Extended rear facing

Stifler's - posted on 12/12/2011

Oh lord. Not wearing a helmet to ride bikes is illegal here. You get a fine. Also riding in the back of pickup trucks is way illegal. You also get fined and lose 3 points for not wearing a seat belt.

Melissa - posted on 12/12/2011

my son is turning 6 in January and right now he is the size of an 8 year old i couldn't imagine having an age restriction on rear facing with him!

Sharmaine - posted on 12/03/2011

My son will be rear facing until he can no longer rear face! I think it is the safest for him I have seen the videos. A baby is not as strong as adults and adults get serious injuries!

Jeannette - posted on 11/30/2011

My son, who just turned 2, is 24 lbs and still rear facing. He is tiny, so I'm happy with it. My husband has started pushing for us to flip him, but since I'm the one with the car seat and our son 5 days a week, it is mainly my decision. Since the new recommendation is 30 lbs, I'll try to keep him rear facing until he hits that mark. However depending on his weight at age 3 might determine if I flip him or not. If he is 3 and 28 lbs, I'd probably flip him. I can't really tell you what will happen in a year.

All I know is that I never heard about extended rear facing until coming on the COM's. I was well prepared to flip him at 1 year AND 20 lbs, once he met both requirements. However I am glad I was able to learn about extended rear facing and I think more information needs to be put out about it.

Aubry - posted on 11/17/2011

I beleive I sent you 2 messages to be my friend. I think I sent them lol. Thanks again

Aubry

Aubry - posted on 11/17/2011

Thanks Meggy and Laurelai! Its definately something I need to research. Her safety comes before anything else. Please feel free to add me as a friend if you like, I would like that.

Aubry

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/17/2011

Well Aubry you're welcome. I'd never heard of extended rear facing until this post myself, but I like keeping my kids safe as well. Besides I now live in BC and we have crazy mountain roads here and I'm used to mildly winding ones in New York.

Your 7 year old sounds like mine, except mine is really tall for her age (51 inches and 52lbs) she was 6lbs 8oz at birth and full term. I think Angela was saying in Sweden they rear face until 7 and since your daughter is small it might be worth it.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/17/2011

Her height and weight could still be rearfacing in a few seats but by 7 years I think her risk of injury front facing is quite low. Everyone is safer rearfacing but specificly kids whose heads are still so disproportionate to their bodies.

Aubry - posted on 11/17/2011

I just came across this post and it got me thinking. I am all for safety and safety comes first with my daughter. I dont know if its even an option to rear face but I thought I would throw it out there to all of you. She is 7 but very small for her age. She is just under 40 in and 32 ish lbs. She was full term at 7.7 lbs and no complications. Her pedi isnt concerned and there is nothing medically wrong thankfully, she is just small for her age. So my question is...is it even possible at her age to turn her back? I have seen many posts stating that rear facing is much safer then forward facing. Thanks everyone!

Aubry

Angela - posted on 11/13/2011

OMGOSH I am such a dork yes it is Sweden that it is common to keep them RF till 5 or older..

Got Mama Brain when I wrote that post sorry to April Not to matter you got her thinking and just tell her to google Sweden and RF.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/13/2011

THanks April lol I'm usually a good speller but haven't written hearse too often :)

April - posted on 11/13/2011

oh for cripes sake, the spelling is hearse!

Janice - posted on 11/11/2011

ROTFL at the last 10+ posts!

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

Katherine, it's the same where i'm from. The family usually rides in a limo not the herse. Oh that would be creepy and kind of cool.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

Hmm maybe that's what the poster was referring to? She said they were in a herse but maybe it was another car from the funeral home. I just remember her being mad that her mom assumed that the baby would ride on a lap and not in a seat.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

Oh, I was thinking of the person in the coffin.

I've seen people make their children wear helmets here while free skating, but I haven't had Abby wear one.

Katherine - posted on 11/11/2011

here only the driver of the hurse and the casket go in the hurse, the family rides in the funeral owned car right behind the hurse

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

If say a dad died the mom and a child could ride in front with the driver and the baby wouldn't need a seat. I think there was a post about that a while back.

Katherine - posted on 11/11/2011

I still don't wear helemits on the ATV, snowmobile etc, and we STILL ride in the back of the pick up truck!!! I figure my son will be raised that way as well, well, once he's a bit older though

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

LMAO well yeah you wouldn't need one in a herse... I don't know how to spell it either- you're dead!

