when did you "turn" your car seat?

ngunn04

My LO just turned one and is 23 lbs.  I was wondering when to turn his car seat to face forward, so who better to ask than you!  So when did you turn it around?

 

cvillecouple

We haven't yet.  The new AAP recommendations are to wait until 2 years based upon it being safer for the kids if you get in an accident before then.  Some countries wait until 4 years!  (I don't think we'll wait that long).  It's a hot button topic on the other boards

valkaz

DD is still happily rear-facing in DH's truck. I turned her a couple of weeks ago in my car.  She turned 2 last Sunday.

MelissaSue81

We are waiting at least til she's 2.. maybe longer.

ngunn04

Thanks ladies!  I have NO problem waiting but for some reason I thought that I heard 1 and 20 lbs.  I thought that was small!  Rear facing for at least another year for me!

ibis

1 year is the minimum, that's probably what you remember... our car seat inspector told us to stay rear facing pretty much as long as DS can stand it.

cvillecouple

nngunn:

Thanks ladies!  I have NO problem waiting but for some reason I thought that I heard 1 and 20 lbs.  I thought that was small!  Rear facing for at least another year for me!

This did indeed used to be the recommendations, it just recently changed. 

maramarrie

We are waiting as long as possible, which may mean we have to turn him around right when the new baby is here (both seats won't fit with his still RF). Because the AAP (and others) recommends it safety until at least 2 we want to keep him as safe as possible...especially considering that he is on the small/slim side. His weight at 12 months was only 20 lb on the dot. That coupled with the extra-large head seems to make me think that in an accident his neck could really be at risk under the wrong forces. For all those reasons we feel he will be safest to continue RF and he's fine that way. We have a mirror on his headrest so he can see out the front and see us (and vice versa), so he has never had reason to complain about being RF. He also has never known any different, so why would he?

I do have a friend (several, in fact) who chose to turn them around right at one year. So each family just decides what they prefer to do.