I'm agonizing over whether or not I should turn the kiddos' car seats to FF, and if so, whether I should turn them both or just DS. They are 27 lbs (DD) and 30 lbs (DS) and turned 2 years old last week. They've been uncomfortable RF for a while, but we've been keeping them RF for safety. DS complains on a daily basis that his seatbelt is hurting his "wee wee," I think probably because he's pretty much on top of the buckle part (which he wouldn't be with the repositioning of the buckle that comes with FF). We also think that the way he wrenches himself out of his carseat when we unsnap him contributed to his recent dislocated elbow. After the elbow thing, we decided to turn them FF, but I'm having trouble bringing myself to do it.
I have to admit, one motivating factor is that it's a struggle to get them in to their carseats. If they don't want to get in, stiffening their legs makes it well-nigh impossible to get them buckled (this is DS's favorite trick). I am kinda hoping that FF would make it easier to get them in (and also that they could start getting themselves in for the most part, which would make daycare pick-up easier).
All that said, I of course don't want to jeopardize their safety for convenience and comfort. So, thoughts? When did you turn your kids FF? Did you turn them at the same time? I feel like it's unfair to turn DS but not DD, but am I being silly?
Re: turn carseats RF to FF? both kids at the same time?
I'd just turn them both at this point. They are over 2 years old and uncomfortable in their seats rear-facing and obviously plenty big enough to be forward facing.
I turned my other kids when they hit 20 lbs. None of my older kids were 20 lbs at a year so it was always around 15-18 months. That was before the new recommendations though.
I plan on turning the twins forward facing when they hit two just because they are so little - they're only 21 pounds each and 17 1/2 months.
I would turn them if I were you. I plan on turning my boys when they turn 2 and the new baby comes home.
FWIW, my boys are now 25 and 23lbs at 19 months so I think maybe they'll be a little smaller than yours at 2?
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I would absolutely turn them (especially if the buckle is hurting DS's crotch! Poor kid!). I would just turn them both for the sake of simplicity.
I turned both of mine recently, they are 26 lbs and 18 mos.
If I were you, I might consider turning DS but holding off on turning DD until you see how she responds. She might not mind; it can be fun if they are facing each other. 2-year-olds, like 1-year-olds, are still significantly safer RF than FF so if you can leave DD RF for now, I would see if you can get away with it! It's more at 3-3.5 that the risks start to decrease as their bones and spines mature.
We turned my older DD FFing when the twins were born because it would have been really hard to have 3 RFing car seats, plus she was 21 months. She is still RFing in my MILs car (we have 2 RFing seats so older DD and the twins can use them). We will turn the girls once they turn 2. Its already a pain to get them in, but they don't complain. Plus I love that the twins face older DD so they can laugh and talk. It'll be sad when we turn them forward.
We will turn both girls at the same time.
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