turning car seat around

Susan - posted on 04/21/2009

I'm just really instigating a lot of good conversation here. You really do need to do research. I know there are a lot of seats that don't fit, not sure what we are going to do when our little man reaches the max weight, height, etc... the thing with him is that he will reach max height first by the way he is growing!
Research is the key!!

Guggie - posted on 04/20/2009

P.S. not all seats are made the same. I have a Subaru legacy (very narrow backseat) and had to test several seats. The Alpha Omega Elite fits very nicely, even when DH is driving. The Britax Roundabout is another option; it was made for narrow cars.

Guggie - posted on 04/20/2009

I highly recommend googling for a car seat safety forum. The bare minimum recommendations are really not safe enough in a 35mph or higher crash. Check out youtube for the crash test videos.



In America, all carseats rear face to 35lbs now. And Graco is releasing a 40lbs rearfacing seat in late August/September. The longer your child can rearface, the safer your child will be.

Susan - posted on 04/20/2009

I think you have to read the information carefully. they don't HAVE to be one year old.. it's just a recommendation. Although I do agree with keeping them rear facing.... but holy cow... can you actually fit the seats in a car?? What if you have more than yourself and hubby in the car with you. Then your seat pushed forward won't be good since you can't fit anyone else..... what if you have more than one kid??? People can't affort big SUV's and Mini Vans!

"When the child outgrows the maximum height and weight of his/her infant seat, you may require a convertible rear-facing seat until your child is ready to be facing forward. The law requires using a rear-facing car seat until the baby is at least 9 kilograms (20 lb.) The law is a minimum requirement.

The law is a minimum requirement. It’s best to keep your child rear-facing until they are at least one year old or until they have reached either the maximum height or weight limits of the rear-facing seat."

Amanda - posted on 04/20/2009

Kristi, I totally have the same problem. My son is almost getting too big for his car seat so I bought a two in one. I drive a small compact car, it just fits with the seat all the way up. I realized because of that, I really need an SUV or Mini Van.

Kristi - posted on 04/19/2009

I don't know if you are from Canada or the States ... in Canada the rule is 22 lbs AND 1 year old.

Just as an aside - I think the rule makes sense because of safety, but my son's "little baby seat" is getting too small for him, so we have to move to a huge car seat ... I mean so big that when it's rear facing I have to have my seat pushed all the way up! ARGH! We drive a big GMC Envoy XL too ... there should be a better way. I think people with little babies are luckier, because the little baby seat is so much smaller and compact!

Susan - posted on 04/19/2009

Quoting Amanda:

One year old. In Canada if you do it earlier, they will pull you over and give you a fine, they may even take your car away and make you walk. Don't take any chances and just leave them 'until 1 year.

"When the child outgrows the maximum height and weight of his/her infant seat, you may require a convertible rear-facing seat until your child is ready to be facing forward. The law requires using a rear-facing car seat until the baby is at least 9 kilograms (20 lb.) The law is a minimum requirement.

The law is a minimum requirement. It’s best to keep your child rear-facing until they are at least one year old or until they have reached either the maximum height or weight limits of the rear-facing seat."

this came from : http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/...

so they dont have to be rear facing up to one year.. its only reccommended.

Heather - posted on 04/19/2009

Hi I am an Aussie and I have read that when bub reaches one of the following stages it is safe to turn the seat around: either when they weigh 9kg, are longer than 70cm or at 6 months of age. Your car seat manual should give you some guidelines too :) Hope this helps.

Jen - posted on 04/19/2009

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends "1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lb to decrease the risk of cervical spine injury in the event of a crash." Furthermore, "If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back." Read your car seat manual as well. Don't go cheap on your car seat, it's your child's life pitted against metal, steel, and glass going 60mph, 120mph combined impact in head-on collisions or more! It's enough to take your breath away. Take your time installing that car seat, and make sure baby is snug and strapped in properly! Your baby is way too cute to become a stastic.

Kylie - posted on 04/19/2009

Thats interesting, in Australia your baby should be left in a rearward-facing restraint until the baby reaches 9 kg or 12 kg, depending on the specific model. So that's around 6 - 12 months depending on the baby I'm guessing.

Sarah - posted on 04/19/2009

Actually, there are rear facing carseats that keep the child facing backwards until they are 30 pounds. (Chicco has one and Britax) In parts of europe kids stay rear facing until kindrgarten with special seats. It is definately safer to keep them backwards longer. I would rather them be safe in the car. That is more important than the childs preference.

Amanda - posted on 04/19/2009

One year old. In Canada if you do it earlier, they will pull you over and give you a fine, they may even take your car away and make you walk. Don't take any chances and just leave them until 1 year.

Kelly - posted on 04/19/2009

i know sometimes it depends where you live, and what the laws are there. I live in Iowa and here your child has to be 20 pounds and at least 1 year old to be faced forward....

Deona - posted on 04/19/2009

From everything I have read, you cannot have your baby forward facing until he/she is 1 year old AND 20 pounds. They have to meet BOTH of those criteria.