car seat

Rosie - posted on 06/21/2010

It saddens me to hear that the reasons to put your child forward facing are things like: they're more comfortable, they're crying causing a distraction to the driver, the legs are scrunched, gut instinct. Okay I'm all for a mother's intuition but if there is science backing a rear facing option you can throw your gut instinct out the window if it says otherwise. I personally found the video very helpful and there are plenty of convertible car seats to accommodate longer children too.
I don't mean to offend anyone just research before you decide to put your child forward facing. I'm sorry but 6 months old is way too young to put them forward facing because they seemed happier, we're not always here just to make our children happy unfortunately, we're here to keep them safe above all else.

Lani - posted on 06/13/2010

It is NOT federal law in the US to have your chlid rearfacing until 1 year old or 20lbs. I have checked into this extensively as my fiancee and I argue over when to turn her. It has been left up to each state to determine if they want to have a law on the books. In my state there is NO law telling me when I can turn her around. When I contacted the highway patrol I was told that it is 'SUGGESTED' that I leave her rear facing for as long as the weight limit on her carseat allows. BUT there is not a law stating that she cannot be turned around as long as she can sit in the seat properly.

Geez you guys. I understand that this can be a touchy subject for some...but turning into a 3-ring circus has not helped. To be honest I only scim over the posts that start out with rude or insensitive comments to other mothers. So had I not already made my decision then you would not have done anything to help me along in that choice...we ARE all adults here...we CAN talk to each other like human beings with thoughts and choices and free will...

Goodness...

Aimee - posted on 06/13/2010

I turned my Daughter around at 10 months, she was 25lbs and way to long, she would cry everytime i put her in her car seat because she wanted to stretch her legs out. Also i felt better about being able to see her so that when she made a sound or coughed i could see if she was choking or anything like that. My son is almost 10 months, his car seat is way to small for him, hes past the weight limit and is also to long for it. Hes not comfortable at all so i will be turning him around soon also. Both of my kids are advanced and look and act like a one year old. If your child is strong, trying to walk and has pretty good balance i say go for it. Everyone will tell you something different, so its up to YOU and what you feel is better for your child. You could always get the next car seat and see how you feel about it.
good luck

Chantelle - posted on 06/12/2010

my bub has been sitting forward for 2 months now she is fine she only weighs 17lbs

Pamela - posted on 06/11/2010

I think it wise to remember that when writing, and reading comments it is easy to mistake the tone in which someone's comments are read.
Give others the benefit of the doubt, unless they are being deliberately offensive.
Also, in issues such as this which relate to serious child safety, and where there are such varied opinions and misinformation tempers are bound to run a little hot.

I hope the OP has managed to wade through all these comments and found the info she needs to make an informed decision about what is in the best interests of her child's safety.

Karen - posted on 06/11/2010

In Australia the child has to be 6months+ weighs over 8kg & be 68cm tall the baby seats have to be fitted by a registered authority & also cannot be changed to forward facing unless done by a professional fitter... check with your country & state's regulations on it that's the best way...

Mallory - posted on 06/11/2010

come one, everyone. this is supposed to be a simple conversation. let's all get along, okay? everyone will mother differently and everyone has their own opinion. let's just respect each other.

Alicia - posted on 06/11/2010

thats a little uncalled for. me being 19 has absolutely nothing to do with me being a good mother. i dont care what state youre in, or what country. its still safer. i care for the safety of my daughter. and you should your son.

Kyla - posted on 06/10/2010

I looked up her state on her profile, I would have been fair had she not had an unnessicary attitude. My origional responce was just a comment about what I did with my child and the information i had found on a good carseat. I have decided to put my child rear facing since seeing the video. I believe the questions on here are to be informative (such as the video) not sarcastic and subject to 19 year old temperments

Pamela - posted on 06/10/2010

Kyla, in all fairness, Alicia little way of knowing what state you live in.

And like many mothers the thought of preventing spinal injury or death for a baby trumps most other possible injuries that could be sustained in an accident in a rearward facing seat.

I think this is probably less about legalities and more about what is perceived to be in the best interests of the child.

Pamela - posted on 06/10/2010

Great vid! Really illustrates the point very well.

