Age or Size for front facing car seat?

Nikki - posted on 04/01/2013

hehe that would explain alot.. im in australia so our laws are different :) maybe i should have checked that before i posted ;) haha

Anne - posted on 04/01/2013

I'm not sure what type of car seat you have, but most infant seats are rated up to 22 lbs or more. Once they pass that, you need to get a convertible car seat that's can be rear or front facing. The guidelines have changed regarding when to turn your baby to front facing. It's no longer 1 year and 20 lbs. It's now 2 years old. The convertible car seats can handle that and can be less expensive than the infant seats.

Nikki - posted on 03/28/2013

it must depend on your child aswell? my cousins daughter is 2 months older than mine (9 months) and sits rear facing as she is alot smaller than my daughter is at 7 months. ive put my girl front facing recently and she was fine, although i did sit with her to keep watch. if its other peoples driving you are worried about then by all means, there is no need to turn the seat around if you dont have to or dont feel you should. everyones different!! :)

Amie - posted on 03/12/2013

My son is almost 11 months and at 21 pounds can he be forward facing

Megan - posted on 12/15/2012

Keep your little one rear facing for as long as possible...even to age two. It may seem odd to you but your child does not know any different. And she is safest this way. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00834D...
This seat is good to 45lbs rear facing and like 80 forward facing...so its a good investment in your little one's safety

Mary - posted on 12/05/2012

My grandson is 9 months 27 inches and 25 pounds...I would keep him rear facing to avoid whiplash...problem is...car seats are instructed for people with "normal" or "average" sized children...I am also wondering what's right.

Christin - posted on 09/05/2011

please just watch this and I hope you will see why rear facing as long as possible is best

Marina - posted on 03/17/2011

According to my pediatrician the new guidlines from the American Association of Pediatrics is rear facing for a minimum of 23 months of age. Longer if you have a car seat that has higher rear facing weiht limits. There are many car seats on the market now that stay rear facing- my son is 21 months and rear facing in a car seat with a limit of 35lbs rear and I think 80 forward facing. DOn't turn her around yet, even though she is a good healthy weight her neck muscles have not developed enough to hold her heavy head properly in a car accident and it would be much worse than just whip lash.

Crystal - posted on 03/12/2011

definetly do not turn her forward faceing untill she's at least 1yr regardless of her height or wieght you can get a convertible seat that will fit her RF for sometime and in most states the law is 1yr AND 20lbs my daighter is 19months 23lbs and 32in and still RF in her roundabout 50 i got from target for $160 but before 1yr is just really unsafe

Tamarra - posted on 04/03/2010

Wait until she is a year to put her forward facing, get a converter carseat.

Trisha - posted on 03/17/2010

In the US the child must be at least 20 pounds and at least 12 months old. Once the child outgrows the infant car seat/carrier you should get a convertible car seat that goes rear facing and can then be turned forward facing once they meet the requirements. My son is just about 20lbs and 9 months old, but we have to wait until he is 12months and 20lbs before we can turn his convertible car seat around to be facing forward. I suggest doing some research on convertible car seats. You could alsl talk to your pediatrician, I know ours has told us rear facing until 1year and 20lbs several times. Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 03/09/2010

it is ALWAYS safer to keep your child rear facing! I plan on rear facing my son until he really gets annoyed with it! A friend of mine has her 2 1/2 year old still RF. It is simply safer for the child until all of the bones are fused properly. Not to mention the high chance of whiplash in a minor fender bender! My suggestion would be to buy a convertible carseat. One that rear faces to anywhere between 35-45 lbs. Then it can be turned around to forward face anywhere between 65-80lbs! I have a Radian80 and I love it, its a monster of a seat, but it's made from solid steel so I know my LO is safe!

Alana - posted on 03/09/2010

My daughter is almost 9 months and she was getting too big for her infant carseat that snaps into the base. We went to Babies R Us and bought her the Evenflo Symphony65 car seat that she can use rear or forward facing up to 100lbs. She loves it because she can see out of the windows now and she's sitting up.

Keeshea - posted on 03/05/2010

I believe that it is 1 year and/or 20 lbs.

Shavon - posted on 03/05/2010

Just get a convertable carseat, My sons carseat allows him to stay rear facing until he is 1. He is already 20 lbs and he is almost 9 months. When he is old enough AND big enough I will just turn it around and make him a foward facing boy: )

Debbie - posted on 03/05/2010

The Doctor just told me they like to have the baby rear facing now until 2!!!!!!!!! She said she didn't make it that long with her own child but thats what they would like to start seeing!
:-) Good luck

Sophie - posted on 02/23/2010

you can buy a car seat that is for birth to 4 years old, it faces rear until they are 1 years old then faces forward, they are the best things to buy when u have a big baby that dosent fit in the tiny carseats

Leslie - posted on 02/22/2010

My son is 8 1/2 months old weighs 26 lbs and is over 30 inches long. We had thought about turning him foward but then I did some research that says that even though the baby may be big for it's age, he/she should stay rear facing until one year of age BECAUSE the neck musles of a child under one year are not developed enough to withstand a head on crash and it could really hurt them. So for now even though they are cramped its better to be safe than sorry. I hope this helps!

