When to put in front facing care seat????

Megan - posted on 03/18/2013

A good convertible car seat is the best solution. Keep your little one rear facing for as long as possible. I know it seems odd to you but your baby doesn't know any different and it is soooo much safer! http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&...

Jessica - posted on 03/16/2010

Get a carseat that is front and rear facing... I bought mine from walmart for about $55. I think it can hold a baby between 8lbs and 50lbs. I am hoping that I get a couple more years out of it, I think I will because my son is 10 months old and weighs about 19lbs... For my son he will be over 1 years old before he will be facing front because it is not suposed to face front until the baby is around 25 lbs I think.

Leslie - posted on 03/16/2010

I think the reason infant seats aren'y bigger is that if they were bigger they would no longer be as safe for tiny newborns. It is sad to pack away the infant seats though. I personally loved our Chicco seat, but once they hit the size limit it no longer provides the same amount of protection.For all the moms who are low on money, there are many options. I am a stay at home mom, my hubby is active duty airforce. To say the least money is tight on one income. Try second hand retail shops/ or websites like craigslist or ebay. I sold some our baby items since we had so many and that with a coupon at BabiesRUs is how we bought our Safety First Complete Air. (with coupon 179.99) Its still high but I'd rather spend an extra 100 than regret it later it something ever happened. The extra money pays for its self in the sense that this seat last up to 50lbs. I wont need another seat in a year or two.

Melissa - posted on 03/15/2010

We all know that rear facing is safer, so there is no need in judging people who put their children in forward facing sooner doesn't care about there safety. My question is why dont they make infant carriers bigger. I personally dont like the convertible ones because there is no head and neck support if you put an infant in it, i checked out so many consumer reviews and all said the same. And frankly i dont have 300 - 400 dollars to spend on a good one, especially when most dont go up to the 80lbs required. So for me there was no point in purchasing one. We went with a travel system. So why do they make forward facing seats start at 20lbs? Obviously they are safe too. Kolie was asking our opinion and some have turned into a debate, calling people ignorant. There is a debating forum on COM start it there. Anyways Kolie my opinion is check out your laws where you live and if you do have the money to spend on a high end convertible seat then go for it. I put my son in forward facing about 8 months which will last until 80lbs and i have no regrets. All car seats are safe otherwise they wouldn't be sold.

Kim - posted on 03/15/2010

OH and it has nothing to do with their leg room. Their neck muscles are not strong enough to hold their necks in place and a little thing called internal decapitation occurs from the forward motion if facing forward during a head on collision. Statistics show that you are more likely to be in a head on collision at higher speeds than a rear collision. Therefore it's best to protect your child from that type of crash by rear facing as long as possible. And for the "my kids were too cramped" people I'd rather deal with a broken leg than a dead child.

Kim - posted on 03/15/2010

You're Dr also should have told you that it's best to keep him rear facing as long as possible. It's the US law that says 20lbs AND 1 year. But the AAPP official stance is 2 years. If you talk to a CPST they will say as long as you can - 3-4years. My son will be in his Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL rear facing until he hits it's weight limit for rear facing of 65 pounds. It's the safest way for your child to face. I know some people think that turning their child forward facing is a milestone but it is not. Milestones are physical abilities. Turning a child forward facing ASAP is only dangerous to a child's life if in a car accident. It's not a milestone.

Leslie - posted on 03/15/2010

sorry it didnt post all my links....

Leslie - posted on 03/15/2010

I did alot of research on the topic and ended up buying the Safety First Complete Air. My daughter is 21 lbs and still rear-facing. She is the 75% for height and weight and has no problem with her legs. When installed at the correct angle for rear-facing her legs still have 6 in to go before touching the seat. Babies/kids sit on their legs all the time so even when her legs do touch I won't turn her around yet. At her 9mo appt our pediatrician told me to turn her around, which really shocked me. I told him about my research and he said it was actually safer forward facing......all research sways heavily toward rear-facing as long as possible. The issue is the neck/spine. Most convertible seats will keep your baby rear-facing til at least 2. I would love to turn my daughter around because it would be more convenient but if something ever happened I would never forgive myself.As parents we have to make the right decisions even when they arent the easiest but whats best our children. I have linked a few articles that helped me make my decision.....

http://airprotect.safety1st.com/

Chelle - posted on 03/15/2010

in england i think its 9months and they must weigh at least 20lb/9kg

Mia - posted on 03/14/2010

Allison and Rebekah, we may as well give up hoping these moms do what has been proven time and time again to be the safer alternative, and resign to praying for them and their children that none of them are in any sort of collision.