My riding instructor let us do around the world on our horses at a walk. Have fun with that rear facing on a horse thing :)

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

Hahahaha I ment a hurse? Idk how to spell it. Ya know the long car thing they take caskets in?
Lol, yeah of course no car seats on a horse! Make sure your kids rearfacing on the pony ride :)

Sherri - posted on 11/11/2011

ROTFL a horse laurelai????? Oh my gosh you made me laugh.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

You still don't for busses and Taxis since they're designed differently. I don't know why. Same in an airplane. I was allowed to carry Lilli who was 3 months at the time on my lap.

What gets me is my brother doesn't wear a seatbelt when he drives! My mom and I threaten him and I will stop the car fast when I drive him places to make sure he has it on

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

I know. It's weird though, I bet there were less fatalities back then cuz cars went slower and were used less frequently and for shorter trips and stuff like that. Besides, it's hard to know exactly how many babies and kids died in carcrashes since they're not alive anymore to say so! Even these days you don't need to use a car seat for your kid in a taxi or bus or limo or horse or airplane or boats or trains or trolleys or subways.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

Sherri, I remember riding in the back of a pick up truck when I lived back in NY. We did that when we visited some cousins of mine who live on a farm.

My dad used to let me drive an ATV on the land he hunts on without a helmet too. I cannot believe how many of us survived to adulthood.

Sarah - posted on 11/11/2011

My mum brought me back from the hospital held in her arms while Dad drove!

Sherri - posted on 11/11/2011

Yup car seats didn't exist when I was born. I was laid across the front seat as was my brother and never were we even seat belted as kids as there were no seat belts in most cars. Rode in the back of pick up trucks on a summer day.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

Oh I know! I was reading this book about 100 things to do with a baby which was published back in the 1980's. The book was from Australia and portrayed a baby being put in what looked like a basket for an outting in the car and strapped in. I'm wondering how in the hell I survived! Never mind my parents

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

Put the baby in the drawer under the seat and you're good to go! Lol. It's sort of sick how unsafe cars eats used to be. Or even when they didn't use them at all! But I guess cars were used for shorter trips and never as fast as we use them so it wasn't as dangerous but picturing a baby riding loose in the car going 75mph would give me a heart attack!

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/11/2011

Tossing the kids in the trunk doesn't work, they keep banging on it wanting out!

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

Rebecca couldn't you rf the toddlers in the third row, one on the left and one in the center. And then To buckle them in just sit on the right back seat and reach across the center seat to buckle the far seat? The van might be lopsided with no seats on the right side but at least you wouldn't have to be tossing kids out the trunk! Lol

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2011

I think Sweden is the country all into extended rf. maybe Switzerland is too,

Thats awesome Katherine! Your sons a lucky little guy :)

Katherine - posted on 11/11/2011

Had a big chat with the hubby when he was home the other day, we're going to purchase a new car seat (uhh all the money) in the hopes of keeping our son rear facing a bit longer then our 30lbs rear facing limit now!!!! So the extra 10lbs added on we're hoping that he'll be able to stay rear facing until he's at least 2.5

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/10/2011

I think my 7 year old would have leg cramps if I did that. But I'm doing it with Lilli. DH is in agreement with whatever I do to keep Lilli safe.

Angela - posted on 11/10/2011

Yep the swiss are the ones who do it till age 7, so glad you got her thinking

April - posted on 11/10/2011

i made a new friend a few weeks ago. today we hung out for the first time! she noticed Zach is rear facing at nearly 3 years old. she was shocked and surprised. then she said, "do you think i should turn my son back to rear facing." I did not answer with a specific response because I wanted her to feel like SHE made the decision. So I said, "Well the ossification of the bones in the neck do not become adult like until after 3 years old." Then I proceeded to tell her all about switzerland (is that the right country) and how they rear face their kids until 7 years old. I could see the wheels spinning in her mind. I think she is going to move her 3 year old back rear facing! we shall see!

Angela - posted on 11/09/2011

Meggy, Same is the USA it is a law to wear them young or old in most states, Germany is the same...but for some reason the Dutch do not do it and it is all about how they think it looks and that they have been riding bikes a long time! Get this...if they ride "sport" bike IE mountain, etc they wear a helmet because they are traveling faster....

My words are but vehicles are always traveling faster...Dutch logic, sometimes I just do not get. But no they are not the most safety minded.

Meggy when Claire was little I had mirrors, and a special bag of toys and books etc for only travel. I would go to the store periodically and change up the toys but it was special because the toys are only for the car. It is a routine she likes very much and she goes through the whole bag, oh and when your little is older coloring books are great.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/09/2011

I'm waiting to see what happens when I get an extended rear facing seat for my 8 month old here in BC. Most Canadians I know of pride themselves on being safer and assumeably smarter than Americans- my husband included. My MIL is paranoid half the time so she'll probably take to it like a fish to water.

