IRL nobody RF as long??

kcampy31 · June 2010

It seems like on the bump most people rear face for longer which i totally agree with b/c of safety, however, almost everyone I know IRL turns their LO around at about 12-14 months and they are forward facing. I always wonder why this is?? Does anyone else notice that or no?

melrrr · June 2010

I have noticed this. I was hanging out with moms in my mom group and several of them (especially moms of boys) have been FF for a while. One even since before he turned 1. The two of us who were most adamant (yet not in a holier than thou way) about ERF are on the nest.

CMDR513 · June 2010

Agree highly- especially coworkers. We still RF.

RJMbim · June 2010

I FF LO @ 12 m- and most moms I know have done the same.

NY-allie · June 2010

I think its because most people haven't heard about ERF. The bump definitely enlightened me, I'm still having trouble convincing DH, but so far I'm winning since changing him to FF would take effort on his part.

Amymichelle925 · June 2010

I have not met anyone IRL that has kept their LO RF past 12 months. I get the "your poor son" comment all the time when they see our carseat is RF.

Because, really, it's more important for your child to be able to look out the window than be positioned in the safest way possible. Stick out tongue

kittylove · June 2010

Most of my IRL non nestie friends turned at 1 yr too. I have tried showing videos and talking to them about it but they don't see the big deal. ((shrugs sholders)) oh well at least I tried to educate them about it.

djandkellen · June 2010

Amymichelle925:
I have not met anyone IRL that has kept their LO RF past 12 months. I get the "your poor son" comment all the time when they see our carseat is RF.
Because, really, it's more important for your child to be able to look out the window than be positioned in the safest way possible.

I don't typically have this conversation with people, but my DS sees things out the window and comments on them and he's still RF.

Also, I know someone who FF their LO at 12 mos b/c they said it was too hot back there for their LO. An alive, but hot LO is better than a cooler, dead or injured LO.

djandkellen · June 2010

Amymichelle925:
I have not met anyone IRL that has kept their LO RF past 12 months. I get the "your poor son" comment all the time when they see our carseat is RF.
Because, really, it's more important for your child to be able to look out the window than be positioned in the safest way possible.

I don't typically have this conversation with people, but my DS sees things out the window and comments on them and he's still RF.

Also, I know someone who FF their LO at 12 mos b/c they said it was too hot back there for their LO. An alive, but hot LO is better than a cooler, dead or injured LO.

houndbaby · June 2010

Everyone I know IRL went to FF at 12 mo. except my cousin because I made her watch the you tube video on ERF. Even my pedi was telling me I need to FF Ds. Ds is perfectly content RF and will remain that way as long as possible.

*KC*luvs*RJ* · June 2010

I've noticed this as well. I think it's because there really isn't much literature thrown in your face IRL about the safety of RF longer. I tell all my IRL friends who are thinking of switching because I'd rather they know and have the info to make an informed decision!

MrsGo4Hockeychick · June 2010

I'm a car seat tech, so a lot of my IRL friends also ERF. Our local attachment parenting group is also really high on ERF. The only people in my life who FF at a year are my sister and probably some of her friends.

macchiatto · June 2010

A lot of my friends, I honestly don't know about. My BFF definitely does ERFing; she's very big on car seat safety. And my two local friends who have LOs just a month older than mine are still RFing their kids, too. My other friends live OOT or have older kids so I'm not sure if they ERFed or not. My pedi was actually surprised at the 15m appt when I said the boys were still RFing; I don't think it's very common in SC. Which sucks, since Columbia has (literally) the worst drivers in the country, and 1/3 of drivers on the roads are uninsured, to boot. I want my LOs as safe as possible!

kelbrian · June 2010

I don't know a single person except for Bumpie friends that I've met who ERF. My sister thinks that I am absolutely insane and that my kid is 'suffering' and 'uncomfortable' because she is rear facing. My mom kind of rolls her eyes at me but never says anything.

I think it's just lack of awareness - ERF isn't really discussed or promoted a whole lot by very many doctors or any one else at this point.

I just tell anyone who makes fun of our decision or criticizes it that our kid is small and that it's safer to ERF because she is smaller.

