Rear-Facing Question

Singingmama · January 2011

I know that a lot of you plan on keeping your LOs rear facing until they reach the weight limit for rear-facing, but I wondered if some of you plan on turning your LO around before they reach the weight limit?

We've talked about keeping DD rear-facing until she is 2 years old and then turning her around at that point, even though, she most likely won't be anywhere near the 35 pound weight limit for rear-facing (in her carseat). I feel like there does come a point in time where a child needs to be turned around for their comfort and development. I hope this doesn't spark a huge FF vs RF debate (although I know that's a false hope), since I am honestly just wondering if I'm the only one not planning on waiting for LO to meet the weight limit.

lclark79 · January 2011

Please don't open that $hizstorm again.

cz0828 · January 2011

We are going to keep DD rear-facing as long as we can. We will probably have to switch her before she reaches the weight limit only bc she will exceed the height limit for rear facing.

AggieDee · January 2011

Does it really matter what anyone else decides to do?

dragon_chica · January 2011

lclark79:
Please don't open that $hizstorm again.

But aren't we due for a debacle? It's been a while....

OP, I'm not sure what development you're talking about in terms of RF vs. FF. That makes zero sense to me. As for the comfort, I'd rather have DD a bit uncomfortable than risk her having an internal decapitation like the kid in AZ.

deltagirl79 · January 2011

A) You're right this is going to stir up a debate.

There are other moms here who have said they will turn around earlier, most because LO screams or gets sick in the car. A few have said they will turn them just because they feel like it. You have to do what's best for your family, although I don't understand how FF helps LO's development?

C) For me, at this time I do not plan to turn him around until he has reached the limit on his seat, probably height for DS before weight. I will not say for sure because I don't know what things will change between now and then. My concern right now is I get horrible car sickness in the back seat, if DS develops that (which he hasn't yet *crossing fingers*) I would probably turn him around sooner.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · January 2011

Priority wise, "comfort and development" are below safety.

We will have her rear-facing until we absolutely have to turn her around.

bim38106 · January 2011

First, most kids will outgrow their seat by height before weight.. so check yours on that DD2 just outgrew her Roundabout (the old one RB40) RF. We switched her to the Marathon, which has plenty of growing room...assuming that DD1 would sit FF in the Roundabout. However, DD1 has just outgrown the Roundabout FF! Argh! If only I had known I would have super tall kids when I registered for the roundabout when I was PG w/ DD1....

Anyway, our options now are either to buy a new carseat, or turn DD2 FF. We will most likely be buying a new carseat that will last both girls until they're much much older (probably getting a 2nd Britax Frontier85).

The arguments you'll see posted are that comfort is minor compared to the physical harm that can come to them if FF too early. Also, development isn't really going to be an issue as long as they meet the seats safety requirements/limits.

I can tell you that our pedi said comfort was not something to worry about, however when his son was around 18 months, he was bending his legs/hips oddly around the sides of the car seat and making it extremely hard to get him in there, plus because of the way he was sitting, it was hurting his hips...so they switched him FF at that point.

lclark79 · January 2011

dragon_chica:

lclark79:
Please don't open that $hizstorm again.

But aren't we due for a debacle? It's been a while....

OP, I'm not sure what development you're talking about in terms of RF vs. FF. That makes zero sense to me. As for the comfort, I'd rather have DD a bit uncomfortable than risk her having an internal decapitation like the kid in AZ.

hehe I guess we are due for one! It has been a few days. My thoughts are legs bend but heads and necks do not.

Mrs.Hizzo · January 2011

Do what you want to do, it's your kid. If you're looking for validation that "comfort and development" is a good reason to compromise their safety, you may find you're in the wrong place.

sunnyday016 · January 2011

I don't mean this to sound snarky, but how does RFing have anything to do with their development?