They will not listen to us anymore than we would listen to someone telling us our forward facing babies would be "happier".

And with that, my ladies, I bid you adieu.

Allison - posted on 03/14/2010

Beating a dead horse, maybe, but "Most UK parents are too quick to switch their children to front-facing car seats, a team of doctors has argued."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8094829.stm

Krystal - posted on 03/14/2010

hi i wrote a post on here before just want to update. i have now got a forward faceing car seat for my 10 month old son who weighs 21lb 4 1/2oz. the car seat we have brought is called recaro young sport, its a group 1.2.3 car seat and its from 9 months -12years and the weight is from 9kg-36kg. we have had it properly fitted by a trained member of halfords staff and my sons very safe and protected in his new forward facing car seat. he loves his new car seat and as i said before (here in the uk) it is very safe for them to be forward facing if it wasnt they would not of made forward faceing car seats for a 9 month old that weighs 20lb. :)

Allison - posted on 03/14/2010

Maybe part of the confusion is that some moms don't know the different types of seats that are available, and therefore when their infant outgrows their first seat they just assume it means they should move to foward-facing?

Here are the types of seats:

Infant seat (bucket-style often with a handle and comes as part of the "travel system" that can be hooked onto a stroller and pushed around) - These are REAR-FACING only and typically go up to 20-30 lbs and 26", though you need to look at the instructions for your particular carseat as it varies a lot. The instructions are normally in a pocket on the back or bottom of the seat.

Convertible Seat - These are typically good REAR-FACING from 5-30 lbs and then converts (buckles are often re-routed and the tilt of the seat is adjusted) to a FORWARD-FACING seat from 20-45+ lbs (again, read the manual for exact weights and heights). Because many infants outgrow their infant (bucket) seats way before the suggested age/weight of turning around, a convertible seat is a good middle-seat. Some people forgo the convenience of an infant (bucket) seat and start with a convertible because it's cheaper in the long run and the convertible will last longer.

Forward-Facing seat - These are forward-facing only and are for kids who are past the age/weight for being rear-facing.

High-back booster seat - these have high backs, are typically for children 4 and 40 lbs, and are used with a seatbelt. They make sure the seatbelt hits the child at the right place on their shoulder, chest, and lap.

Backless booster - these are for children who are older and taller, but still need some help with positioning the seatbelt at the right place.

Does this help?

So even though a child outgrows a particular seat, it doesn't mean they are at the right age/weight/height to be put in a forward-facing positon. It just means they probably need a bigger seat. At least until 1 year (here in the US) or even 2 years (the new suggested age).

Safety first! I always say :-)

Mia - posted on 03/14/2010

Melissa, my infant seat is A Chicco, and it rear faces up until 30lbs, so I do not know how your daughter could outgrow an infant seat at 4 & 1/2 months, could you please clarify? Did you mean height? And I don't know if you're aware of what a "convertible" seat is, it faces both rear and forward facing.

My daughter is 10 months old, and has 1/2 an inch before she grows out of her infant seat, (despite the fact that she still has 12lbs until she hits the weight limit) as she is in the 95% percentile for height. As I stated above, we get to pick up our convertible seat next week. It rear faces until 35lbs and 49 inches (whichever comes first). Many convertible car seats do this, not just Britax. There are very reasonable priced ones too.

Mia - posted on 03/14/2010

Rebekah, thank you for posting that video.

I posted it on my Facebook page as well.

I anyone can watch it AND STILL turn their kids around forward facing before the 1 year mark (at the very earliest), then- well, I just don't know what to say.

Rebekah - posted on 03/14/2010

Agh, I quit! It's frustrating to me to hear from so many people who are so ignorant and stubborn that they refuse to listen to anything new. But, I guess it probably took several years for older doctors, parents with older children, and grandmothers, etc., to realize that car seats were safer than just a lap belt too when that research came out.

