When did you put your children in a forward facing car seat?

Sara - posted on 05/04/2009

Most states have laws of when children can face forward. I suggest looking into that. Also my son was almost 11 months old when I changed the car seat.

Jeanne - posted on 05/04/2009

Here in Canada they recommend one year of age and 25 lbs. I put my daughter in a front facing seat at the age of 13 months and my boy at the age of 10 months. I only put my son in a front facing seat so early because he had literally outgrown his infant carrier....his legs jutted out by about six inches and the top of his head passed the top of his car seat. (If anyone is wondering he is 17 months old and is the height and size of the average three year old....I know big boy). You can get toys that attach to the infant seat so the child can play, you can also try travelling at night so that the child will sleep most of the way (not very restful for the people driving but it beats a howling child). Another option is to have an adult sit in the back with the child for part of the way to play and stimulate the child will not be bored.

Bec - posted on 05/04/2009

my son was one year and 20bls on the dot when I turned him forward. He was not fitting well in the smaller rear faceing seat but I waited til he was one and 20bls. as per the dr.

Cindy - posted on 05/04/2009

Nichole - I am a carseat tech and we were taught that the longer you can keep a child rear facing the safer they are. Please keep your baby rear facing as long as your car seat limit allows. They are *much* safer when they are rear facing as the car seat itself absorbs the force of the crash, versus forward facing when the baby absorbs those forces. Their little spinal cords are not strong enough to handle all that force. And it's easier to fix a broken leg than a broken spine.
Also keep in mind that it is law in all 50 states to keep baby rear facing for the first year of life. Many also have the 20 lb requirement in there as well, but not all.
There are ways to keep baby occupied in the car. Hang brightly colored fabric over the seat in front of her so she has something new and exciting to stare at, bring out new toys for the trip (ration them out during the trip), sit in the back seat with her so she can see you, bring snacks for her, make lots of stops on the way to get her out of the seat, travel at night/during naptime. I've taken lots of 7-8 hour trips with my son and they go well as long as you plan extra time to get their so you're not frazzled and hurried. Good luck!

Gemma - posted on 05/04/2009

I turned my son when he was 8 months old my aunt fits carseats for a living and recommended he was turned, as long as the child can sit unaided for at least 20 minutes, then there spines are strong enough to sit forward facing. If not then if you had an accident and the child was forward facing her neck could be broken. The leg length doesn't matter. Rescue would rather pull a child from the car with 2 broken legs than a broken body.

Tiana - posted on 05/04/2009

My son was 6 mths when I had to put him in a foward facing car seat. He is tall and his legs were scrunched up. i just made sure it was very tighly secured and a 5 harness. He actually likes this a little better, he can see my face.

Jessie - posted on 05/04/2009

I turned my daughter around into a front facing car seat when she was 8 months. She was also 30 inches long and weighed 23lbs. She had outgrew her rear facing car seat. We also took a 12 hour trip after that and she did great. I would also recommend that you drive at night if you can. My daughter sleep almost the whole way. Hope this helps!

Chelsea - posted on 05/04/2009

I was told by my physician not to face them forward till they are close to 40lbs, too light and they might slip through in a car wreck.

Rebecca - posted on 05/03/2009

sorry I made a typo, I stated 22 inches and 20lbs, I think the correct height it 30ish inches and 20lbs......sorry if I messed anyone up.

Rebecca - posted on 05/03/2009

You have to look at the laws where you live as well as the limits on the car seat that you have. Most rear facing seats are about 22inches and 20lbs, which most children do not reach until they are at least a yr old. My son is 2yrs and he is just 26lbs now. Regardless I see that your baby is only 3 months old, she is WAY to young to be turned forward facing. She has many more months of being in a rear facing seat. She more then likely will sleep most of the travel time anyway. Be safe and keep her rear facing, there are just too many people that want to rush their babies into the next steps at way to early of a stage.....remember she has only been out of your tummy for 3 months....she is still so small and so fragile!!!