JOEBunny · June 2010

People are starting to keep them rear facing longer here now, but with DD, I was about a year longer than the longest person I know. Even the nurse at the doctors office was like, "Is that safe?" Yes, it is. Look it up! I will keep DS until 2-2.5. I am currently one of only 3 people I know who keeps them rear facing past one year.

One lady I know turned her kid at 10 months. When I said that is illegal and offered to lend her one of my extra convertable seats, she was like, "Oh I don't care, I am going to do it anyway. Really, she and her DH have master's degrees and live in an $800K house. Apparently, you can't buy common sense.

KeepingItLowKey · June 2010

I don't really know a lot people in real life with kids except people from the Bump... but those I do know, I've never really looked in their cars at carseat position.

Our pedi recommended rear facing as long as possible.?

skoorbnibor · June 2010

Not in my personal experience. Most moms I know are either ERFing or had a good reason to turn (car sickness, etc) Only 1 mom turned at 1 year, and she turned back after another mom shared the AAP rec.

ncbelle · June 2010

Most of my IRL friends are ERFing. But it seems like that hasn't caught on in the general public yet. I posted a link to something about ERF on facebook once and several folks with toddlers posted that they'd heard nothing about it being recommended now.

Mrs.Hizzo · June 2010

I only know two other moms IRL who ERF. One is a pediatric nurse, the other just reads up on stuff.

Echowysp · June 2010

Yes, because it's still kind of new and people haven't heard of it.

Violet's Mommy · June 2010

The only IRL friends I have with babies don't live in the same area is me anymore so I don't know if they RF or FF but I will have to ask. I would say that MOST people would go ahead and turn to FF because they just don't know. Pedi hasn't mentioned to change DD to FF yet, but if he did and I wasn't on here, I'm not sure wheather I would even try looking up some info on it. The ladies here definitely keep you informed and for now DD seems content (she may not like it all the time) but even when she gets turned around I'm sure there will be days she doesn't want to get in her carseat. I am getting a lot from my mum about how she can't see out...blah, blah. But I just tell her that as of now (and for as long as I possibly can) I want her RF. It's just safer. However, I don't go around preaching to other people that they shouldn't of turned LO yet or whatever, so I expect them not to preach to me also.

readyin07 · June 2010

DS is 16 mos and pretty much the ONLY one of our friends' kids who are rear facing. I am actually upset b/c we are having a hard time RF in DH's car so he has to forward face when he drives with him (rarely).

Anika11 · June 2010

Definitely! The only person I know IRL who also did ERF is also on the nest. Everyone else turned around at 12 months. My pedi recommend we do it too. I have my MIL convinced though. She now thinks her other son and DIL are crazy for FF at 1 yr.

Disneygeek77 · June 2010

I am also the only one that I know who ERF. Everyone else simply didn't know till they asked me about it. People do ask about her legs being hurt, and I just say " I would rather have a broken leg than a broken neck."

She is 18 months now and is just fine. We even got her a bigger car seat and this one can be ERF till 35 lbs. I will try to keep her ERF for that long if I can. She seems content so far.

Yeah but when people ask I just say that there have been some new studies showing that the kids are a lot safer to be RF till two.

mieuxmieux · June 2010

I think a lot of families don't do as much research, or maybe it just works better for them. We turned K around at 13 months and she was finally happy riding in the car.

ElizC · June 2010

Most of my friends are ERF, most of us switched FF around 18 months. What is strange we have never really talked about it, they aren't on thebump to my knowledge. We also all own pretty much the same car seat.

eris1995 · June 2010

I know 1 or 2 friends IRL that ERF as well. That's definitely the minority though. Most turn FF right around a year. I think most don't know and other's don't care. I told one of my good friends that we were going to ERF and she didn't want to hear why it wasn't good to FF at a year. She was going to do it anyway.

Mrs.C042807 · June 2010

I've noticed this too. I've had people ask why we haven't turned DS, and I have to explain it.

