Can someone send me the article or website that states all the current laws for rear facing vs. forward? Is it based on weight, height, age? I thought it was rear facing until 1 but I'm dealing with a large child that all carseats say he shouldn't be rear facing at his weight. I'm concerned that we need to turn him around ASAP but that by law, he shouldn't be yet.
I know I should have been paying attention but I just wasn't prepared for everything I had to learn in such a short time. The new law came right after we got our foster children so........
Thanks!
Re: Late to the carseat law party!
The only law regarding rear facing is that a child MUST remain rear facing until they are *at least* one year old AND *at least* 20 lbs. You MAY NOT forward face a child who is under a year old OR under 20 lbs (even if the child is 9 years old, if he is under 20 lbs he must be rear facing. Likewise, a 9 month old baby weighing 135lbs still rear faces).
*Legally*, a child over 1 year and 20lbs can forward face but it is NOT recommended and it's dangerous. Children should rear face as long as possible. Most car seats allow rear facing until at least 35 or 40 lbs. What car seats do you have?
Before you turn him (which you can't now anyway since he is only 9 months) please google and watch the YouTube videos about rear facing vs. forward facing.
https://www.dmv.org/oh-ohio/safety-laws.php#Child_Car_Seat_Laws
I'm sure others will chime in with some great articles and info... But he definitely should NOT be forward facing for any reason. The law is 1 year old AND 20 lbs but it is recommend to continue to rear face them until at least 2 years old.
is he still in a pumpkin seat and reaching the weight limit?? I'm confused where you are reading that he shouldn't be rear facing because of his weight???
My son was a big boy and we had to switch him to a convertible carseat at 7 months... (the pumpkin seat went up to 22 lbs and he was getting close to that) which is still rear facing. I'm planning on keeping him that way until he's 2.
The carseat we have (Evenflo, will have to check on model) says to only rear face with it until 20 lbs. I just checked our spare and it says up to 35 lbs, he can rear face. He's 27lbs. I guess he's going to be changing seats. He's in a convertible btw and has been since 7.5 months.
Glad I looked into this further! Thanks ladies!
This!
I don't know of any convertible car seat with a 20lb rear facing limit either. A lot of times the seat will state something like 5-40lbs rear facing, 20-60 lbs forward facing. So the seat can rear face to 40 lbs. What Evenflo seat do you have?
I am fairly certain that there isn't a convertible car seat on the market that has a 20 pound rear facing limit.
Most seats can be used RFing until 32-45 pounds. At this time 45 pounds is the highest on the market.
If you want, I would be more than happy to look up the RFing weight limit for the seat that you have.
Also, here is a list of some of the heigher weight seats. You will probably want to invest in one of these so you can keep in rear facing until at least age 2.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Evenflo-Tribute-Sport-Convertible-Car-Seat-Vanguard/14978056
This is the seat we have. Maybe I'm missing something. It says on walmart.com that this seat can rear face up to 35lbs but why does the side say different?
When did you buy the seat? You should get out your manual and see whst it says. I am almost sure that sticker is wrong... but very strange.
Either way you will need another seat eventually since that one only FFs to 40 pounds