I would agree that at some point most kids would be more comfortable riding FF. However, I don't think that point comes until waaaayyy after 2 years old (I'm thinking like age 6 or something).

ryry1977 · January 2011

We plan on turning Cedric around at 21 months old when we go on vaction next June. Won't be 2 or 35 pounds yet. But for that long long drive I think it will be time for us.

SusieQ1982 · January 2011

His life is more important than his comfort, especially since they don't know any better if they always ride backwards. My son can look out the back and side windows and stays entertained.

dionnemd10 · January 2011

i say turn around when you are comfortable and what works for your car seat/comfort of child etc.

we turned our son forward facing in a convertible car seat right before Christmas-and gasp 2 weeks before his first birthday--you know what--worked well for our daughter-works well for us. he rides in the passenger seat side of a ford explorer-we were in an infant seat up to two weeks ago-yep the infant carrier.

i don't see what the point of keeping them backwards until the age of 2 is--our son is close to 32 inches tall and weighs 25lbs. i'm against the grain on this and i'm okay with it

Lizard2022 · January 2011

We just went on a 7 hour car ride and DS was fine RF. I had to sit in the back seat for some of the trip with him, but I didn't mind. I just know if I got in an accident I would want DS to be as safe as possible. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happen to him and I could have prevented it. We are planning on waiting until he reaches the RF limit. He's already 28 lbs, so it might be at 2.

Lizard2022 · January 2011

Double post

penguingrrl · January 2011

I may turn DD2 at 2 regardless of size (she's been well above the 20 lb minimum since 9 months) because her being RF puts my passenger very close to the airbag. Before 2 we feel it's safer to have DH at risk from being too close to the windshield and airbag than have DD at risk from FF (she is behind the passenger because if she were behind the drivers seat DH could never drive the car, but I'm usually the driver because I'm a control freak and don't like his driving so he's in front of the RF seat). We basically are weighing the best situation for our less than ideal family car (we tried to sell it to get a more family friendly car, but couldn't find a buyer, so a 4 door car, which would allow her to stay RF far longer, is just not an option). My SIL is a ped and knows the risks and is still considering turning her daughter around next week, on her second birthday. I had to convince her there was no reason TO turn in their case (nobody in the front of the car is at risk from a RF seat and my niece is near neither the height nor the weight limits nor is she upset about riding RF) and that it at least made sense to keep her RF until spring when the roads aren't icy and extra dangerous. Even though we have a good reason to turn earlier, I wouldn't even consider it during the winter.

mayowife · January 2011

DS is already 28lbs and 33" tall, plus he has a very long torso.

DS will be FF when he reaches the RF height limit. We moved him from his infant carseat to a Britax Rounabout convertible carseat very early on because he was too tall for the infant seat. At 12 months old his head was an inch from the top of the Roundabout while RF. We chose to purchase a second convertible carseat- Saftey 1st- Complete Air. His safety is more important to me than the enjoyment of FF and the savings of just turning the Roundabout FF instead of paying for a whole new seat.

At DS's 12 month appointment his pediatrician stressed the new recommendation of 2 years or exceeding the seats RF limit. I had already done my research (including the watching videos online) so I did not need to be convinced!

bethCT · January 2011

Singingmama:
I feel like there does come a point in time where a child needs to be turned around for their comfort and development.

Wait, are you saying my child's development will be stunted by rear facing? What??? I get comfort (mostly of parents, but whatever, but development?? DD will just have to lag behind al the forward facing kiddos then, because she is still rear facing at 22 months, with no end in sight.

The good news is that she had a developmental check up and is off the charts in most areas, so I guess it is ok for her to rear face. whew!

sigh...

FerreraRocher · January 2011

I agree with everyone that said that "comfort and development" will not be hindered by extended rear facing. I am adamant about not turning the seat until she has reached the limits.

Blackvelvet · January 2011

I'm shopping for a new seat to keep DS RF he is just over an inch away from the top of the shell on his seat in DH truck so we need to turn him or get a new seat. I'm not turning anytime soon if I get the new seat and that seems to be the way we are going

katiekate1974 · January 2011

ryry1977:
We plan on turning Cedric around at 21 months old when we go on vaction next June. Won't be 2 or 35 pounds yet. But for that long long drive I think it will be time for us.

