How many of you are flipping the carseat to fwd facing before age 2?

theycallmejen

I'm all about safety, and I've waited this long (18 mos), but my babes legs are so long now and she just doesn't look comfortable.  I would love to switch her, but obviously ALIVE is better than comfortable.

 

oliversmommy32912

Children are more comfortable with their legs folded than they are with them straight out and dangling. Watch the way kids sit. They sit with their legs folded, not straight. It's natural for them.

memali26

DD1 was RFing to 2y9m before she outgrew her seat by height. DD2 is much smaller and will be RFing until at least 3, I hope, and then we'll think about turning her.

Kids are a lot more comfortable with legs bent, folded, etc., than they look. DD1 has actually complained once or twice about not having anywhere to put her legs now that she is FFing, but never once complained about her legs being uncomfortable RFing. And trust me, this kid complains when she's uncomfortable

marissa422

What I wonder is, once their feet are touching the back of the seat, wouldnt that be more dangerous if God forbid impacted?

I'm actually switching DD to forward facing now (16 months) mainly because we have to install the infant seat and have a booster and its the only way all three will fit in the back seat! time for a three row!!

blu-eyedwife

marissa422:

What I wonder is, once their feet are touching the back of the seat, wouldnt that be more dangerous if God forbid impacted?

Broken legs heal.  One does not recover from internal decapitation.

We're keeping him rearfacing until he grows out of the seat requirements.

chardonnay24

28 months and still RFing. We plan on keeping him RFing until he outgrows the limits on the seat, which will likely be around age 3 or later.

eilatan&nhoj88

I try to keep my boys rf as long as possible but they are tall for their age so that doesn't last. After much bugging from my mother, I switched ds #2 last week and he seems happier on car rides now (not as much fussing and crying).

unm00red

I was /really/ trying to make it to two years before turning the carseat, but our LO maxed out the height limit for rear-facing on our two seats last month.  (He's run at the 98th percentile for height/weight from the beginning. He's over three feet tall at 21 months.)

We decided we felt safer having him facing front in a seat designed for his height, than backward when he was over the max. But you better believe the next set of seats we buy are going to be designed for the biggest height/weight numbers I can find in that age range.

Zimger

We are rear facing as long as possible. It is just safer to do so. Plain and simple.

cast920

DD is 20 months and will be rear facing until 4. Her current seats are Combi Coccoros which I knew would not last her until much past 2 rear facing. I bought her new seats that will fit rear facing in our small cars and will last until she is 4 and can safely forward face.

Nel11

I agree with PP... keep her rear facing until you max out on height or weight.  My kid is 15 months and 95%+ for height and still has plenty of room... and like PP said, it looks uncomfortable to you but isn't for her... remember it is all she knows. 

I did a lot of research before purchasing her seat as she is super tall and I want to keep her rear facing as long as possible, but if for some reason she does max out on height before age two, I will buy her another seat she can rear face in.  IMO, it is that big of a deal. 

aboynamedbarry

marissa422:

What I wonder is, once their feet are touching the back of the seat, wouldnt that be more dangerous if God forbid impacted?

Actually the chances of their legs breaking are MUCH higher if they are forward facing than rear. Odd I know, but its true. There are no documented cases of legs being broken from rear facing either. Have you played more with the arrangement? If you put the booster in the middle and the two rf seats on the outside that would most likely work. You may also have to use seat belts to install instead of latch as often you gain a couple inches side to side when using the seatbelt

jburdet1

We are still RFing at almost 18 months and DD is in the 100th percentile. I have planned to RF her until at least 2 years. Before this week, RFing has been so easy, but I will say this week in my worst moment I really wanted to turn DD's seat. DD has just started to brace her legs against the back seat by locking her knees straight making it almost impossible to harness her.

Courtimilk

I'm so gonna get flamed for this but DD was fwd facing at 14 months; and that was ''2 months'' behind schedule. I'm not aware of what my local laws state but the pamphlet I received leaving the hospital recommended min 12 months AND that LO could hold her head up on her own for long periods of time. 

sunnyday016

DS will be RF until as close to 4 years old as we can get. 

