sits comfortable rear facing still I say go for it but for my son he can't

Nichole - posted on 10/31/2010

My daughter is still rear facing and I also plan to keep her that way. She's just weighing 21lbs 9ozs.(height 33in). I wouldn't have ever imagined switching her at a year, like many do. She will continue to rear face until she exceeds her carseats limits which are 40lbs and at the rate she's been growing it will be quite sometime before she turns around. :o)

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/25/2010

Ya, it's the same seat whether forward or backwards, the hips are no more squished either way. I think it's just an excuse some people use to feel better. Erics also tall but thick too 27lbs 33inches. But happily healthily safely rearfacing!

Tara - posted on 09/24/2010

Ian is still rear-facing and will continue that way until he outgrows the parameters for his seat as rear-facing. The only thing I've read about it that is bad is that they have a higher chance of breaking their legs in the event of a crash. Better broken legs than broken body or death, imo. I've been doing research on this for several years now and have seen nothing about it hindering development. Shoot my son is fine and he is almost 3ft tall but is only 20lbs. He runs, climbs and can walk up and down steps with no problems.

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/13/2010

Could you post a link to where you read that? I've done tons of research on this and vie not seen anything saying that. I really want to have a complete understanding on carseat safety so please let me know where this is recommended?

Tina - posted on 09/13/2010

I read that it is not good for the development of their body- hips. That is the reason I switched seats at 21 pounds. So they could stretch out and grow comfortably and safely!