I've quoted statistics, I've shared articles, I've posted crash test videos, and I honestly can't believe that parents are making a conscious decision to turn their infants forward facing... and give them a 5 times greater chance for injury in an accident. To me, this is not a controversial issue at all-- it's a safety issue. If I found one single piece of research that even attempted to prove that rear-facing isn't safer, I wouldn't be so adamant, but I've yet to find it.

Anyway, I pray that one day everyone will recognize the safety importance of rear-facing and have access to quality convertible car-seats... And don't worry about flagging me, I'll stop posting on this thread.

Oh and for what it's worth, my 3 year old is 30lbs and 38inches tall, and loves to ride rear-facing in his sister's car seat (Britax Marathon). My Honda Civic can really only have one rear-facing seat, so since his little sister was born (when he was 26 months old) he's been forward-facing... BUT, when his sister isn't with us, he rides in her rear-facing seat comfortably. I just can't imagine anyone's 9-10 month old being larger than my 3 year old. I'll have to post a picture of him, when I get one taken.

Allison - posted on 03/13/2010

Thank you, Rebekah, for posting this video :-)

Allison - posted on 03/13/2010

Jane - the legs are not as important as the neck and spine. Most convertible seats are good for kids rear-facing to at least 35lbs or higher. That would be a very big 10 month old! :-) Obviously, you've not been in an accident with your kids siting forward facing or sitting "on the bump" in the middle, which is good. The only time (properly installed and fitting) carseats are important is when there's an accident, but of course you can't predict when they will happen so you need to be safe all the time.

For bigger kids, they can sit in their carseat rear-facing with their legs crossed "criss cross apple sauce" too, but my 2 year old had no problems being rear-facing with his legs normal. Yes, they kick the seat, but that's ok.

Always read both the manual for your carseat AND the manual for your car. Here in the US every car manual repeats (OVER and OVER!) that a child under 1 year and under 20 lbs SHOULD NOT be forward facing. Every carseat manual I've ever read says the same thing. I don't know how people can be confused about this (although I do understand some countries have different recommendations, of course, so I'd expect moms to know those recommendations instead, but still KNOW them).

Rebekah - posted on 03/13/2010

Check out this video from YouTube about the importance of rear-facing. I think it shows some good examples and pictures of larger children in rear-facing seats. It also shows where the legs go... you'll just have to watch past a few of the crash tests.

Jane - posted on 03/13/2010

i dont understand how a child can stay in a rear facing car seat until 2 years old! how can they fit? my 10 month old doesnt fit even rear facin in a convertible seat. we tried it and have since turned it round. where are their legs supposed to go? if that is the case why do they do car seats that are from 9 months but do not go rear facin, forward facing only. if this wasnt "allowed" then surely they wouldnt be able to sell them. both my girls were big at birth and grew out of their seats early and my 3 1/2 year old has been forward facing since 8 months and has even been in a bump and is fine so i see no problem that my 10 month old is now forward facing and so much happoer in my car :)

Mia - posted on 03/11/2010

We are getting the Britax Advocate, as soon as my Babies R Us 20% off coupon goes in to effect! We have to wait two weeks, but we'll be saving over $70, bringing the price to $295.



It is good until 65lbs, and rear faces until 35lbs. We're really excited. Worth every cent!

Allison - posted on 03/10/2010

No...just because they outgrew the seat before 1 year DOES NOT mean they can be forward-facing. It means you need another seat that will work rear-facing until AT LEAST 1 year (preferably longer). This is very important and baby's necks are so weak. We get whiplash when we are in an accident - they get their necks broken. Not good.

My son outgrew his infant bucket seat at 4 months. I bought a convertible seat (one that can be rear-facing to 35 lbs, then forward-facing from 30 lbs-50 lbs) for him. And he stayed rear-facing until almost 2.

Janessa - posted on 03/10/2010

Hey my son also has out grown his car seat now he is forward facing. I read books and the menual and my baby weight and height is to big for rear facing. It depends how big a child is many of my friends have big babies and there are also forward facing.

Rebekah - posted on 03/10/2010

Thank you for the reminder Dayna about the AAP recommendation, and for the link to that article, Sara. I was looking for that article when I posted a few days ago, but somehow it vanished from my bookmark list.

