Is your 1 year old forward facing or rear facing?

Janice - posted on 01/25/2012

Majority of car seats nowadays are convertible seats that can be rear or forward facing. Also due to natural deteriation of plastic car seats should be replaced every 5 years so if the car seat your MIL has in newer it is likely a convertible one.

I only kept my daughter rear facing till 18 months. Although I made that decision w/o all the new info. My son is only 2 months but I will keep him rear facing till 2 years.

MeMe - Raises Her Hand (-_-) (Mommy Of A Toddler And Teen) - posted on 01/18/2012

My 15 month old is still rear facing, since I read it is recommended until they are 2. However, we are going to have to switch him to forward facing in our car because the seats are shorter than those in our SUV. So he will be doing both by this weekend. ;)

Elisha - posted on 01/08/2012

My son will be facing backwards till the weight limit on it. I was given a My Ride 65, They face back wards till 40 pounds. If you were to get in an head-on collision. Your childs spinal cord could be severed from impact, from the head slamming forward. The rearfacing car seat would cradle his head and do way lesser injuries. I would recomend every parent rf till at least 2. Or till the weigth on the seat. Most childrent aren't 35 pounds at 1yr.

Crystal - posted on 01/06/2012

All these excuses are rediculas he cries,he wants a differant view he was big enough, we didn't do this when we were little that's because our parents didn't know any better you know better you do better how can any parent choose comfort or convience over safety also a child is not to tall to RF util they have less than 1in above there head in a convertible car seat as for weight there are seats that RF to 35-45lbs and not all are huge or exspensive i turned my daughter FF at 1yr then i learned of the safety benifits of ERF and turned her back at 16 months she's now 29 months,27lbs 37in and happily RF and will until atleast 3 my kids also dont wear ulky coats in there car seats any more either oh but wait they did before and are fine oh wait i never got hit either how can i know something is dangerous and continue to do it or know something is safer and make up a lame excuse to go against it

Sarah - posted on 01/03/2012

No offense, but I think it's a ridiculous argument (no matter what the topic) to say, "It wasn't that way when we were kids, and we are all fine." Not everyone is fine, that's why new recommendations come out on any topic you want (car seat safety, feeding recommendations, circumcision, etc.). Research into all these topics has been a growing exponentially since people our age (I assume most people are 20-45ish). That's where these recommendations come, from the unfortunate circumstances that happen to people. Just because you didn't know anyone who was injured in a car accident doesn't mean that someone wasn't. Many children have been killed in car accidents from improper restraints, instillation, application, or RF vs FF. Follow the manufacturers guidelines for your car seat and the laws in your area, etc. but ultimately, you need to follow your heart if it's also telling you to keep them rear facing longer. I think people who turn them prematurely against the law or car seat guidelines are being reckless with the lives of their children and need to rethink their priorities.

Karen - posted on 12/30/2011

Rear facing

Nicole - posted on 12/27/2011

my daughter has been facing forward since she was 1 if she gets put rear facing she will scream

Kate - posted on 12/26/2011

my daughter is rear facing still, and she will be untill she is either 18kg or 4, whichever comes first. there are countries such as switzerland (which also has the lowest infant mortality and injury rate in car accidents) where it is illegal to forward face before 4. It is legal here to forward face at 6 months which is absurb. a childs muscles havnt developed fully to be able to support themselves properly until they are 2 and the chances of serious injury or death is so much higher is forward faced before 2. My sister has been having a problem with her mother in law insiting that she put him forward facing (went and brought him a seat) my sister made her return it and point blank refuses to let him go in the car with her unless he is in a rear facing seat.

Katie - posted on 12/23/2011

Our car seat said to switch to front facing at "1yr and/or 30lbs" so we switched him to front facing at 11mo.

Joaquinna - posted on 11/18/2011

My son is Forward Facing Now

Julie - posted on 11/03/2011

From what i found out they say until 2 or they reach the height limit to be facing that way. My kids are both Tall and were turned around before they were 1

Sherrey - posted on 11/02/2011

WOW! I guess I should have know better.Sorry to create such a controversy. My son is rear facing and will remain as long as he can or until 2.

Tiffany - posted on 11/02/2011

rearfacing as long as possible...even though its law here in georgia now that they remain rearfacing until 2 years old.

