How long do you plan to rear face?

lmac2582

I got a new job so I haven't been on much so if I missed a discussion on this redirect me. I know the recommendation now is until 2 years and I know laws differ per state but what is your plan on rear facing? Also bonus question which seat in the back did you put your convertible seat?

hlm184

At least two years and we haven't installed it yet.

Tferr02

We did 18 months with DS1, and we only did it early because of my medical issues and how hard it was getting g for me to get him into his seat. Forward facing he was able to get in himself. I'm hoping 2 years at least with ds2, but it'll depend on my body.

snowbound

At least 2 but as long as he's comfortable I'm not changing it.

michaelad3

I'm planning on at least two, but like others have said, I'll do it as long as possible

thomas930

At minimum 2 years old but I'd like to get to at least 3. I just turned my 2.5 year old. 

I haven't even bought a convertible seat yet but I'm planning on getting the Graco Size4me/Headwise/Mysize.

momofmanyinthemitten

We turned DD1 at 2 yrs because she gets carsick. DS is doing ok still at 20 mos, so I think we'll keep him rear facing past 2. It's certainly more safe.

Holljade

We tutnedDD around at 1 and we're planning to do the same with this guy.

J&NL

I turned DD around at 1 but this time I'm waiting until 2 years.

UnofficiallyLO

Hadn't even crossed my mind! Whenever the pedi/car seat manufacturer okay.

Rrrrrachel

Hopefully three. We turned my daughter at 2 years 9 mo when we installed the infant seat. We have a headwise but I kind of hate it and wish I had sprung for a nextfit instead.

Rrrrrachel

@UnofficiallyLO‌ peds have been known to give notoriously bad advice in this area. Aap says keep them rf until at least two and preferably until they outgrow the limitations of the seat. A lot of individual peds are still giving out the old advice that it's ok to turn at one, though. Just an FYI. You might want to look into it the evidence for rear facing longer is pretty impressive.

edoliesmom

At least 2. I'll probably get a lot of crap from my ILs about it, like @LuckySquare‌ mentioned. Not looking forward to that. My husband is clueless about this kind of stuff so just follows my lead, so he's not very good at defending "our" stances on certain things.

Rrrrrachel

You'd be surprised then. I still hear a lot of "my doctor said it was ok to turn so I did"

smushi

LuckySquare said:

 Two words: internal decapitation. I'd rather my kid look uncomfortable. 

I'll admit, I have no absolute clue about most car seats/safety.  Do I even want to know what this is?

goblue4433

We turned DD right before 2 and will likely do the same ( ideally wait until actually 2)

edoliesmom

dani+california said:

Our convertible seat says RF limit is 40 pounds, so I guess we'll flip him around then? Is there something else I should know/consider? He's already 23 pounds so who knows when 40 will be. It doesn't sound like we'll be able to RF until he's 2 at this rate.

Once babies become mobile, their weight levels out and they maintain the same weight for longer periods of time, especially after walking. I think you'll be surprised at what age Quinn will actually hit 40 pounds!

J&NL

DD is almost 4 and is just now at 40lbs.

Andrewsgal

dani+california said:

Our convertible seat says RF limit is 40 pounds, so I guess we'll flip him around then? Is there something else I should know/consider? He's already 23 pounds so who knows when 40 will be. It doesn't sound like we'll be able to RF until he's 2 at this rate.

DS was 28 pounds at 9 months and 28 pounds at 3, but grew a ton in length. You will be surprised at how much growth slows down.

we will go at least until 2 hopefully longer. I really wish the would change the law until 2 since some people don't follow recomemdations.

bacorrea

When I read this question, I immediately have Uncle Jesse singing "Forever, forevvvvvvver..." in my head

I hope to RF as long as possible! I already have DD in the Diono Radian RXT. It is behind the passenger seat in our van. I love it.

Andrewsgal

dani+california said:

Andrewsgal said:

dani+california said:

Our convertible seat says RF limit is 40 pounds, so I guess we'll flip him around then? Is there something else I should know/consider? He's already 23 pounds so who knows when 40 will be. It doesn't sound like we'll be able to RF until he's 2 at this rate.

DS was 28 pounds at 9 months and 28 pounds at 3, but grew a ton in length. You will be surprised at how much growth slows down.

we will go at least until 2 hopefully longer. I really wish the would change the law until 2 since some people don't follow recomemdations.

Good to know. I'll have to check our seat's height requirement since he's a super tall baby and likely will be tall all his life (DH was 6'0 by 14 poor thing) but I do want to keep him RF as long as possible! There is VERY little education in Ontario about the benefits of RF, it really surprises me.

I hear you. DH is 6'6" my other two are off the charts. That's why we bought the seat we did. Length is always an issue for us.

Rrrrrachel

You'd be surprised how well they fit even as they get tall. They sit cross cross apple sauce or flop them over the edge no problem. A lot of times it's more comfortable than ff because then their legs are dangling unsupported.