This link explains the ossification of the spinal bones and why they are actually not safe in a FF position much before 4.

https://www.rearfacingtoddlers.com/why-rear-facing-is-safer.html 

caseycritchley

I asked the same thing on my birthday month and 99.9 of the moms said they are waiting till atleast 2. I just did turn ds around at 17 mnths with the ok from my ped and he loves it!!!! Never cries anymore getting in the car or riding long distance. Ultimately it is your choice and what you feel comfortable with.

salt78

eilatan&nhoj88:

I try to keep my boys rf as long as possible but they are tall for their age so that doesn't last. After much bugging from my mother, I switched ds #2 last week and he seems happier on car rides now (not as much fussing and crying).

I also have a child that is tall for her age. And my mom also bugs me to turn the seat around and thinks it's weird that she is still RF. But guess what? I'm the mom. I call the shots with my own child.

We are staying RF until 2 at least. Some days I hate it because it's increasingly more difficult to get her in and out of the car (as I said...tall kid), but a minor inconvenience to me < her safety in an accident. It's not like your child is sitting back there wishing they were facing forward. They have nothing to compare it to if all they know is RF.

AudreyB113

I plan on RFing as long as possible. DS is a tall baby and is 33 inches right now but he doesn't seem uncomfortable. It is so much safer to have them RFing than FFing for as long as you can, or until they surpass the seat height/weight limit. 

tifdaski84

We'll be RFing until 2 at least.  At that point, we'll reasses.

Where I live, law says you can't turn them until they 1-year, 22 pounds, AND walking and this is what they tell us at the doctor's office and at the health nurse.  I have yet to hear anything about extended RFing from a health care professional which is sad.

ebp913

I am rear facing until 4.  It's simple - here in the US, the #1 killer of kids under 5 is car accidents.  In Sweden, where children rear face until 4, there are virtually no injuries or deaths from car accidents.  My kids will be staying rear facing by Swedish standards.  A new car seat is a lot cheaper than the hospital bills from a car accident your child was in.  

1017Shannon

We FF my son at 15 months...it was per the specific carseat directions based on his weight. He was passed the weight where you could FF. Fire department said don't go by generic rules...go by what the carseat recommends because that's how they are specifically tested. No way in hell my kid could fit RF until 4?!

prism207

1017Shannon:

We FF my son at 15 months...it was per the specific carseat directions based on his weight. He was passed the weight where you could FF. Fire department said don't go by generic rules...go by what the carseat recommends because that's how they are specifically tested. No way in hell my kid could fit RF until 4?!

You do realize that the carseat guideline is a minimum use for FFing, not a requirement that you do so?  "passed the weight where you COULD FF" is the generic -not a recommendation that you do so.  Yes, the seat is tested for that.  It is also tested for RFing to the limits of the seat.  You and or the Fire Dept obviously misunderstood that.  

 ETA:  My son RFed to the limit of this seat, a classic Marathon, at 3.25 years.  His sister, at 20 months, still fits in her infant bucket and will be RFing to the limit of her next seat, a G3 Marathon after she finally outgrows the bucket (yes, she's a barely on the charts peanut, and the seat goes to 30 lbs and 32 in.  Insane, I know.)  

1017Shannon

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

prism207

1017Shannon:

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

Yes, I am telling you that you and this so called professional are wrong.  Unless you really mean to say you're kid had outgrown the rearfacing limit of the seat, your child is SAFER RFing that FFing in that seat.  Just because they meet the minimum requirement to FF in the seat doesn't mean you should FF them.  I am not claiming it is unsafe, just not best practice.  And that is not what the AAP reccommends, nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  From the NHTSA page:   

" Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in REAR-FACING car seats for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Once outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they are ready to travel in a FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness."

 https://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2

The REAR FACING LIMIT.  Not the Forward facing minimum.  