Helen - posted on 05/03/2009

we swaped to front facing at 9 months and 20lbs but we also couldnt fit hin in any more as a very long baby

Krista - posted on 05/03/2009

35lbs and a year all the car seats and even your doc should tell you that 20 lbs no way

Tammy - posted on 05/02/2009

We put or son in a front facing car seat last week as his little legs were over the end and he looked so uncomfortable. Here in England the reccomendation is they have to be 9 months or 20lbs, which ever they reach first. Luan will be 8 months on the 8th May and he weighs 20lbs. The car seat that we brought was one that you can put rear-facing and forward-facing, he loves being able to face the front and see out of the windows and the seat is much bigger and alot more comfy. We also go and visit family which is a long drive away so im a very happy mummy now that i know he is comfy. x

Deidre - posted on 05/02/2009

I'm sorry, I forgot about the car ride not being for another couple months. Your daughter will be almost 6mo old at that time, definitely don't recommend forward facing yet. Go ahead and check out the convertible carseats that go rear-facing and forward-facing. If price is an issue there are places to find cheaper ones that are both rear and forward facing and you can also start saving now for one, since the trip isn't for another couple months. I put my daughter in her convertible seat at 6mo old (she was already 20 1/2lbs).

Deidre - posted on 05/02/2009

I see your daughter is 3mo old. Don't forward face her anytime soon. I am with the others that say to keep rear-facing as long as possible. My daughter was a terror in her infant carrier and didn't start calming down in the car until I moved her into her rear-facing convertible carseat. She still gets unhappy sometimes but I know it's cause she just doesn't want to be in the car, not because she can't see anything. She is able to look out the back windows at things passing by. And really, at 3mo, she isn't really going to care about being able to see more stuff pass by, I promise. She may be distracted for a short while but then may become over-stimulated and it all totally messes up.

Also, don't put an infant carrier forward facing. If you read the owner's manual it warns against that since they are not designed to be forward facing. If you are considering this at all, look for a new carseat that can be rear-facing and forward-facing and try that one out rear-facing first and see how she does.

Even with an older child, it is best to do those long trips at night time while they sleep.

Mel - posted on 05/02/2009

in australia its when they get to 8 kilos so about 4-6 months. mine is not 8 kilos yet at 13 months because shes little but has been forward facing since she was around 4-5 months old. it doesnt really matter its just up to you as long as you feel safe.

Kayla - posted on 05/01/2009

We turned our son around sooner than supposed to. Probably around 7 1/2 to 8 months...BUT, if you had to ride in a vehicle with him you would too LOL. He would scream the entire ride and nothing would calm him down. Facing the front though, he is happy as can be and never makes a peep! It's usually safety first with us, but this was one safety rule we had to break! He is over 20lbs though, and has been since we turned him! But the hospital we were at told us that he had to be 20 pounds and his feet touch the back of the seat (which his does) or one year of age...whichever came first.

Audrey - posted on 05/01/2009

I think that you should leave baby in the seat until 20lbs or more and atleast one year of age. How old is baby? If young enough to be in the infant carseat are they really going have the attnetion span to care about a T.V. after 10 hours anyway. I think that you should consider other option. How about buying a few new toys to take with. Not only will they stay busy trying to figure them out during the ride but keep them entertained at the destination. Your worrys should be more how you are going to get through the stay not the ride. I would hate for you to be pulled over while baby is travel illegally. That means possibly a charge of child endangerment. You will have to decide this one on your own. Good luck with the travel and the stay. Be safe and stay legal.

Emily - posted on 05/01/2009

If there is more than one adult in the car, you could also sit back there next to the baby periodically to help them break up the time. Especially during times that the baby is falling asleep, you could comfort him/her while they fall asleep, or during snack times, or even just to play with the baby. It's better for you and baby to be uncomfortable than to jeopardize their safety. Always err on the side of caution, not convenience!

Celeste - posted on 05/01/2009

my son was 10 months because he was huge at 25 pounds!

Allison - posted on 05/01/2009

I turned my daughter around at 14 months and my son around at about 22 months. My son didn't mind being rear-facing but my daughter did, so we turned her around much sooner than I had planned. BUT, she *was* over the 20 lbs mark and over 1 year. It's very important to keep children rear-facing for *at least* 1 year AND 20lbs, but you can keep them rear-facing longer as long as they fit in the car seat by both height and weight. Many newer carseats go up to 30 lbs or more rear-facing, so that they are able to stay backwards longer.

Jenifer - posted on 05/01/2009

I'm not sure where you live, but most places in the US at least it is against the law to have a child forward facing unless they are 20lbs AND 1 year old. And ideally they should be left rear-facing well past that point because it is considerably safer for them to ride that way.
I'd have to second the suggestion of driving overnight to your destination - we've done that a few times already on ~10 hr trips with my son rear-facing and didn't have any problems. He slept most of the trip, only waking a few times to eat.