Kay - posted on 10/30/2011

I will keep my son rear-facing as long as I possibly can. Legally he can flip around now, and his height and weight are well within range.

My dad was a volunteer firefighter when I was growing up. At one accident scene, the victim was almost completely decapitated by a seatbelt. At another, the chest was completely crushed.

He and my mother made the decision to keep us in the backseat and in carseats or boosters as long as possible. Now I am making the same decision for my boys. They won't appreciate until they are older. Neither did I.

In the end, it is a decision every parent has to confront and decide on for themselves, but I very strongly suggest taking new research into account when you make your decision.

Last but not least, consider your carseat manifacturer's recommendations too. When your child outgrows the rear facing capacity (or any other) for your seat, it is generally better to switch.

Chelsea - posted on 10/19/2011

No problem! A friend showed me the video when i researching car seats for my LO and when I saw the convo post, I knew I had to share!

Karen - posted on 10/19/2011

Thanks for posting Chelsea, I wasn't sure how to post a video on here because I had a different one I was going to use (same message just different child - happens too often unfortunately!)

Karin - posted on 10/18/2011

thanks for that Chelsea, I have just put his seat rear facing again

Chelsea - posted on 10/18/2011

For all of you who are considering putting your one year old forward facing, I urge you to watch this video. My son will be rear facing as long as possible.

Karin - posted on 10/18/2011

oh, and my DS is the correct size for forward facing, I would not have placed him forward if he wasn't

Karin - posted on 10/18/2011

The age 2 is a recommendation, not law here in New Zealand. It was changed from 1 to 2 years. My almost 1 year old was put into a forward facing seat so I could pass on his capsule to a friend who needed one. SOme regular car seats do work rear facing - you will need to check the manual. The seat DS is in does face rearward but that would mean the front passenger sits too close to the dashboard in the front and I believe that is much more dangerous.

Toni - posted on 10/18/2011

Um... When I was younger you didn't even have to HAVE a child seat. You could smoke anywhere and everywhere. Doctors prescribed drugs that ended up causeing serious deformities to babies. To argue that "It was ok for me" is foolish, as new information is coming out every day. My two boys - ages 7 and 3 - went FF at around 1 year, now the recommendation is longer and so my 13 mo daughter is still RF and will remain that way for a while. My oldest son went into a booster at 4, my 3 year old will wait a lot longer. My 7 year old son will probably be in a booster for a long time to come, as he is only about 40 inches tall. It's not ALL about the age for the boosters, it's about their size. Guidelines where I live for booster seats is 9 years old, or 4'9" tall. If my son isn't that tall when he hits 9, he WILL remain in his booster until he is. He can be embarrassed and mad at me all he wants, but he will be ALIVE in case of an accident. Simple as that.

Pamela - posted on 10/17/2011

Well, Both my 9 year old and 3 year old were turned to the forward facing position at 1. I now have a 1 year old and she will be turn to forward facing also. They never use to have things like this when I was younger and we are all ok. This wait until the child is 2 business is not for me.

Megan - posted on 10/16/2011

I wish my son (who is 1) was able to turn forward facing because I know he will enjoy it so much; however, I would rather him be safe - than me be sorry! I cannot believe that people get into this site & then speak so poorly and angrily at each other. Those of you who think it is smart to follow the guidelines :) way to put your children first.. those of you who are getting smart & lashing out about something like this - you choose not to follow the guidelines, good for you. There is no need to get so fired up about it. For the fact that you won't do it because it will embarrass you or your child? I think that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. There are guidelines for a reason, if you choose not to go with them, just remember that if anything would ever happen. You can't blame anyone but yourself.

Maydena - posted on 10/16/2011

I have an 11.5 month old, and I really wanted to forward face her because of the size of my car...some carseats are just so darn big! A friend of mine made me watch a video on YouTube about an 18 month old boy who was front facing, and in a terrible front end collision. The boys neck and back were broken, but thankfully he survived. I immediately went out and bought the smallest rear facing convertible car seat that I could find (the radian xt), and I plan on keeping my DD rear facing until she is 3. I dont say this to scare you, or judge anyone else, but the truth of the matter is that it IS safer...plain and simple. My DD has very long legs, and they are a bit bent when she is RF, but legs can be mended much easier than a broken back or neck.

