- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 9 - 12 Months
WWYD re: carseat rear facing
Hi ladies! I'm looking for some honest opinions.
We are leaving on vacation next week w/DS. This means a 10+ hour car ride for a child that usually screams during a 10 minute car ride.
He will be 9 months old that week, and weighs in at just over 23 lbs. He's tall enough that he can't straighten his legs with his convertible car seat rear facing.
I've been debating in my head whether or not to turn him for the trip in hopes that he'll be happier if he can see out and see us. I fully understand that everyone and everything says he needs to be 20 lbs AND 1 yr.
Here's the question - would you turn him forward for the trip? And not to be dumb, but once they make the weight requirement, is the age more for an assumed strength they have by that age that he wouldn't have now?
I know lots of people that turn their kids as soon as they reach 20 lbs, but obviously the actual rule about 20 lbs & 1yr is stuck in my head.
Thanks ladies!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: WWYD re: carseat rear facing
I absolutely 100% without a doubt would not.
I am not going to flame you because I have a screamer too, he hates his seat. I sit in the back and sing with him. I have even brought a portable DVD played for him to watch back there.
I read an article that they should not be turned FF until they can walk 100% independently, that at that point their necks are strong enough (I think this is sayign that even at 1 yr if they are not walking don't turn them).
With that being said L will rear face until he reached the limit of our seat (40lbs, I have to check the height). With their legs folded in a severe crash they MAY get broken legs, which heal. I helped with research in University for Chrysler and carseat safety and saw x-rays of broken necks on 3 year olds who were forward facing in a car going 50 km/hr on a side steet.
I assume you will be on the highway, which means high speeds. I would not chance it. Bring new toys, yummy snacks, CDs, DVDs, books, sit in the back, whatever it takes.
I would absolutely not turn baby around at that age. It's not just a weight thing, but a strength/developmental thing as well. Laws dictate 20lbs and 1 year, but the current recommendations are rear face to at least 2 years.
You may need to take frequent breaks from carseat and car, sit in back, whatever it takes (like pp mentioned). But, I would not turn baby around at that age no matter what. Good luck with your trip:)
I have heard you should leave the babes rear-facing for as long as possible and for an absolute minimum of one year. I'm sorry that your LO hates the car but I would personally be very scared to face them forward at just 9 months. It's not just weight but also the fact that if you are hit, the impact on the neck and spine of a rear-facing seat is much lower than if they are forward-facing. So while your LO is technically heavy enough, the effect of a crash on his little neck/back could be much worse if he was front-facing.
Can your LO hold a small video player or could you purchase one of those attachable DVD players? Maybe you could attach it to the middle headrest facing forward (like you'd do with a baby mirror) to keep him amused and happy?
we just went on a 10 hour car ride last month with J too. he also hates his seat. i bought a lot of new toys and sat in back with him. he did great.
like pp said, broken legs are better than a broken neck. keep him rear facing AT LEAST until he's 1! i'm keeping J rear-facing until he's 35 lbs (our seat's limit).
I would NOT. I am very sorry he screams in the car though-must be stressful
It is just so much safer for them to be rear-facing as long as possible. And even though you technically CAN turn them at 1 year / 20 lbs, we are going to keep ours rear-facing til 2 if possible. I just wouldn't risk it. Good luck.
Sorry it isn't clicky, on a Mac.
It sounds like you realize that the rule (aka: law) is to keep children RF until 20 lbs AND 1 year, so I'm not sure what you expect to hear. No one (I hope) is going to tell you to go ahead and turn a 9 month old FF. Most people on this board who know me know that my stock answer is "Keep them RF until the limit of their convertible car seat" and in MOST seats, this wont be until around age 2. You get the same advice. Your 9 month old is not ready (legally or developmentally) to be FF.
He may or may not be happier FF, but he would probably be happier not to be in a car seat at all, but you wouldnt do that, right? It's your job as his mom to keep him safe, because he doesnt know what's best for himself yet. Sometimes we have to deal with kids crying (or even screaming) because it's the only safe choice.
Others have given you good advice on how to entertain him during the trip, so I hope you give some of those a try.
The only reason it's "never been a problem since" is because, by the grace of jebuz, she's never gotten into an accident.
3 months????? Good thing she hasn't been in an accident with him in the car as she ran the huge possibility of ending up not having a crying LO in the car or anywhere else at all! I would have given the definite side-eye to that one had she been my friend...
Holy shizz. I hope that was a typo; if not, someone really needs to educate your friend.
Thanks ladies! I wasn't looking for anyone to say "go ahead", I more needed you guys to just get that thought out of my head since so many people I know turn their kids at 20lbs. They don't seem to get my hesitation and then I wonder if I'm over reacting.
Thanks for all the entertainment suggestions. I have already bought a few new things, but will probably grab some more and spend some time back there with him.
Thanks for not flaming me. I mostly lurk, and sometimes it seems people are quick to flip out on you rather than be helpful.
No way in heck. Ever.
And here's something I never see anyone hardly ever suggest, but it is common in parts of Europe - can someone sit in the back with LO?? Ever since DD came home, one of us has been in the back with her on every single car trip, except when I'm by myself with her. She's much happier with someone with her!
When my oldest DS was an infant the rec was 20 lbs OR 1 yr. He hit 20 lbs at 8 weeks (started out at 11 and grew like a maniac...6'4" now!), so the ped said 'turn him'! Guess what? Rear-ended at 10 months, led to a childhood filled with neck-related problems and migraines. Of course, now I consider myself lucky that's all that happened, and I'm so glad the recommendations have changed.