Rear facing carseat- Thoughts on when to turn forward

Sharyn - posted on 07/03/2010

In california you have to meet all 3 requirements, you cant just meet one and turn your bub to the front ..... my daughter didnt get to front face until she was 1 .. she met the other two requirements months earlier but we had to wait the age requirement.
she loves front facing now and can socialise more with us and not feel so cut off and abandoned.

Vicki - posted on 06/24/2010

Anyone here who has their kid forward facing should watch Joel's story here.

"On August 30, 2008, Joel and his mother were involved in a front car crash. Joel, at 18 mos & 33lbs, was in his front facing car seat. And still..broke his neck Why?"
http://www.joelsjourney.org/

Claire - posted on 06/22/2010

My daughter (18 months - 12kg - 84cm) is Rear Facing because it is the safest way to be. We are lucky to live in NZ where they sell car seats that can be rear facing up to approx 4 years of age. These seats move back so that there is space for their legs to hang down between the car seat and the back of the seat in the car - so no squashed legs. I'm sure my daughter would love to be forward facing and see the world go by but she can still see out the side windows and she's got plenty of years to watch the world go by forward facing.

Jennifer - posted on 06/21/2010

Turning your child before 1 year and 20 pounds is against the law in the US, many states are changing it to 2 years. Scrunching legs is BS excuse because it does not effect safety or comfort. Wanting to see Mom is a BS excuse. Most kids go through a hate the car seat phase...it is just a phase. I tried to turn my 3 year old and she insists on being RF so I will be getting her a car seat that can RF to 40 pounds. The height weight excuse is BS as well...my 3 year old is 38" and 33 pounds. I would bet the farm none of the

Sharon - posted on 06/21/2010

As soon as my son was too big for his carrier carseat I turned him around. Facing the rear is because they so small, if she has grown then it is safe to turn cause she is strapped in and won't slip out like if she was still an infant. For your peace of mind just get the carseat that goes over the head which adds extra security because of the now barrier that is in front of the baby. My son is 18 months now.

Jennifer - posted on 06/20/2010

Turn when they max out the RF weight limit per the suggestion of the AAP.

Lynn is very uninformed on the subject.

FWIW my 3 year old is still RF and prefers it so I am not changing.

You really need to educate yourself on extended rear facing.

It is 500% safer for all of us to ride RF. In accidents that would simply break legs RF would cause internal decapitation if the same child were FF. ERF has drastically reduced cases of ID. Simple google search on ERF would give you all the into you need.

But start here: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRea...



I do not know of any professional versed on the subject to suggest turning at one and 20. The law just states that you can. However our lawmakers are not EMTs, Medical Professionals or Highway Safety Inspectors.

All the argument you could need:

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseat...

Karina - posted on 06/20/2010

i'm in the same boat - my 18 month old daughter just reached 20 lbs. my husband and i decided to keep her rear facing until either she will no longer fit in the seat that way or she turns 2 years. we will be going on a long road trip this summer, so we want to keep her as safe as possible.

Amanda - posted on 06/16/2010

My daughter is 18 months, 33 in and 19.6 lbs. She is still RF and the doctor said it is fine to keep her that way until she is 2. I have been waiting impatiently for her to reach the 20 lb mark so we could turn her around. When she was born the doctor and nurse told us to keep her RF until 18 mo. She is in a Britax so it will take a long time for her to reach the weight limit. After reading all the posts, I am now waiting patiently to turn her around.

Colleen - posted on 06/16/2010

My doctor told me to keep my daughter (18mos) rear facing until 2! According to her, there will be a law change requiring it. She stated that studies have shown that toddlers are safer rfing than facing forward. I am following doctor's orders.

Alisha - posted on 06/16/2010

Hi didn't read everyone else's posts, I'm in a bit of a mommy rush this morning. But our pediatrician says not to turn them around until 2 years old. My daughter was small on her 1st birthday, but now that she's 18 months, she weighs about 23 lbs. I won't be turning her around until her 2nd birthday.

Laura - posted on 06/15/2010

My daughter is also 18 months and rear facing still. She is only 18 pounds. I feel like I've been waiting forever to turn it around, BUT untill she is 20 lbs and doctor says its ok. She will be backwards. Expecially since it is a proven fact it is just safer :o)

Tricia - posted on 06/15/2010

I turned our son FFing at 12 months old and he was 23 pounds. He loves looking around and out the windows! He is big too...90th percentile for everything. He is very tall and his legs were way too big for the RFing. His head also went over the RFing car seat. Our doctor gave us the OK to turn him so we did. You can't say that we FFing mom's are lucky that we have not gotten into an accident sounding like we are putting our kids at risk and being bad parents...I personally go by God and everything is in his hands...in the process my kid gets to be a big boy and explore the world and not feel squished in the back seat like he's a 4 month old. Live and let God!! You can have your kid RFing and have an accident where something comes through the back window...in that case you would wish they were FFing! All accidents are different and no body know what will ever happen in any situation but God!!