Angela, unlike in the Netherlands, here in Canada everyone wears a helmet including the older bike riders along the main highway here in Kelowna. We have a lot of bike lanes along the main roads and one of the questions on most ICBC (insurance Canada BC I think) driver's tests include questions on driving near cyclists.

Angela - posted on 11/09/2011

Over here in The Netherlands they are very behind in car/ seat/ child safety. I am the only Mom I know who RF after 6-8 months. or they grow out of the infant carseat.
Also everyone buys the same brand because their is little to choose from. So everyone has the same thing and does the same thing.
I get tons of wierd looks and statements but I just state why I do it. All just look at me as if I am a over protective and also they see American's as over protective of safety. Some go as far as to say it is just a ploy to make money. I offer the information I get is from Sweden... they still do not really to get it.
Also over here not any child hardly wears a bike helmet, when riding with a parent or by themselves. I put a bike helmet on my kid, don't care what other's think. Although as of late I am seeing more kids but only young one under age say 6 years.
My husband and many Dutch think it looks stupid to wear a bike helmet. That because they are Dutch they know how to ride a bike and be safe...
Then I showed my husband the stats car vs bike, and head injuries.... he changed his views.
I say do not give in to peer pressure. You would never forgive yourself if you child was hurt.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/08/2011

Luckily my older daughter is in a booster seat. I just need the rear facing for my baby. I just wish I had a larger vehicle- even with gas at 1.24 a litre

Rebecca - posted on 11/08/2011

Strange as that sounds, we actually considered it, Meggy! We debated putting the bigger twins RF in the back seat and reaching over the seat to strap them in.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/08/2011

I'll probably have to pull down the seat and go through the trunk!

Rebecca - posted on 11/08/2011

I love the image of tossing your toddler in the back seat. ;-) Strap yourself in, honey!!

Sherri - posted on 11/08/2011

I have 4 car seats in my Honda Odyssey as well Rebecca.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/08/2011

Ah, so to rearfacing in the back seat you'd have to toss a toddler up over the seats! Lol yeah I can picture it and it is a tight fit. I still think three years is a great thing and now keeping them harnessed is the next best choice :)

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 11/08/2011

You all just reminded me DH and I have an old Olds Acheiva and his mom has a Toyota Echo. I can't wait to see how everything fits in these vehicles.

DH refuses to get a new vehicle unless we need one and I don't think we'll need one until baby number 3 who isn't coming until I have a Visa and DH has a job. I can't work in Canada because I'm not a citizen

Rebecca - posted on 11/08/2011

I should add that I just took the car in for a carseat inspection and the inspector said Radians were one of the best seats on the market for safety. The steel frame really does make a difference for spinal compression in a crash.

Rebecca - posted on 11/08/2011

We have a Honda Odyssey. We had to go out and buy it before the new twins arrived -- we tried every other car on the market and that was the only one I could fit four carseats in (lots fit three across but then you can't reach the backseat). Right now, we have one Radian in the 2nd row middle RF, one Triumph RF behind the passenger seat, one Triumph FF in the back row and one Radian FF in the back row. That way I have one extra seat in the middle row so I can sit back there to feed a baby if necessary.
I don't get why people seem to think kids aren't comfortable ERF. My boys never seemed to have a problem with it -- they just folded up there legs. It was easier for them to be entertained that way because books, etc. wouldn't fall to the floor as easily as they do when they are FF. I personally would have kept them RF until they were 4 if we could have fit everyone, but it just wasn't an option. I plan on keeping all the kids in a 5 point harness until 85 pounds. I don't give a darn if they like it or not. It's safer. ;-)

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/08/2011

Well I put Eric in the radian when he was two, 28lbs and 38inches and now he's 2.5 and still right around 30lbs and 39 inches so I haven't done alot of messing with the tightener! Fierna is still fitting her infant seat so I'll switch her to the radian when she outgrows the infant one.
Sorry! No help from me but I guess you and I agree that even if theirs little issues with it, the high weight and height limits can be beat!

Rebecca - posted on 11/08/2011

@Lauralei -- don't you find the harness tightener on the Radian a bit of a pain? I can't stand the ratcheting. I have two Radians right now and two Evenflo Triumphs. The "new" twins outgrew their Graco Snugrides at 5 months so we've just made the switch. I love the higher RF limits on the Radian, but man, that ratcheting thing bugs me. I do like the extended RF though; my Evenflos are only good to 35 pounds RF -- at the rate the new twins are going they will be out of them by a year.