Kolie, have you found a convertible car-seat yet? I'm interested to hear what you found... It seems like the number of convertible car-seats has increased 100 times since I bought one for my son two years ago... and now I need one for my 9 month old daughter.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 03/10/2010

Found the article:
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/c...

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 03/10/2010

I'll have to look into that, Dayna. I think it's fantastic the the AAP is recommending 2 years now.

Dayna - posted on 03/10/2010

My dr. said that the APA has said 2 years old, now!! Can you believe it?? We've already got my daughter in a convertible seat so she gets used to it before we flip it around.

Fran - posted on 03/08/2010

no worries :)

Allison - posted on 03/08/2010

I keep my kids rear-facing (in a convertible seat) until they are 2. The seat I use is the Evenflo Triumph which is good rear-facing to 40 lbs and then forward-facing until 50 lbs (and my 6 year old doesn't yet weigh 50 lbs, so they last a while). Even though the legs touch the seat its still safer rear-facing. Would you rather have 2 broken legs or a spinal cord (neck) injury?

The reason rear-facing is safer is that most collisions happen from the rear and the head and neck are better supported by the carseat when the force comes from behind. If baby was forward-facing and hit from behind, the head and neck (which are proportionally bigger in relation to a child's body vs. an adult) would be more likely to flop around, thus stressing the neck and potentially causing serious injuries.

Rebekah - posted on 03/08/2010

Sorry Fran, I just read all the responses and then replied... I was just too lazy to look back up and see who said what. Sorry.

Fran - posted on 03/08/2010

Rebekah Gray - I wasn't saying that the convertible would last him 2 months. I was stating that it will be 2 months (slightly more) until Ryan is 1 year old which seems to be the topics leaning point as to when to allow forward facing.
Also you don't really need to refer to me as 'someone' as I am sure people can see that it was me who said 2 months.

Kerri - posted on 03/08/2010

I know im going to get crap from alomost every freakin woman on here because I always do but I put my son in a forward facing at like 7 almost 8 months. he was pushing on the back of the seat didnt look comfortable at all and he was at the weight limit. so i switched him then. They say it is better and safer to leave them till atleast 1 (now ever 2 i think) but I switched him then. Hes not about to be 10 months and is doing great in it. He sits up perfectly in it holds his head up in perfectly (been doing that since like 2-3 months) and everything is great he looves his big boy seat!

Rebekah - posted on 03/08/2010

I personally don't think it matters at all what state or country you live in... ALL statistics and research prove that rear-facing is best. Your child is 5 times safer if he remains rear-facing until age 2. So, for me personally, I'd rather do what is safest than my state's "minimum requirement". http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseat...

A good convertible car-seat would last you from now until he/she is ready for a booster seat (not just 2 months as someone suggested). Here's a list of some of the top rated convertible car-seats: http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseat... One is only about $50 and would last until he/she is 40lbs.

Fran - posted on 03/08/2010

Well I personally couldn't afford to buy another rear facing seat to last him 2 months and then buy a forward one.
I don't think age as anything to do with it as far as I can work out as long as he weighs about 20 pounds or more and can sit up well unsupported etc (which is usually around the nine month mark for both) then he is fine for a front facing one.
Ryan was way too tall and the straps where barely clicking, he's 21lbs so I saw no reason not to. He's also 9 and a half months.

Jane - posted on 03/08/2010

my daughter went forward facin at 7 1/2 months. she was 19lb 12oz and sittin unsupported and really long so i just turned the seat around and really reclined it so she was laid fairly back instead of sittin bolt upright. she is 10 months now and has been absolutely fine facing forwards xx

Monica - posted on 03/07/2010

You would need to check with your states car seat laws. we are in Qld australia and we can turn them around at 6mths. We had to turn our lil man around at 6mths as he reached the max weight for rear facing. I know its best for them to be rear facing for as long as possible but if they are over the maz weight its just as dangerous for them to be rear facing. If the law says 12mths I would look at buying a new carseat that is suitable for your babies size.