Julie - posted on 06/14/2010

yes, our pediatrician also said to wait until after 2 years of age.

Jennifer - posted on 06/14/2010

I think it's amazing how many people think that once the kids touch thier feet on the back of the seat they need to be switched around.. Yikes. Basically, carseats are to keep your child safe.. to keep it in one piece in the event of a accident. Not to look cool or pretty or to be able to look out the window or whatever else. Just to keep them safe.



Don't tell me your kid (general your kid)is just fine because they were in a FFing carseat when they were under a year old. That's just lucky in my book. Lucky you were never in a accident to test the theory of how okay your baby would of been. Lucky. that's it.



Jacob is still RFing at 18 months old.. and he will be until he hits 35lbs. he's 33inches and 25lbs and yes, his feet are all over the backseat.. Please do not turn your child because thier feet hit the backseat, that's not how you figure out if they are too big to ride RFing.

Jamie - posted on 06/14/2010

I turned my daughter at 10 months cause she was 27 pounds and they have to be 25 pounds to turn. Or 11 months old. My youngest is still in a rear facing cause well shes only 2 months old...lol

Amy - posted on 06/14/2010

The APA now says keep them backwards until they max out on weight allowed rear-facing by your car seat - no kidding!
My twins are 18 months, 25 and 28 lbs. respectively, and still rear-facing, and will be for at least another 6 months or more.

Gabrielle - posted on 06/14/2010

My nearly 18 month old is still rear facing, and we'll keep her that way. She doesn't know the difference because rear facing is all she's known, so we're going to keep her that way until she's unhappy. We'll probably consider switching when she's 2. I read that even the possibility of a child breaking their legs because their legs are hitting the seat is much safer than spinal cord damage when a child is forward facing.

Darcy - posted on 06/14/2010

This was our issue. It became which was safer, her facing backwards or me out of the dashboard (or airbag, depending on the car). So I reluctantly turned her around at her daddy's coaching, He did have a point. " b

Lisa - posted on 06/14/2010

I'd rather have a safe baby now and when he's old enough and heavy enough to FF then he can watch the world go by. As there's plenty of time for him to do that.

Melanie - posted on 06/13/2010

My son is 18 months and 27lbs 33in long. And still RF he will stay that way for as long as he can which should be at least 2. His seat RF till 40lbs and 19-40in. It does not even FF till he reaches 34ins. and 22lbs. I love his seat it is the Safety First Complete Air.

Karen - posted on 06/13/2010

Sometimes I think people just don't get it - infants and toddlers aren't just miniature adults. Their bones/muscles/ligaments are not as developed as ours, and this can put them at real risk in the event of a serious crash. Please read this article - http://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.o...

Nicole - posted on 06/12/2010

I cant belive you all have your kids rf they have so much knowledge at this age and love to look forward those seats are made to be super safe for them to be facing either way. they absaloutley love facing forward and seeing their mummy and everything else going on in the world. you cant keep your children wrapped in a cotten ball forever!

Morgan - posted on 06/12/2010

i'm with the RF moms on this one! for those that criticize their "legs being scrunched"...a broken leg is better than a broken neck! My 18 month old is still rear-facing and will stay that way until at least 2 years. My best friend was in a head on collision...her 11 month old was of course still rear-facing and came out without a scratch, but her 5 year old who was obviously forward facing is now paralyzed from the waist down...its SO worth it to leave them rear facing for as long as possible.

Jodie - posted on 06/11/2010

Many babies are fine if they are FF because they haven't been in a collision. Leave your baby RF as long as possible. I was in a collision with my daughter (10 months) RF - no serious injuries, and my son (3.5 yrs) FF. He was much more sore and had bruising around his neck from the straps. I am so thankful that we did not turn my daughter FF, as we discussed that day. She may not have been so lucky.

Ella - posted on 06/11/2010

Both my children were turned forward facing around 6-7 months and they did just fine. My children had to be turned to the front because their legs were all on the back of the seat but if your child still fits than so be it. If it aint broke dont fix it, LOL.