Kyla - posted on 06/10/2010

"I put my son in a safty first air impact technoligy forward facing car seat at 9 months. They have them at babys r us. he was to big for the other one and this is the latest technology out there. here is the link on which car seat I am talking about.
http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?...
This particular car seat is more eregonomically designed to support the child."-Kyla Paz

i have this same carseat for my nearly 10 month old daughter. we bought it when she was 5 months old because she was just too long for the infant seat. being born 22 1/2 inches. now shes sitting at about 32" and about 23lbs. she however is rear facing, and will be til that carseat wont support her rear facing anymore. just because the car seat is top rated doesnt mean its going to help your baby if you have him forward facing. im not one to normally shove information down peoples throat, because honestly i get mad when people do it to me. but really how hard would it be to take the car seat you ALREADY OWN and flip it around atleast until its legal


I can understand why you dont NORMALLY shove information down ones throat due to the fact you don't always know what your talking about. In INDIANA its legal to be 20 lbs OR one year. I get mad when someone who DOES do the research and try's to post a helpfull reply has someone like you to try and ruin it. BTW there are negetive sides to having a baby in a rear facing car seat as well, THAT is why my state has not made it a law. THANKS AND NEXT TIME TRY GETTING YOUR FACTS STRAIT FIRST!

Suzanne - posted on 06/10/2010

In Massachusetts, it is one year AND 20 lbs to turn your baby forward.

Alicia - posted on 06/10/2010

"I put my son in a safty first air impact technoligy forward facing car seat at 9 months. They have them at babys r us. he was to big for the other one and this is the latest technology out there. here is the link on which car seat I am talking about.
http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?...
This particular car seat is more eregonomically designed to support the child."-Kyla Paz

i have this same carseat for my nearly 10 month old daughter. we bought it when she was 5 months old because she was just too long for the infant seat. being born 22 1/2 inches. now shes sitting at about 32" and about 23lbs. she however is rear facing, and will be til that carseat wont support her rear facing anymore. just because the car seat is top rated doesnt mean its going to help your baby if you have him forward facing. im not one to normally shove information down peoples throat, because honestly i get mad when people do it to me. but really how hard would it be to take the car seat you ALREADY OWN and flip it around atleast until its legal.

Deanna - posted on 06/10/2010

NO DON'T DO IT!! It is illegal to do and not only that is it very very very dangerous. You ALWAYS want to follow the carseat recommendations. Their little bodies are NOT meant to go forward afacing at such a young age. They can not handle the impact from a crash. They are trying to push it longer than 1 year. It is safer to allow them to rear face as long as possible. They say the longer the better. I would rather see broken legs than being paralized or dead. A friend got a letter from her car insurance company saying to extend rear facing. So maybe there is a law in the works.
Please watch this video you will learn why it is important.

Kristin - posted on 06/10/2010

I wouldn't. In fact I was told that it's weight and 1 year old because their neck is still not strong enough. If you were to be rear-ended and he was pushed forward, the neck can't sustain that type of injury. Why the rush to switch around?

Alicia - posted on 06/10/2010

no i have not put my son facing forward yet and he is 22lbs i am waiting till he is 1 year old. dnt know how other moms feel.

Stevie - posted on 06/09/2010

and to add my daughter is nine months and meets the weight requirement and my mom is doing the training again with her work which is with the chp. so just check up on what is best for your child

Stevie - posted on 06/09/2010

my mom went back to get recertified with car seats training again and said that a baby should be rear facing for more than a yr. so were going to wait till my daughter is 18 months before we turn her around. since their spine and neck are still developing it is safer for them to continue to be rear facing. but u can graduate them into a convertable car seat.which should make things easier

Alexis - posted on 06/09/2010

Patty, The law does state that your baby should be one year and 20 pounds. However, i think you need to do what is best for you child. If you feel that your baby will be more comfortable and happier turned around at 1 year, then do it. Go with your gut instinct cause most of the time it will always be correct. I have had 2 babies with forward facing at 6 months and 2 that had to wait till one year and all are fine.
Some moms have stated the whole breaking the legs in a car accident and said that toddlers sit with their legs folded up so they are fine with their legs bent. However, My 9 1/2 month doesn't Not sit with her legs folded up. She always sits with her legs straight out most of the time. She likes them straight and hates the fact that her legs already touch the back of the seat and cries the entire ride. When there is more than one of us in the car and one can sit in the back with her, she settles down fine most of the time. When there is only one person in the car, she screams and cries the entire ride and therefore is distracting to the driver. Which then can cause an accident. So when my baby turns one year as she is already 21 pounds, i will be turning her car seat around because it would be safer and less distracting for me the driver if she was happy and not crying.

Samantha - posted on 06/09/2010

We are going to do it this week, because talked to a officer that lives by us and say yes that I can becasue she meets the carseat rules. She is 24lbs and is 30half inches.