 

 

memali26

1017Shannon:

We FF my son at 15 months...it was per the specific carseat directions based on his weight. He was passed the weight where you could FF. Fire department said don't go by generic rules...go by what the carseat recommends because that's how they are specifically tested. No way in hell my kid could fit RF until 4?!

First, most fire departments are not staffed with certified car seat professionals. I'd double check if yours is. This link should help:
 https://www.seatcheck.org/

Second, which car seat do you have? The vast majority on the market these days can RF up to 40lbs, and I believe a few even go to 45lbs. If you are talking about the infant seat, it's likely it only RFed to 22lbs, but at that point you can move up to a convertible seat that will RF until 40lbs and then turn FF to 65+lbs. I think car seats are confusing when it comes to the progression of which type of seats you need when, and I wonder if that might be the case here.

memali26

prism207:

1017Shannon:

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

Yes, I am telling you that you and this so called professional are wrong.  Unless you really mean to say you're kid had outgrown the rearfacing limit of the seat, your child is SAFER RFing that FFing in that seat.  Just because they meet the minimum requirement to FF in the seat doesn't mean you should FF them.  I am not claiming it is unsafe, just not best practice.  And that is not what the AAP reccommends, nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  From the NHTSA page:   

" Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in REAR-FACING car seats for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Once outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they are ready to travel in a FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness."

 https://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2

The REAR FACING LIMIT.  Not the Forward facing minimum.  

 

 

Based on the fact she said 22lbs, I think she was talking about the infant seat. My guess is she's not aware of RFing convertible seats. 

NNGnome

Possum2011:

We'll be RFing until 2 at least.  At that point, we'll reasses.

Where I live, law says you can't turn them until they 1-year, 22 pounds, AND walking and this is what they tell us at the doctor's office and at the health nurse.  I have yet to hear anything about extended RFing from a health care professional which is sad.

 Just to let you know, my family doctor asked if DS was RF at his 18 month appointment, and when I told her yes, she said, good keep him that way for as long as you can... so some health professionals are starting to advocate it

To poster who said fire dept told her the rules, in Canada the fire and police dept are no longer allowed to help install car seats as they have no formal training (just practice) and they don't want law suites. All car seat clinics are run by the St Johns Ambulance with trained staff who actually check out your whole car for safety hazards, not sure about the US, but here a fire Dept. specialist would be the same as anyone who had read the box and installed a few car seats in their time.

babyhelsinger

We just had our 1-year checkup and our pediatrician said b/c our son is 90th percentile, it may be time very soon to turn him around.  He said if we get pulled over, the police won't dispute with us, our son being 30 pounds, having so many teeth, clearly looking like an older child.  He said the recommendation was 1 year-old for so long, and he's not buying into the new 2-year recommendation, provided baby is very strong and large like ours.  I would not tell anyone they have to follow my doc's advice, that's just what we're thinking of though.  We will likely turn him around in the next couple of months in the van because he's directly behind my tall seat, but not in the sedan, where his car seat is placed in the center- wouldn't want to chance him hitting the windshield.

memali26

babyhelsinger:

We just had our 1-year checkup and our pediatrician said b/c our son is 90th percentile, it may be time very soon to turn him around.  He said if we get pulled over, the police won't dispute with us, our son being 30 pounds, having so many teeth, clearly looking like an older child.  He said the recommendation was 1 year-old for so long, and he's not buying into the new 2-year recommendation, provided baby is very strong and large like ours.  I would not tell anyone they have to follow my doc's advice, that's just what we're thinking of though.  We will likely turn him around in the next couple of months in the van because he's directly behind my tall seat, but not in the sedan, where his car seat is placed in the center- wouldn't want to chance him hitting the windshield.

Being ready to FF has NOTHING to do with the size or strength of the child and everything to do with the ossification of the spine, which is not complete until age 4, if I remember correctly. 