Lisa - posted on 06/11/2010

Keep her rearward facing until she is too heavy for the carseat or her head is showing above the top. Don't worry about her legs, she will bend them and be fine, it's the head and neck you are trying to protect as legs mend.My son is nearly 18 mths and still rearward facing as only 20lbs 10 ozs and most rearward facing carseats are up to 29lbs now. I am a manager for a worldwide retailer in baby products and have been trained by Britax and Maxicosi and both recommend rearward facing for as long as possible. I've seen crash tests at Britax and a babies head in a crash at 30 MPH is 10 times the actual weight so you can imagine the damage that would be done especially on a younger baby with weaker neck muscles.It drives me mad when parents come in and want to turn babies as young as 3-4 mths old to forward face as apparently they have outgrown their RF seat. Keep her safe RF her as long as you can!!!! x x x

Vicki - posted on 06/10/2010

Keep rear-facing to the maximum the seat will allow. If the child reaches the max weight or height, then you'll need to switch to a different seat.

Nichole - posted on 06/10/2010

My daughter turned 18 months yesterday and she is still RF and will be as long as possible. Her pediatrician told me to leave her RF till at least 2 and longer if we can. We have the my ride 65 and she can stay RF in it till she is 40LB . Britax sells carseats that can keep them RF much longer and we will switch to one of those when she outgrows this one. Britax makes their seats dip in more on the bum so their legs don't get cramped up. Keep your daughter RF as long as you can. I have a friend who's daughter is the same age and she has had her FF sence she was 1, the reason she does this is because it is eaiser for her to get her in and out. I can't believe people will put their child in danger to make things eaiser on them.

Rachel - posted on 06/10/2010

Olivia is still rearfacing too ( 17 months) I read an article last year that recommended keeping them facing back longer, but said many parents won't even hold out for the year so most doctors don't bother trying for more. The safer the better as long as she's under the weight/ height limit!

Camilla - posted on 06/10/2010

Up here in Canada, pediatricians are also recommending children stay rear facing as long as possible, as it is safer, my 18 month old finally hit 20 pounds, but I will continue to have her rear facing for as long as possible. Your car seat if installed properly should not dislodge. a reminder to other parents to periodically take the seat out and reinstall it anyway to make sure that it is still ion properly. When I went to check and see if i had my seats installed properly ... they were, but I still had to take them out and reinstall them, and then they were checked again.

Kelly - posted on 06/10/2010

In Illinois the law changed to rear face until 2 years old.

Karen - posted on 06/09/2010

I read ahead and see that you've decided to keep her rear-facing for now. Thank you for that! I saw a recent statistic that said that children are 75% less likely to die or be critically injured in a crash if they are rear facing. My baby girl is 18 months old today, is 36 inches tall and is just shy of 34 pounds. She is still comfortably rear facing. She crosses her legs in her seat, or if she wants to stretch out a little she just sticks them out in a v-shape and rests them on the back of the seat of the car. I know I'm going to have to turn her around in a few weeks, since her car seat only rear faces to 35 pounds, and it breaks my heart because I know she's so much safer this way!

Audra - posted on 06/09/2010

they make larger rear facing car seats that can hold a child rear facing up tp 40 pounds i got mine at big lots for a hundred dollars it was a great investment

Jodene - posted on 06/09/2010

It definitely is safer, I believe the recommendation now is rear facing until 2 years. But, it's just a recommendation. I switched my boy at just over a year, b/c he HATED rear-facing, and he's so tall he was really mashed in there. Since he was moved to forward-facing, he loves car rides and can stretch his legs enough to kick the front seat (joy).

Melissa - posted on 06/09/2010

Actually the law is 1 AND 20lbs not or and is a minimum. That's why most seats rearface to at least 35lbs. Just because a baby reaches 20lbs doesn't mean their neck is able to withstand a front facing crash. It has to do with bone development. Ever heard of internal decapitation? I'd rather have a baby with a broken leg than in a casket!

Ange - posted on 06/09/2010

My daughter is 18 months as well. She has been in a big car seat since she was 6 months and has been forward facing since before she was 12 months. She is as big as some 3 year olds we know. She has been in 24/2T clothes for a good 3 months now. She is the youngest in her room at day care but pretty much the biggest. When we did turn her around we did have a few days of troubles. She had to get used to holding her self upright now instead of reclining. It will take a few days adjustments so when you do turn her around don't plan any long trips in the car it wont be fun. But Isabelle enjoys being able to see what we see out of the front window. She loves watching what is going on and can do that much better forward facing.
I would also recommend getting a mirror to go on the rear view mirror. You can see what they are doing without having to turn around all the time. It also takes a few days of getting used to so no long trips or all you'll be doing is watching her.