And when I have a conversation about RF vs FF with friends who have turned their LO, I really have to Zip it!

jessira · June 2010

I only know of 1 friend IRL that ERF. Honestly, I don't know if I would have been aware of it if not for the Bump. Recently I posted a link on FB to an ERF article and wrote, "This had some interesting info on extended rear-facing that I had never heard before. I'm surprised our pedi hadn't mentioned it before. Just thought I would share!" I'm hoping I didn't seem preachy or in your face at all but it really isn't that well known and maybe it will reach somebody! I was happy to get a couple comments, one from my friend's husband (they have a 2 year old and one due in Aug) who said, "Wow we were unaware, thanks for sharing that!" and a friend (with an 11 mo old) who said, "Extended rear-facing is a must for us! Thanks for posting that!" We used to get comments from family members like, "Poor thing, must be fun for her getting to stare at the seat." She actually CAN see out the window, she is safe, and she doesn't know anything other than rear-facing so she doesn't care!

**sunny** · June 2010

My mom friends IRL do not ERF. I told them about the AAP comments but they didn't really listen. They do comment (jokingly) on her legs hanging on either side of the seat. DH is on "my side" and likes ERF.

axh2277 · June 2010

I think we're the only one in our group to continue rear facing, though DS couldn't be forward facing until 21 months because that was whne he hit 22 lbs. My brother who is an EMT sent me the link to the AAP when DS was two even though we were already aware of it and decided to keep him rear facing as long as possible. I will admit I get tired of the comments from people about turning him forward, but I just politely smile and nod my head while ignoring them Big Smile

sunnyday016 · June 2010

I was telling my small group (moms of little kids) about it and they all kind of nodded and smiled. One said "oh that's interesting, but she's too used to watching her DVDs now" (her LO was about 15 mo. at the time). Another of my friends has a LO who is about to turn 1 so I guess we'll see what happens then. I've said my piece so I won't say anymore about it, but it makes me nervous for my friends kids.

LyndsayQ · June 2010

I am constantly asked why DD is still RF'ing, as is DH. The only other person I know that ERF's is my sitter, and maybe a neighbor. Everyone else turns at 1 y.o. AND/OR 20 lbs. Indifferent When asked I tell them its safer, but I try not to preach about it. I don't think I've changed anyone's mind...yet.

ETA: And I did learn about the benefits of ERF'ing here. Geeked

makclair · June 2010

I dont really know many people IRL that still RF, but i do promote it in my daily practice (i'm a pediatrician). Unfortunately, none of the other docs in my practice do ( none have small kids either) so I don't have a lot of backup (other than the AAP recommendation, which has apparently fallen on deaf ears).

Dh is for it since I told him how much safer it is.

I have plenty of patients that have argued with me about turning their kids around even before a year b/c of various reasons (as in, it is easier to give them food, ect). Redic.

makclair · June 2010

And FWIW, one of the docs in my practice who doesn't even have kids made a semi-derogatory remark one day when she parked next to me " Oh, his seat is still rear facing??? " (this was at 13 months or something). Of course she thinks breastfeeding to a year or beyond is a little strange too.

Echowysp · June 2010

sunnyday016:
I was telling my small group (moms of little kids) about it and they all kind of nodded and smiled. One said "oh that's interesting, but she's too used to watching her DVDs now" (her LO was about 15 mo. at the time). Another of my friends has a LO who is about to turn 1 so I guess we'll see what happens then. I've said my piece so I won't say anymore about it, but it makes me nervous for my friends kids.

Oh, that's just awesome. Gotta love the kid who can't drive to Target without watching the dvd. Great reasoning there.

JulyFiveBride · June 2010

Most of my friends/relatives with kids, I have no idea about. There are a few that I'd be willing to bet ERF, because they are usually pretty up to date about those kinds of things.

There are only 3 people I know for sure. One of DH's co-workers said she feels bad for DD, because "how can you hand her food in the car if she's RFing??" Confused SIL turned my nephew at 9 months. DH told her it's illegal and unsafe and she said she got the carseat used and wasn't sure if it could be installed RFing or not. DH told her there are carseats available for $50 that are safe and can RF or FF and she said she would look into it. But she never switched him back. The other lady has an itty bitty DD and she is one, but still fits in her bucket seat, so she's still RFing in that.

k8elee03 · June 2010

IDK, I guess I don't have many toddler parent friends, cuz I have no idea. No one's ever said anything (to my face) about our carseat, and the only other toddler mama I know was also rear facing, but we have the same pedi, and my pedi mentions it every time I see her. She just says "the new recommendation is 2 years."

I guess I've never understood the drama about it because (a) no one gives me a hard time and (b) we haven't had car sickness challenges or anything like that.

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