I would not trust any dr who could not clearly see and understand the benefits of RFing until at least 2 years old. Especially since the AAP made it an official recommendation:

 https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

 

chardonnay24

1017Shannon:

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

Yes, the car seat professional is wrong. My son is comfortably RFing at 30 lbs and 36 inches. It depends on the seat, but I can't think of any that stop RFing at 22 lbs. It may be the minimum required weight to use the seat FFing, or it may not be a convertible seat, but that doesn't mean it's safe. Please do some research.

chardonnay24

memali26:

prism207:

1017Shannon:

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

Yes, I am telling you that you and this so called professional are wrong.  Unless you really mean to say you're kid had outgrown the rearfacing limit of the seat, your child is SAFER RFing that FFing in that seat.  Just because they meet the minimum requirement to FF in the seat doesn't mean you should FF them.  I am not claiming it is unsafe, just not best practice.  And that is not what the AAP reccommends, nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  From the NHTSA page:   

" Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in REAR-FACING car seats for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Once outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they are ready to travel in a FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness."

 https://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2

The REAR FACING LIMIT.  Not the Forward facing minimum.  

Based on the fact she said 22lbs, I think she was talking about the infant seat. My guess is she's not aware of RFing convertible seats. 

That seriously baffles my mind. How does a person live in today's world and NOT know about RFing convertibles?

memali26

Bump burp...

memali26

chardonnay24:

memali26:

prism207:

1017Shannon:

On my phone..can't quote..but to prism...yes because you know more about carseats then a certified professional? No way. If the car seat was tested and said safe for 22 pounds and so many inches to FF..and my son is 28 pounds and over inches...you're telling me that its wrong? And the cars eat professional is wrong? Come on..

Yes, I am telling you that you and this so called professional are wrong.  Unless you really mean to say you're kid had outgrown the rearfacing limit of the seat, your child is SAFER RFing that FFing in that seat.  Just because they meet the minimum requirement to FF in the seat doesn't mean you should FF them.  I am not claiming it is unsafe, just not best practice.  And that is not what the AAP reccommends, nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  From the NHTSA page:   

" Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in REAR-FACING car seats for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Once outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they are ready to travel in a FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness."

 https://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2

The REAR FACING LIMIT.  Not the Forward facing minimum.  

Based on the fact she said 22lbs, I think she was talking about the infant seat. My guess is she's not aware of RFing convertible seats. 

That seriously baffles my mind. How does a person live in today's world and NOT know about RFing convertibles?

If I hadn't seen people on the bump who were seriously convinced a booster was the next step after infant seat I would not have believed it myself.  

sunnyday016

babyhelsinger:

We just had our 1-year checkup and our pediatrician said b/c our son is 90th percentile, it may be time very soon to turn him around.  He said if we get pulled over, the police won't dispute with us, our son being 30 pounds, having so many teeth, clearly looking like an older child.  He said the recommendation was 1 year-old for so long, and he's not buying into the new 2-year recommendation, provided baby is very strong and large like ours.  I would not tell anyone they have to follow my doc's advice, that's just what we're thinking of though.  We will likely turn him around in the next couple of months in the van because he's directly behind my tall seat, but not in the sedan, where his car seat is placed in the center- wouldn't want to chance him hitting the windshield.

This is absolutely ridiculous and potentially deadly advice. Seriously. A heavier child is arguably more at risk than a lighter child, because the amount of force on the spinal cord in an accident would be more. Greater mass of the head X acceleration of the vehicle.

The physics of what happens to a child in an accident doesn't change whether the child is 30lbs or 20lbs. What makes a difference is AGE. And the truth is, no 1-year old child is safe FF. Pediatricians may tell you differently, so may policemen and firemen, but physics is physics.

I would highly recommend all of you to go join the group Car Seats for the Littles on Facebook. They are a group of certified car seat technicians who will answer all of your questions with best practice information to keep your babies as safe as possible. I would trust the advice there over any pedi, policeman, or fireman. 

MrsT2008

It saddens me to see pediatricians recommending people turn their kids around at/around 1 year.  Do they not follow the AAP recommendations?  Our pedi asks at every well visit if she's still RFing and reminds me that the recommendation is 2 years. 