Nikki - posted on 06/09/2010

the law says they just have to be 12 months or 20 lbs and 27 inches. my daughter was turned around at 8.5 months because of her size but i think you should definitely be safe now

Kari - posted on 06/08/2010

I turned my son foward a while ago. he's now almost 18 months old weighs close to 30 pounds and is approx 36" tall. His legs were touching the back of the seat and he would get so mad. Also in my car (an older one) the seat fits better foward facing than rear, I also feel that its more secure in the back seat being foward. With my older son once we upgraded to the car seat over the carrier, i had no choice but to put him foward as I drove a small 2 door car and the seat did not fit in the back seat rear facing unless i sat way up on the steering wheel.

Priscilla - posted on 06/08/2010

My son is about to turn 18 months, he's very tall and heavy (about 27lbs)...he was RF until last week, the only reason we switch it is because his feet were touching the back of the seat. I kept him RF as long as it was possible! I think it is safer so if you can wait I think you should!

Alicia - posted on 06/08/2010

i turned my daughter at 1, i have a smaller car and having it rear faced was uncomfy for me cause i had to have my seat up to far(im tall) and now i can sit comfy in my car.. and she is 18 months and 25lbs and 36 inches tall and is just fine ff, i figure if its ok to do at 1 and 20lbs then why not.. until its made illegal to do that i will keep her FFing

Christi - posted on 06/08/2010

we turned our son around at one. he was more than big enough and the doctor gave us the ok. he loves being able to see out of the windows and it makes long trips so much more peaceful.

Dusti - posted on 06/07/2010

My Violet(12/22/08) is about 19lbs and will probably stay rear facing until she's 2. I've watched the crash tests and they scare me. If I had had that knoweledge my older daughters would have been extened RR too.

Amanda - posted on 06/07/2010

my 18 month old is also still rear facing! the limit on our car seat is 40lbs so im keeping him RF until then :)

Kristi - posted on 06/07/2010

Thank you for all of the responses! I'm going to keep her RF for a bit longer : )

Heather - posted on 06/07/2010

The current recomendation from my pediatrician was to keep my son rear facing until he hit the weight limt (35 lbs). he is off the charts on height and in the 90th for weight at 18 months, but is still rear facing and will remain so until he hits that 35 lbs mark. At that point, the car seat is no longer safe rear facing, so he will be turned. As for the safety of rear facing, the cradle effect of rear facing protects the neck of a child in an accident. Any risk of leg injuries due to rear facing (which is much lower than a neck injury in forward facing under the age of 2) is worth it. Don't believe me, think about the choice - a broken neck (which most likely would result in death or paralysis) or a cast on a broken leg which will heal easily. I do wish we could get the car seats used in Sweden and keep the kids facing rear longer. (these are specially designed to allow for more leg and body room for the kids). Until then, I am keeping my son rear facing as long as the car seat allows.

And - for the record - I am not one of these overprotective helicopter moms... My son eats just about anything (except peanuts due to severe allergies running in the family), is allowed to play on the playsets at the park, falls down and has bumps and bruises ALL THE TIME!! I never bought into the knee pads for crawling or the helmet for walking...

Lynn - posted on 06/07/2010

Not for anything but f they have to LEARN to bnd there legs to be comfortable then they are too scrunched up. And if you are in the car a lot as I am, they there legs will be like that lot and that can't be good for the growth of the legs.

Beccie - posted on 06/07/2010

My little boy has been forward facing since he was about 10 months, but purely because he is too big for rear facing (at 18 months now he is the same length and weight as an average 2 and half year old !) By the time he was 10 months his legs and head were hanging over the ends of the car seat making it very uncomfortable for him. I do know that car seat experts to advise though that babies/toddlers be kept rear facing for as long as they comfortably fit into that car seat

Shalom - posted on 06/06/2010

There is a lot of debate about this lately! Recent studies of car accident injuries and fatalities are showing that your child is 5 times LESS likely of having a critical head injury if they remain REAR facing until they're 2. The chances of leg injuries is increased, but it's a whole lot easier to recover from a leg injury than a head injury. The EU is working on making it illegal to face forward before 2. So, considering the consequences i'm leaving my daughter rear facing until then. (She's nearly 18 months, too.)

Melissa - posted on 06/06/2010

Rearfacing as long as possible is the safest way to go! My daughter is 17 months and 27 lbs and happily rides rearfacing in a Sunshine Kids Radian. I recently turned my 3 year old forward because she hit the rearfacing weight limit. Neither girl is scrunched at all. They just learned to bend their knees. My 3 year old even fights getting in her seat now because she wants to ride in her sisters rearfaing seat:)

Heidi - posted on 06/06/2010

I have an almost 18 month old and she is RF. I did lots of research. She got a convertible seat at one so the back and weight limit is higher. She is still able to see the world. She hangs her legs over the side some times. But do your research and go from there.