Rebekah - posted on 10/15/2011

In Australia we are allowed to turn children forward-facing at SIX MONTHS which I think is ridiculous (we turned our twins at that and now realise how much safer it is to be rear facing and have our 1 year old doing that now).

Amy - posted on 10/14/2011

First of all, the "12 year old in a booster" thing is NOT a law in every state - neither is "rear facing until age 2". Both are merely suggestions and, for the most part, the children in question generally outgrow the weight/height limits for these restrictions. If your kids are comfortable until these suggestions are met, good for you. Mine are not and our doctor AND local Police Dept. agree that using common sense is far safer than blindly following SUGGESTIONS.

Hope - posted on 10/14/2011

Jessica, it's all about checking what the local law is and making an honest effort to abide by it. Most laws have an age/height criteria that's either or for older children.

Jessica - posted on 10/14/2011

my little sister was in a booster until her head hit the top of the car when she was around 8... how the hell is she supposed to sit in a booster at 12 if she couldnt fit at 8?

Giselle - posted on 10/13/2011

I will keep DD RF probably until she is 2. I kept DS RF until he was almost 2. I would have kept him RF longer but daddy felt he was ready to turn around.

Jami - posted on 10/13/2011

Go to a car seat check and let them tell you what to do.

Hope - posted on 10/13/2011

The American Pediatrics Association decided that their recommendation for rear facing would be until two years of age after doing research into muscle and weight conditions of the average one and two year old. This is a very new recommendation and as far as I know is not law anywhere yet. I talked to my daughters PCM about it and she said rear facing is truly the safest way to go. We have a Graco Comfort Sport carseat that allows for rearfacing until 30lbs. My daughter's doc also said if a child's legs become scrunched in a rear facing position that you can sit them in their seat cross legged.

Btw, the recommendations have less to do with weight or height with respect to carseats and more to do with muscle strength. With older children the recommendation is designed to place children at a proper height for seat belts and airbags that might injure them otherwise.

No law is written without the best interests of our children in mind. Your kid might "feel stupid" in a booster in middle school but imagine how bad you'd feel if something happened because you didn't make them sit in one.

Karen - posted on 10/12/2011

not keeping him in a bubble - abiding by the law is all and i'm sorry i completely agree with the law. seatbelts are made to fit full grown adults, not children. they can cause serious injuries to children's internal organs if they are not positioned properly on the hips/shoulders (which until a certain height can only be done with a booster). but to each their own

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2011

I absolutely would never take my middle schooler to school or anywhere else for that matter in a booster. thats ridiculous. and totally unnecessary. sorry. you can keep your children in a bubble their whole lives if you want.. but thats not for me and my family.

Karen - posted on 10/12/2011

@ jessica, where i live they are working to make it a law and it should be within the next year. also, it already is law that a child needs to be boostered until 12. my niece is 13 and just stopped using her booster seat a couple months ago. if you use a backless booster no one outside of the car will even know they are using it, however, everyone that age uses them here so it doesn't matter.

and i don't think it's "stupid" to keep your children safe in the car. i'd rather my son be a little uncomfortable rear facing (which he wasn't) then to be internally decapitated in a fender bender because i thought it was "stupid" and turned him forward facing.

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2011

“The ‘age 2’ recommendation is not a deadline, but rather a guideline to help parents decide when to make the transition,” Dr. Durbin said. “Smaller children will benefit from remaining rear-facing longer, while other children may reach the maximum height or weight before 2 years of age.”


http://www.healthychildren.org/English/N...

it isnt actually a LAW and its stupid. It states a 12 year old needs to be a in a boster seat? really? you want me to take my 7th grader to school in a booster seat? get real.

Jennifer - posted on 10/11/2011

My daughter has been in a forward facing car seat since she was 10 months old. She hated the rear facing and she is big enough that i didn't see that it would hurt anything. She loves facing forward so she can see what mommy and daddy are doing. And around here the law is 12 months and 20 pounds.

Karen - posted on 10/11/2011

my son is 25 months and just got turned around forward. they have some great, affordable convertable seats that have great rearfacing weight limits. you're right - unless you have a convertable seat made to rear face you can't turn it around. would it be possible for you to just leave her your car seat while you're at work? (i know it's a pain to have to reinstall it each day, but if it's safer for your child what's a couple extra minutes out of your day?)