Krystal - posted on 03/07/2010

hi i live in england and here the law says that a baby can go into a forward facing car seat at 9 months old and weighs 20lb. my son is 10 months and has just reached to 20lb 7oz so we are now looking for a new car seat to because he has outgrown his rear facing car seat and we are goin for a forward facing one. susan do you have a babies r us near you, i live in cambridgeshire and the one we go to they have car seats ranging anywhere from £50.00 upwards and are very safe. we are going on saturday, they also fit the car seats in the car for you so you can find one to fit your car. we are one 1 income and i only get child tax credit and child benefit so i know how hard it is to find a decent and safe one for low prices, we are going to halfords to, to see what they have, they also fit the car seat in the car for you to. we are going to look for either a group 1 seat ( forward facing from 9 months to 4 years) or a group 1.2.3 seat which grows as your baby grows ( forward facing from 9 months to 11 years) hope this helps :)

Vicky - posted on 03/07/2010

my son was too long for his baby seat by 4 months so had to put him in front facin seat but it tilted so that he could sleep.

Emili - posted on 03/07/2010

they should stay in a rear facing car seat until AT LEAST 1 year. there are some really good convertible car seats that can face both front and back.

Jennifer - posted on 03/06/2010

Well.....I have a client who is a nurse and she said to wait until they are 1YEAROLD AND WEIGH 20 lbs.

Jessica - posted on 03/06/2010

I put my daughter in the front facing as soon as she was heavy enough because she was long enough a while before. She's a very tall baby and in rear facing ones her legs are always scrunched up.

I feel like it's just as safe because even in the convertible ones, she didn't fit right due to being so leggy and long

Susanna - posted on 03/06/2010

just had a look and not sure to bye it or not cause there was a really bad review on it ,i think i might have 2 find out if there is 1 in a local shop 4 me to look at properly as im not sure about the comfort of it and if it will fit in my car ok , some of these seats seem to be ok if they are in new cars but if in an older one like mine then they dont always sem to fit in a s nice

Fran - posted on 03/06/2010

Susanna Fox, mothercare are doing an offer on the britax king plus its down to £119 its not rear facing however but as long as they weigh about 9 kilo then they're ok for it. It lasts until they're about 4 years old at which stage you can get a booster seat for £20

Lauren - posted on 03/05/2010

It depends where you live. I know in Australia they recommend 6 months, but I turned my babies seat around at about 4 months as she was constrantly trying to sit herself up and straining her neck.

It also depends on the traffic laws, every state here is different, and I'm not sure about other countries.

Bobbi - posted on 03/05/2010

Here in Texas is it 1year and 20lbs

Tina - posted on 03/05/2010

my doc recommended 6 months....thats when i did it but all my friends did it as soon as their bubs could sit up. a few were saying they sat theres up at 4 months. i waited until Rhyley stayed awake in the car alot more coz everytime wed go in the car hed fall asleep so i left it until he was awake more so roughly 6 months i sat it up and he loved being able to see me and see what was happening :) the instructions said when they were 8kgs then have it front facing....but im guessing everyone has differant points of views so whenever you think your little one is ready to sit up in a front facing seat

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 03/05/2010

Hi Susanna,

The Cosco Scenera car seat is a convertible car seat that is less expensive. It's a basic seat that has been reviewed by consumer reports. They rated it as a best buy because it is safe and doesn't cost as much. Here's a link to Target. It's on sale right now for $45.



http://www.target.com/Cosco-Convertible-...



Hope this helps!

Susanna - posted on 03/05/2010

i have got this problem aswell, my son is only 10 months but he has grown out of the greco car seat tht came with the buggy, the straps just dont reach round him anymore , i need 2 get a new asap, but im on income support and cant afford 1 of these flash 1s, they seem 2 cost so much !! has any 1 got any cheap ideas tht will be more affordable but safe, i live in kent, england

Rebekah - posted on 03/05/2010

As Sara suggested, you'll need a convertible car-seat next. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear-facing until age 2 now and most information proves that children are safer rear-facing. (http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html) So, you'll likely want him to be rear-facing for longer than just a couple months.

I think most car-seats now are convertible, so at least in the US, it shouldn't be hard to find one. My son has a Britax Marathon and was able to stay rear-facing until 26 months old.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 03/05/2010

Get a convertible car seat that you can leave rear facing for a while. Rear facing is best for as long as you can do it. We just bought the Safety First Complete Air. That seat and seats like it can be rear facing for up to 50 lbs (depends on the seat).