Mallory - posted on 06/09/2010

My son has been in a front facing car seat since he was about 4 months old because he simply outgrew the rear-facing infant seat. his legs got too long and his weight exceeded the limit. i know many of you will no believe this, but he's 9 months old now and was over 27 pounds. not only was he too big for the seat, i couldn't even lift him in it. he does just fine in the front-facing seat. in fact he enjoys it more now that he can see things better.

Susan - posted on 06/09/2010

Fortunately, my daughter is small. AND she doesn't mind her car seat since that is all she has ever known and has had to deal with it from day 1. I give her a toy for the ride and she's fine. I know that plenty of people turn their children before their first birthday, but I will keep my little girl in a rear-facing seat until she won't fit in one anymore. For us, that will be a LONG time. For others it probably won't be as long, but Britax and Graco make excellent convertible seats that will fit in cars of all sizes (as long as you have a back seat). Watch a few videos and do some research. As far as your baby's happiness, sure, front facing may be a more pleasant ride, but rear facing is without a doubt safer, and in my opinion, worth a little fussing. Also, I have only heard people say 20 pounds and 1 year for forward facing, but I live in the US and I know that other countries tend to be more lax. I don't worry about MY driving... I worry about the other people on the road who I have no control over. But, many people turn their children before 1 year and their children grow up.

Kyla - posted on 06/09/2010

I put my son in a safty first air impact technoligy forward facing car seat at 9 months. They have them at babys r us. he was to big for the other one and this is the latest technology out there. here is the link on which car seat I am talking about.
http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?...
This particular car seat is more eregonomically designed to support the child.

Laura - posted on 06/08/2010

If it helps, remember the physics law: objects in motion stay in motion. You are moving forward before an accident stops you. The child will continue forward motion - would you rather they were supported / restrained by straps (forward facing)or by the car seat back (rear facing).

Erin - posted on 06/08/2010

Think about it this way. If you get into an accident, the chances are much greater that you'll be moving forward when you do it. When you stop, your body remains in motion until it is stopped by the seat belt (or windshield, if you didn't buckle up). Your baby will be cradled by the car seat if they are rear-facing, and the car seat will do all the shock absorption. If they are front-facing, they will fly into the restraints which will stop their chest, but their head will keep moving. This is what causes whiplash, and with their heads still being so much larger than the rest of their bodies, that's a lot of weight pulling on the neck. Have you ever heard of internal decapitation? It's where your skull separates from the other structures inside, and only your skin is holding your head on. That is my number one absolute greatest fear, and it is why my daughter will be rear-facing in a Graco MyRide 65 convertible car seat until she is 40 pounds, which is the upper limit for rear-facing in that car seat.

Ayla - posted on 06/08/2010

My daughter weighed 23lbs at 8 months (she's 9 months now) I went out and bought a 3 in 1 car seat so she can be contuine to be rear facing for the first year

Licege - posted on 06/08/2010

I think it is not a matter of choice. In most states in the US it is the LAW that you have to wait until your child is at least 20 pounds and at least one year before you turn the car seat to a face forwarding position.

Most convertible car seats have their own height/weight range and you can then leave your child rear-facing longer than what is required by law, which most doctors do advise as the safer way to travel. The convertible car seats can then be turned around to forward-facing, once your baby reaches the rear-facing limit. (meaning: you will not be purchasing an "extra" car seat - this is the same car seat you will use for years in a forward-facing position).

Jill - posted on 06/08/2010

my 9 month old son is 24 lbs. We use the convertable car seat with car be used front or back. We will continue to have him rear-facing until he is about 15 months. My pediatrition recommended that we keep him that way as long as we can, 2 years being the recommended age to put front facing. However, I know that it does depend on the baby, and their parents choices.

Corisa - posted on 06/08/2010

you can get the bigger car seats that are forward facing but.. can be put backwards until he/shes a little older. that's what i got for my eldest and that's what i'm going to do for my 9 month old in a little while. i know when they're in those baby car seats their little legs get squashed up, and these seats help a lot. i also know that it's better to leave them backwards for a while longer, just because you wouldn't want to chance them breaking their neck if you were to get into an accident. having them face backwards is better than chancing a precious life.

Shannon - posted on 06/08/2010

With my first 2 children, I always waited until 12 months but not always 20 pounds (they didn't reach 20 pounds until about 16 months). After doing research, I learned that there is not a benefit to facing forward if the carseat will allow them to remain rear facing until 2 years or even older. Small children are at risk for internal decapitation. It's safer to rear face...even if their legs are long. Broken legs are better than a broken neck.