Veronica - posted on 02/21/2010

Like everyone says, it depends on the laws where you live. For safety sake, keep rear facing till she reaches 1 year and 22 lbs. You can take her out of the stroller traveler type car seat and put her in a regular one, but one that can face rear still. The one I got for my son is from 5lbs to 60lbs. Babies R Us has a good program to teach you about car seat safety. Also I believe most cities have traffic safety departments you can ask questions too.

Lela - posted on 02/18/2010

Well i went to a child seat safety class and they say 1 yrs old and 20 lbs, is the time you should be facing your child forward. I found those answers at saferidersTX.com

Samantha - posted on 02/18/2010

Like previously stated, in the US it's 1 year & 20 lbs. I encourage you AND your friend to wait until your kids are 1 year old and 20 pounds. You can buy a bigger carseat that can sit rear-facing and can be turned around when she turns 1. My son is 8 months old and 19 lbs, but he is still rear-facing :). So depending on where you live, it may be illegal to face your child forward. Whatever you do, be safe!

Brittany - posted on 02/18/2010

my son was the same way, he is too big for his rear facing one. so i bought him one that is rear facing up to i think forty pounds, and then it can be front facing up to 100. they sell them everyone, at walmart they were pretty cheap. it made me feel like he was safer :)

Danielle - posted on 02/16/2010

I went through the same thing with my son so I bought another car seat that is able to grow with him. There are car seats you can buy that are rear-facing (but not meant to be taken out of the car) and convert into a front-facing then booster seat when she is heavy enough/ old enough.

Kiaya - posted on 02/15/2010

In the US they have carseats that are booster seats that face forward so they are larger than the infant seat but they can also be used facing backwards by just adjusting the angle. So if she is to big for the infant seat but you feel safer with her backwards for a bit longer I would look into one of those.

Rebecca - posted on 02/14/2010

The rear facing car seats go ujp to 9kg or 10kg so at 18lb she should be alright in it still, but if her head is under a inch away from the top i suggest getting a bigger one cause having good head support is an very important thing. I had to get my buubs a bigger cat seat at 5 months he was only 18lb15oz but he was to long so i got next one up which is from birth to 4 years and it fits rear and forward! Once he hit 20lb i turned it to forward facing.

Shababa - posted on 02/14/2010

My daughter is 8 months and 22 lbs and is a pretty snug fit in her rear facing infant car seat but the law where I live is that she has to be rear-facing until she is one-year old and that's for her safety! They do however have what are called convertible car seats that are bigger but you can use rear facing for children under one and can turn around when they are older!

Alicia - posted on 02/13/2010

I have a 7 month old and she is very TALL and heavy. Its hard to carry her in the infant carrier so I got a convirtable (rear/forward facing) and she is still rear facing. I would rather have broken legs then to not have her at all. The broken legs will heal but if she died or anything horrible to that nature, because I put her in a front facing seat, she would never come back and I would NEVER heal.

Hayley - posted on 02/13/2010

I was actually wondering the same thing. I have 8 mos old twins who are quickly growing out of the rear facing. But I would rather wait! Be safe not sorry!

Shannon - posted on 02/13/2010

I agree, nothing makes me more mad than children walking / climbing around in the car! Keep her rear facing for as long as you can! We kept our oldest rear facing until he was 16 months.

Melissa - posted on 02/12/2010

When I was pregnant we went to a car seat safety class, each car seat had a weight limit, and they basically said to go by that or age. Example, our car seat is for up to 22 lbs. He can be in that until 22lbs or at a year if he is at least 20 we can put him in a front facing car seat that would allow for a 20lb child. But I just heard from a friend that her dr. said they have changed their recommendations and that you should keep your kid in a rear facing car seat until two. Although, I don't believe we will be doing that. It is either a year or 22 lbs for us, then we are going to forward facing.

Johnna - posted on 02/12/2010

I think you should keep your baby rear facing as long as you can..until a year would be best because in the event of an accident the baby is safest facing towards the rear of the car.

Andrea - posted on 02/12/2010

http://www.nextag.com/convertible-car-se...
ling to reviews of bigger rear/front facing car seats for you.
Good luck! :)

Andrea - posted on 02/12/2010

My son is Huge, he was 20 lbs at 7 months, and outgrew hig pumpkin seat. I bought a Convertible car seat (graco brand) that is rear and front facing. Its rear facing 5-30 lbs, and front facing 20-40 lbs.
It was recommended to me by other moms, he fits in it great and is very comfy! and that way you're still being the safest for you little girl!