DD is 18 months and will be RFing until at least 2, but likely beyond that, until she outgrows the height limitation for RFing in her seat.

PregsterDD

I was wondering this myself as my 14 month old is very tall and his legs are all squished up in his seat. I never thought about that feeling natural to him and not the least bit uncomfortable. Thanks ladies, now I won't worry about keeping him rear facing until 2 yrs. 

boogerbearoriginal

My LO is 36in, and over 30lbs, and still RFing comfortably. He did outgrow the height of one smaller convertible we have as a "extra" because my sister watched him a lot. But now that she's working FT he hasn't used it so it's just an emergency seat if for some reason LO had to be driven someplace, and my/H's carseats aren't available. 

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there, this post is evidence of it. Just because a child hits the MINIMUM safe FFing doesn't mean you have to switch, just that you could. Children come in various sizes, so a 3yr old could be very small BUT safely FF because their spinal/muscle development has matured well-beyond that of a 18m old who may be larger. 

As a side note, at daycare, I've not noticed one person still RFing besides me. He goes to a pre-school/daycare that doesn't start accepting kids until 18m+ so obviously no infants who would be RFing no matter what. But it makes me kind of nervous to think of all those little kids FFing when they really shouldn't be. I've actually debated talking with the teachers about passing out informational brochures or something, but don't konw whether it's "my place".

I wish more professionals, like Pedis or Police/Fire, who are sought out for advice, were properly trained in the appropriate guidelines. It's way too common to hear of simply bad or outdated advice given out by those "in authority" that parents trust. 

aandg

Our daughter is small, but her legs are already touching the back of the seat. It doesn't bother her at all since she doesn't know any different. She won't be 2 for another 3 momths, but we have no plans on switching her when she hits 2. Her seat is able to rear face til 40lbs and considering she is only 24lbs now, she may be rear facing for quite awhile. 

namara5532

I'll start by saying that I plan to RF as long as possible.  DS was 22lbs at last weigh-in, so he's nowhere near needing to FF.  As long as he doesn't show signs of my carsickness, I'll keep him RF as long as I can.

With that said, I do say that FF seats today are much safer than when we were growing up.  RF is safest, but I think it's a bit harsh to reprimand everyone who decides to FF.  My seat has the option to recline FF which I imagine puts less stress on the head in an accident.  The fact that FF seats often have harnesses now does so much more to help than the recommendation when we were kids to just put a lap belt on us.  Laws will need some time to catch up to the 2-year recommendation, but until then I don't see a need to crucify someone for turning their LO around when they reach the legal FF guidelines.

salt78

Kimbus22:

babyhelsinger:

We just had our 1-year checkup and our pediatrician said b/c our son is 90th percentile, it may be time very soon to turn him around.  He said if we get pulled over, the police won't dispute with us, our son being 30 pounds, having so many teeth, clearly looking like an older child.  He said the recommendation was 1 year-old for so long, and he's not buying into the new 2-year recommendation, provided baby is very strong and large like ours.  I would not tell anyone they have to follow my doc's advice, that's just what we're thinking of though.  We will likely turn him around in the next couple of months in the van because he's directly behind my tall seat, but not in the sedan, where his car seat is placed in the center- wouldn't want to chance him hitting the windshield.

You seriously need a new pediatrician.  Because yours apparently does not actually understand the physiology of how toddlers develop.  Being tall and strong has exactly zero to do with your spinal development.  And your kid will not be safer FF behind a seat than FF in the middle of the car.

Honestly once he got to "Police won't question you because he has a lot of teeth" I would have burst out laughing and walked out of the office.

I'm seriously ticked off at the amount of pediatricians who give atrocious advice about this topic.  I'm grateful ours is up to date on research and gives out literature about the benefits of extended RFing. Tall kids or not, they are safer RF at this age. 

I think that might be the most asinine thing any pediatrician has ever said.

MomToNeeners

To each their own. I RF my DD. She's super long and skinny minnie. I drive an 88 Mustang and it sucks getting her in and out, but it's one minor inconvenience that could save her life.