Mandy - posted on 06/08/2010

why are some people so offensive in this thread??! It's crazy! I think some of the mothers here still have a bit of growing up to do.

Amanda - posted on 06/08/2010

I know in Canada your baby needs to be 22 lbs and 1 year old before you can forward face him. I would follow the rules you wnat to make sure you baby stays safe!

Hollie - posted on 06/08/2010

I work at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and asked one of the nurses from the Emergency Department about carseats. She brought up a great point: IT IS EASIER TO FIX A BROKEN LEG THAN IT IS TO FIX A BROKEN HEAD!!!!!!!! Check out this website http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

Dorota - posted on 06/08/2010

My son weighs over 23 pounds, but I am going to keep him rear facing as long as possible. Looking at car seats we came across this sentence: Broken leg It's a cast, broken back it's a cascet. I think that is enough to say.

Pamela - posted on 06/08/2010

"to those that have said that they won't be turning their child round till one, not every baby is a short arse! if their legs are scrunched against the chair then turn them around as it is more dangerous for them in accident this way than it is front facing as their legs get broken as well as their chest being crushed in from the force their legs being therown into them! my neice had to be moved round at 8 months and lighter coz she is long like my child! she is now two years and sits in a booster seat that adjusts the car seatbelt to fit her properly as she is the height of a three year old but she weigs only slightly more than my lo. if your child is more comfortable in a front facing car seat the switch, as long as you make sure it is not second hand and fitted properly and not sat straight up but slightly reclined before they can fully support their head (which my son has been doing since three weeks) then their is no problem! babies bones are extremly supple so don't not break only bend so those that go on about childrens spines and necks stop going on as if they are made of glass! babies are desinged to bounce! (no i am NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU DROP YOUR CHILD OR THROW FARD OBJECTS AT THEM AS IT WILL CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE)" -Victoria MacKnight


Victoria, by your thinking it’s actually fine to leave my long baby rearward facing, as in an accident (you know, the one where her legs will break, and are thrown up to crush her chest) she won't get any broken bones, as you can't break baby bones... they just BEND! Or do baby bones only break when mothers are doing what you have not done yourself? I’ve looked at the statistics, have you?

My child is long, but I'd rather her legs break than her spine. She's also quite forward, and has been supporting her head well for most of her life. This does not mean however that she has the neck strength needed to support her head in an accident. Although your baby apparently will bounce and has a nice bendy neck, so you don't need to worry about trivialities like brain damage and permanent spinal injuries.

Like most other mothers I look forward to many things, like my daughter walking, toilet training, going off to school, telling me she loves me. One day I want to dance at her wedding. I will not put these things in jeopardy so I can see her face better when driving, and because her feet are going to touch the back seat. With serious spinal damage, my daughter might never walk, and I could possibly still be changing her nappies 15 years from now. With serious brain damage she might never talk, and would not get on the school bus with her cousins to join them at big school. And if, in a much much worse scenario, if my daughter died because I turned her around too soon and was unlucky enough to have that serious accident, there would be no wedding for me to dance at.

I’ll leave her rear facing; I’m not a betting woman. Not with my child’s life, as she should be treated as something far more precious than glass.

Melanie - posted on 06/08/2010

i never heard it was illegal and i know plenty of babies already in forward facing car seats. they are specially designed to stop whiplash im guessing else they wouldnt allow them to be sold. i want to get by 10 month old into one as she looks far too big for her rear facing one but she doesnt weight enough yet. i think its mothers intuition if ur happy for ur baby to go in one and it is legal then go for it x

Andrea - posted on 06/07/2010

Hi. I am wondering if you are considering forward facing your baby because of a specific issue? Is your baby crying all the time when in the carseat? Is it weight related? My son is 23 lbs. and he is in a big boy carseat now- not an infant carrier- but it is still rear facing. It can be very dangerous to your baby to put him/her forward facing at this age. Their little necks aren't able to withstand a rear end crash and the risk is high for serious whiplash and other problems. They make carseats that are rear facing up to as high as 40lbs and then can be turned around to forward facing after that until 80lbs. The soonest that I have been told to forward face a baby is one year old.....but it is best to even wait longer if your carseat is made to sit rear facing longer/higher weight limit. If you are wanting to do this due to your baby crying.....try putting a mirror on the back of the seat he/she faces so he can see you. It will keep him entertained looking at himself, and will also give him security knowing that he can see you. Hope this helps!!

