Rear-facing car seats *video*

Johnny - posted on 12/09/2009

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For posting this! I hope every mom on here watches this. It's a message that desperately needs to get out there and be paid attention to. A little knowledge and education goes a long way.

Katherine - posted on 12/08/2009

Broken legs, or a dead child?

Rebecca - posted on 12/08/2009

our local fire department gets trained in installing car seats properly and going over information that is up to date and insuring people know the "rules" of carseats...don't leave the handle over the carseat when installed in the car,place it one click back or all the way down. Do not line it up with the seat in front however as it an get locked in place adn the seat wont react properly. The handle will shatter wif let over the seat in an accident, only the "umbrella" can be left over the seat as it is flexable and will not shatter. Look at the length on your car seat. Childs feet can be touching the seat but head should not come over the top of the seat. If your child is too young for forward facing but are too ling for the rear seat they are in, invest in a convertable one. We had to for our son and went back to the fire station to get it installed. Our 5month old daughter still has about 5 inches to go before needing a new one. The fire department tells people not to change to forward facing until your child is walking, age of one and is over 20lbs. The walking is an extra thing yes, but it insures the child has good neck support and can handle impact better then a crawling child. Our son was changed to forward when he was almost a year and a half.

Rearfacing children are safe anywhere in the car but if they are the only seat they are recommended to go in the middle,like any child really. If there is another child in a forward facing seat they need to be in the middle because a rearfacing goes up and keeps the baby safe all around if the seat is in properly. A forward facing gets impact from all angles so they need to be in the safest spot of the car in theory,which si the middle. Check you local area for clincs on car seat safety. There are car deals who run clincs around here as well and all clincs and instalation are free of charge! Just bring you seat and they'll do it for you:)

Jamie - posted on 12/08/2009

This is a good video. I had friend that her baby was over 1, but wasnt at the weight limit, so she still had them rear facing and she got pulled over and the cop would not leave until she turned her baby facing forward b/c the babies legs were touching the seat and the cops said the legs could get broken, so I talked to my dr and she did say yes that is true, but to keep them rear facing as longas possible. My daughter is almost 1, but not near weight limit and I am going to keep her rear facing probably after she turns 1 and is at the weight limit. the questions now is the middle or by the door!