Bich - posted on 02/11/2010

I am going through the same issue now with my 8month old daughter. This blog has definitely been very helpful to me and would like to thank everyone for their replies. I would definitely do rear facing as long as possible just because I have been in an accident way before I got pregnant, and let me tell you, the PAIN IN MY NECK as a 24 year old, was definitely something I will NEVER wish upon my daughter EVER. I guess that's something we learn with experience but a car accident was probably the most scariest situation I have ever been in. So please keep your children safe.

Michelle - posted on 02/11/2010

If she is outgrowing the infant seat, look for a convertible one. We are now shopping for one for our son (8 months). A lot of them are rear and forward facing and some even go up to 5 yrs/100 lbs because it turns into a booster when they are big enough. There are a lot of options out there. Hope this helps!

Cindy - posted on 02/11/2010

Hi everyone! I'm concerned because my son may surpass the weight and length limit on his rear facing seat before he is a year. I have a front facing seat given to me, and I would hate to buy another rear facing seat when money is so tight, but everyone is making some valid points about waiting till they are a year. What is he is 10 months? Is there a drastic difference between those two months? Right now he is eight months and at last checkup was almost 30 inches (I know!) and weighed 25 pounds. He's outgrowing it in length, that is the problem. It says 32 inches I think. Maybe he won't grow that much more before a year!

Allison - posted on 02/11/2010

Here's another informative video. I'm convinced to keep my daughter rear-facing as long as possible.

Carla - posted on 02/11/2010

Samantha - posted on 02/10/2010

i had to have the car seat facing forward, for weeks my daughter would scream when she was in the car seat, i then switched it around so it was facing forward and the screaming stopped. depends on the child really, if you feel that she is ready to face forward then go for it

Akeeba - posted on 02/10/2010

Msot state laws require your child to be 12 months old and 20 pounds. My son is 33 weeks and 21 pounds however I was told that he can not be forward facing until he is 12 months old. (per the doctor and police). Hope this helps. :-)

Elyse - posted on 02/10/2010

Just did all this research cause my 7 month old is 21 pounds. Most rear facing seats are up to 22 but regulations say they have to rear facing up to one year! So we now have to get a 3-in-1 convertible car seat.

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2010

My lil girl is 8 months and 20lbs she is in her front facng seat now i wnet to the police satation and they said she was fine 20lbs or more!

Carla - posted on 02/09/2010

ok i have done some reaserch for all moms. the studies and laws are not the same. all research and things say keep them rear faceing as long as possible witch can go up to 3 years or even 4 years of age. for one it is spine an neck protection even if the child feet over hang there are safer rear faceing look it up on line and i still say go to the police depart ment and fire office they are traind continually about this i did and guess what regardless what others do your child safty is the most important. keep her/him rear faced. it my new law for my self.

Marion - posted on 02/09/2010

I think a lot of places require a child to be at least a year and a specific weight (I think here its 20lbs but not sure). If the issue is just that she has outgrown the click in rear-facing car seat. There are reversible seats that can fit larger babies. You use them rear-facing at first, then flip them around when they are ready for forward facing.Just some thoughts!

Alyssa - posted on 02/09/2010

You need to keep your daughter rear facing until she is a year. But my son also out grew his car seat so we purchased Safety 1st Complete Air car seat. Its a little more expensive but so worth is because she can stay in it until she is much older. It goes from rear facing to front facing! It works great and my son(who is 8 months) loves it!

Kayli - posted on 02/09/2010

My sons is only seven months old and we had the same problem a couple weeks ago. The bucket car seats are supposed to be good until one year or 22 pounds, but the shoulder straps were way to tight. We got a convertable car seat that is good for rear facing, front facing and then a booster. I really like it, he seams to fit so much easier and does not look so scrunched in there.

Joyce - posted on 02/09/2010

1 year and 20lbs for a rear facing car seat isn't a law, it's a federal recommendation. Always best to check your state:

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

Kristen - posted on 02/09/2010

Rear facing until age 1. I know you can still get the transitional carseat BUT keep it rear facing til age 1. Why test out the theory that they are almost 1 and front facing is okay.

Naomi - posted on 02/09/2010

My baby was 24 lbs at 4 months old, and 25" long, so I didn't have a choice I had to get him the big carseat. He couldn't sit up yet though so I looked and found a great carseat that can be used from infancy to 80lbs. It is rear-facing with a recline up to 35lbs, then front facing after that. I'm not sure where you live, but if you're in Canada (and I think the US?) you should be able to find a similar seat at Sears! It costs a little more, but it gives me peace of mind because I've heard that babies are much safer rear-facing and to keep them that way as long as possible, which I now can do up to 35lbs! Hope this helps.

Becky - posted on 02/09/2010

At my sons 6 month check up I talked to my dr about this. My son was 29.5 inches tall at 6 months and nearly 20lbs and my dr's concern was if my son's legs could reach the back of the seat and if we were to be in an accident that his legs would be broken because he was so tall and would push against the back of the chair. Check with your own doctor and see what they say just to be sure! If you're in Canada you could call telehealth and they'll probably be able to help you out