There are lots of great seats now that will get even the tallest kids to four rear facing, if you want them to.

edoliesmom

eme520 said:

Haha, what is cross cross apple sauce?

The PC way to say "Indian style."

ETA: And I think she meant to type criss cross.

UnofficiallyLO

Rrrrrachel said:

@UnofficiallyLO‌ peds have been known to give notoriously bad advice in this area. Aap says keep them rf until at least two and preferably until they outgrow the limitations of the seat. A lot of individual peds are still giving out the old advice that it's ok to turn at one, though. Just an FYI. You might want to look into it the evidence for rear facing longer is pretty impressive.

Good to know, thank you!

vettymama

DS1 is almost 2 and we just turned him last week. He was throwing up every time we went somewhere. So far so good. I would have really liked to make it for sure to two but changing clothes and cleaning up EVERY time just got to be too much. He's also 32 lbs and in the 98% for height so he's not little.

DS2 will go at least to age 2 as long as we have no issues. We have Recaro ProRides.

Rrrrrachel

Yes criss cross apple sauce aka Indian styles. Autocorrect likes to play games with me and I am a poor proofreader.

Andrewsgal

eme520 said:

@Andrewsgal‌ which seat do you have? MH is 6'6" and DD is 95% for length and we are looking at convertible seats now.

Chico next fit. It seemed to be one of the best ones for taller babies. I made the mistake of Britaxes with my kids and ended up buying two convertable seats for them.

Andrewsgal

LalaMama81 said:

Holljade said:

We tutnedDD around at 1 and we're planning to do the same with this guy.

I hope you'll reconsider.

This! With all the research out there is just makes no sense.

Smores730

We RF-ed my DD to just after 3 and my DS to just before 3. Will do the same for this LO. I'm so glad more people are getting behind the ERFing. People thought I was nutso for keeping #1 RFed for so long 5 years ago. For the record, my #1 is 38lbs.
I've already switched to a convertible seat for this baby because she *hated* the infant carrier. She's behind the driver bc that's where it made the most sense with my needing access to the 3rd row.

lmac2582

Thank you for the help. I want to keep her rear facing as long as possible. My parents acted like I was crazy so I was curious how many others were sticking to 2 years. We installed it today and stuck with it in the middle because it's one that turns into a booster so the back is really tall. It is the safety first alpha 65. She fits well in it but I'm worried now because she is super tall and has legs for days I didn't think about checking the leg room for later.

Sisimama10

Is there any actual law about the minimum age to turn them? Or just recommendations?

Kyllarae

I plan to until three or until she outgrows it, whatever comes first. A girl on fb turned her 8 month old and I cringe every time I think about that poor boy!

Sisimama10

Kyllarae said:

I plan to until three or until she outgrows it, whatever comes first. A girl on fb turned her 8 month old and I cringe every time I think about that poor boy!

Yeah, this is why I asked about a minimum because my SIL turned her almost 9 month old already.

JamiesWife2010

We turned DS1 at 18 months. Wanted to go till2 yrs but getting him in & out of our SUV sucked and wasn't a happy ride for anyone. DS2 is RFing in a Britax Roundabout behind the passenger seat in the mini van. We will go RFing till 2yrs with him.

juniper75

With DD we used a Britax Marathon and switched her forward facing at 18 months. With this LO I am looking at the Clek Fllo which based on my research to date is really great for rear facing for a long period. I just have to sell DH on the price tag....

BR

As long as possible...my first is 2 1/2 years and still RF. We've had no problems with it & she's tall.

Mustardseed2007

^^^yeah my son turns 3 in December and he's still rf. we may turn him when he turns 3, but then again he's still comfortable and is pretty far off size limits for our seat in the rf condition.

Teresa1896

We turned dd between 18 mos and 2 yrs. I don't remember exactly when. Her seat was so big it essentially rendered my front passenger seat useless, which is fine most of the time.
I had to fight with DH to even keep her RF that long, so I'm sure I'll have to do the same this time around too.

We did turn her occasionally after a year for road trips, so she could see the tv screen in the seat back in front of her (flame away-14 hours is a long time for a 16-mo-old to sit still and stay busy! Yo Gabba Gabba saved us!).

AmberLiz99

It will depend on dd. I'm one of "those moms" who switched ds at age 1 because he screamed in the car when he was rear facing. I mean flat out crying and yelling the entire car ride. I felt it was more dangerouse for me to be distracted. If dd is the same way I'll switch her any time after a year (the law in VA) but if she's content I'll wait longer.

hpanabaker

Sometime after he's 1.  We haven't picked out a new car seat yet.  Santa is bringing it for Christmas.

strawberrytree

As close to 4 as possible. Ds1 is almost 2.5 and is still rf and will for a while yet. We got a Radian for LO because it is so slim and we can fit 3 across someday. For those with tall LOs Radians are a good choice too.