Wouldn't a long drive, with all that additional exposure for accidents be the WORST time to do it?

diana.filipi · January 2011

Ophelia has already out grown her infant seat by a mile. She is also well beyond the weight limit and will be one year in just 5 days. We have no idea when we will front face her but it's no time soon. I don't see how it impacts their development in any way. There really isn't a height limit on rear facing as someone mentioned either. They can cross their legs super easy and comfy. We have a mirror installed on the rear headrest so I can see her just fine.

AMYfromKY · January 2011

katiekate1974:
ryry1977:
We plan on turning Cedric around at 21 months old when we go on vaction next June. Won't be 2 or 35 pounds yet. But for that long long drive I think it will be time for us.
Wouldn't a long drive, with all that additional exposure for accidents be the WORST time to do it?

I think Katie makes a good point, but I also don't understand the reasoning. When kids are FFing and they fall asleep they aren't as reclined and their heads kind of fall to the side or even forward. When they are RFing they are reclined and when they fall asleep their heads kind of just lay back. I would think sleeping in a reclined position would be much more comfortable than sleeping sitting straight up.

sunandsand · January 2011

We are TTC and will have to FF DS when we have to install an infant seat. I think he will be around 27 months old. We cant afford a bigger car, and I don't really want to drive an SUV either.

mayowife · January 2011

diana.filipi:
Ophelia has already out grown her infant seat by a mile. She is also well beyond the weight limit and will be one year in just 5 days. We have no idea when we will front face her but it's no time soon. I don't see how it impacts their development in any way. There really isn't a height limit on rear facing as someone mentioned either. They can cross their legs super easy and comfy. We have a mirror installed on the rear headrest so I can see her just fine.

Yes for keeping Ophelia rear facing. I'm not sure what type of seat you have, but many do list height limits for rear facing. Because it depends on a child's shoulder height, or torso length, the overall height is just a guideline. A child's head needs to be one or more inches below the top of the seat when rear facing. My understanding is that if a child's head is above that point their safety can be compromised. Luckily they now make convertible carseats with very high backs.

mayowife · January 2011

AMYfromKY:
katiekate1974:
ryry1977:
We plan on turning Cedric around at 21 months old when we go on vaction next June. Won't be 2 or 35 pounds yet. But for that long long drive I think it will be time for us.
Wouldn't a long drive, with all that additional exposure for accidents be the WORST time to do it?
I think Katie makes a good point, but I also don't understand the reasoning. When kids are FFing and they fall asleep they aren't as reclined and their heads kind of fall to the side or even forward. When they are RFing they are reclined and when they fall asleep their heads kind of just lay back. I would think sleeping in a reclined position would be much more comfortable than sleeping sitting straight up.

I agree.

We're going on vacation this summer. DS will be 18+ months. My parents offered to let DS ride with them at least part of the way, just to switch it up and keep him entertained. We have an extra convertible seat that DS will fit into FF, but I wouldn't want to risk additional exposure for accidents and I think he'll be more comfortable if he's RF and reclined. He'll either have to ride the whole way with us or we'll fork out the money for another convertible carseat.

Lesley0228 · January 2011

We just turned DD FF last weekend. She was still 10 lbs under the weight limit, but she had reached the height limit on two of our three carseats. I feel guilty for turning her around, but just couldn't afford to buy two more carseats. I would have liked to keep her RF until at least 2. Depending on your seat and your kid, I think a lot of kids will hit the height limit before weight limit. DD is 34 1/4 inches and our back up seats, both Cosco Sceneras, have a 36 in limit. DD is long torsoed though and her head was at an inch from the top. I turned her strictly for this reason. I don't see how her development was affected RF and her comfort does not take priority to her safety, though she did appear perfectly comfortable.

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