Celeste - posted on 06/07/2010

heck no! rear facing is safest. I would love to see his face while I drive but not worth the risk. I recommend turning the seat around for awhile longer.

Krista - posted on 06/07/2010

I found a good website that explains in more detail & why it is important :) http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseat...

Krista - posted on 06/07/2010

It is FEDERAL LAW in the U.S. to have an infant in a rear-facing car seat until they are one year old AND 20+ pounds.

Victoria - posted on 06/07/2010

to those that have said that they won't be turning their child round till one, not every baby is a short arse! if their legs are scrunched against the chair then turn them around as it is more dangerous for them in accident this way than it is front facing as their legs get broken as well as their chest being crushed in from the force their legs being therown into them! my neice had to be moved round at 8 months and lighter coz she is long like my child! she is now two years and sits in a booster seat that adjusts the car seatbelt to fit her properly as she is the height of a three year old but she weigs only slightly more than my lo. if your child is more comfortable in a front facing car seat the switch, as long as you make sure it is not second hand and fitted properly and not sat straight up but slightly reclined before they can fully support their head (which my son has been doing since three weeks) then their is no problem! babies bones are extremly supple so don't not break only bend so those that go on about childrens spines and necks stop going on as if they are made of glass! babies are desinged to bounce! (no i am NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU DROP YOUR CHILD OR THROW FARD OBJECTS AT THEM AS IT WILL CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE)

Victoria - posted on 06/07/2010

you can put a child in a front facing car seat when they are nine months and weigh at least 23lbs, the age thing is due to their neck as this is the age that health professionals have said it is strong enough in case of accidents and the weight is so that they are big enough to fit in one. but if your child is advanced for his age group the weight shouldn't come into it. my lo sometimes went in my nieces from seven months as it is a multi position one so he wasn't completely upright. hope this helps you as car seats can be very confusing. xx

Pamela - posted on 06/07/2010

http://www.caradvice.com.au/58898/child-...

Interesting artical dealing with the new changes to car seat laws in all states of Australia, and what is actually safest for your child.

Kayla-Marie - posted on 06/07/2010

Well im from australia and my daughter is 9 mnths and she is in a car seat that is rear ward or forward facing. she is know facing forward and loves the fact she can see every thing better. I wouldnt be able to change her back the other way now.. and i think the laws are diff here.

Maranda - posted on 06/06/2010

My Dr. said we must wait until his 1st birthday. Just wait...it's worth it for you lil one to be safe!

Kathy - posted on 06/06/2010

Babies should be rear-facing until at least 20lbs AND 1 year. Their necks are not strong enough to keep them safe before one year, even tho it may seem like their necks are strong. I kept all 3 of my boys rear facing until almost 30 lbs, even tho they were very tall. My daughter will be rear facing until about 16-18 months, more if I can pull it off.

Robin - posted on 06/06/2010

Keep them rear facing until they are 16 years old so when they start rolling their eyes at you and mouthing ugly words, it will prevent you from seeing them doing that, and it will save you from having to break your arm as you are pointing at them and telling them to knock it off! Just kidding Ladies, just wanted to add some old lady humor to this serious conversation! I now(after reading these posts) feel you should find out what the laws are in your area, ask a police officer or fire department personnel that are trained at installing car seats, mention it to your doctor, read the car seat pamphlet, and most of all do what is BEST for the child not what is best for the parents, if they scream cause they just don't like it then they will have to get used to it, just like we do when we have to wear our seat belts. Although a mother and or parent should be able to do what they want but actually there are laws that say a parent can do as they want with their child as long as they follow the laws and regulations in the area in which they live and or travel.

Lisa - posted on 06/06/2010

I understand tehe mixed signals, with my first I turned her forward shortly after her first birthday, but her height and weight were "too much" to face backwards. I would keep that little one facing backwards as long as possible.

Heather - posted on 06/06/2010

My son is 22 lbs and I have not switched him to forward facing. I believe the law is that they need to be 20 lbs AND one-year-old. I got a convertable carseat which you can use forward or rear facing. My husband was very excited about putting him forward facing when he was a year old, however, we just recently watched a video on Utube about a boy who broke his next because he was forward facing in a carseat. Scary!! It's just totally not safe. I think I will be keeping him rearfacing as long as I can ... I think the max rearfacing on his carseat is 35 lbs. So 35 lbs it is for us!!