Jennifer - posted on 05/01/2009

Not until age one. It's a state law where I live. You don't want a ticket so check the laws for your area.

Jessica - posted on 05/01/2009

not until BOTH their height and weight met the requirements for the carseat. And I NEVER allowed them in the front seat of any vehicle until they were age 13.

Erin - posted on 05/01/2009

Here in Australia the rules seem to be different (and possibly maybe the carseats?!?!?!).
The rules are once the baby is 8kg (which is about 17.5lbs) the baby should be turned to the front. My daughter's only 3 months old and is already 7kg (15lb), so I'm assuming sometime in the next couple of weeks she'll hit the recommended weight limit . Though now that I know the rules elsewhere are different I will be looking into this further.

Carmen - posted on 05/01/2009

Your litte one is safest facing the rear of the car at least until they are one and 20 pounds...but like others have said keep your little one facing the rear as long as you can for their safety. I turned my little guy around at 13 months because his feet were hitting the back seat and getting to long. Look at how long and how many pounds your baby seat can be for facing the rear and stick to that as long as possiable!

Bethany - posted on 05/01/2009

Here's a post I did in another community about this topic- the top link is from the AAP but I've copied the entire article below it. Obviously there may be issues with specific children that would make switching earlier necessary...but probably not just so that they are entertained???

I hope you enjoy your vacation! :~)

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/c...
New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car safety seat up to their second birthday. Following are some safety tips for car seat use:

All infants should ride rear-facing in either an infant car seat or convertible seat.
If an infant car seat is used, the infant should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as suggested by the car seat manufacturer.

Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.

Amy - posted on 05/01/2009

Kirsten is right -- night driving is the way to go. We also keep a backpack full of toys in the car, things that are only for the car so they're always new and fresh when we go on a trip. Musical, light-up toys work best for traveling. :)

Shelly - posted on 05/01/2009

I know you are suppose to wait till she is a year but I did it around 11 months when my daughter was 20 lbs.

Kirsten - posted on 05/01/2009

I would say to wait as long as possible. Children are MUCH safer in a rear facing car seat. See this site for more information about why it's safer http://www.thecarseatlady.com/ Plus, they say at less than 2 years kids should not be watching more than 1/2 hour of TV a day and she probably won't be interested. If you're worried about her getting bored you could think about driving through the night instead of during the day. Let her sleep the whole way. It's one night of lost sleep for your and your husband but I'll bet you'll get there much faster and safe yourself some temper tantrums. Hope this helps.

Amy - posted on 05/01/2009

The rear-facing limits are designed for the child's safety, not the parent's sanity. A baby's head is gigantic in comparison to their neck. In a front-end collision, there is nothing to stop the baby's head from jerking forward, and since a baby's neck muscles aren't as developed as an adult's, there is a significant risk of internal decapitation.

I turned my daughter around just last month. She's almost 3. But she's very small for her age. My son is bigger for his age, so he'll probably be turned around earlier than that, but he's still rear-facing at 15 months and 25 lbs. Safety first. You can hang the portable DVD player from the back of the back seat, as Kelly suggested. Have a safe trip!

Chimere - posted on 05/01/2009

I know the rules reequire a certain weight/age but I think it depends on the child. My youngest son just turned 9 months and I just switched him to the front facing car seat. Before he would cry for 90% of the ride... every time. Now I dont hear a peep. My oldest son went in about the same time. It was better for me because we had a smoother car ride. Instead of staring at the back of the seat, my sons were able to see out of the car window which kept them occupied for the majority of the car ride. No screaming= more of my sanity when I arrive @ my desintation.

Kelly - posted on 05/01/2009

My little guy hated the carseat so we purchased a portabl DVD player. Then my hubby attached it to the seat back in front of him. This solve most of our problems with the car!! Good luck.

Nicole - posted on 05/01/2009

Actually....they even recommend to keep them rear-facing for longer if you can. If your carseat will go to 33 or 35 pounds rear facing and your child doesn't exceed the seats height limits, keep them facing back!!! Some parents were concerned about the lengthof their child's legs and....as one website explained, whiplash in an infant could cause spinal cord injuries leading to possible paralysis....whereas broken legs can heal. Scary....but I would be afraid to take the risk until my daughter was substantially sturdier in both the height and weight categories.

Shannon - posted on 05/01/2009

one year and 20lbs