when did you turn your car seat around?

sept9107bride · August 2011

I always thought it was at a year but once Asher reached a year old there was talk floating around that now we should wait until he is 2 years old. He's getting pretty big to be rear facing. What did you do/what are your thoughts?

Scout05 · August 2011

It has been widley publicized that the new safety regulations (from the AAP, as well as others) STRONGLY advise waiting until two years of age to turn carseats forward. There are many, many posts all over TB that talk about this.

Please Google this subject. There is a ton of literature that has been published.

We will be waiting until two, no question.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/health/policy/22carseat.html

https://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm

lil_rhody · August 2011

Not yet. DS just bends his legs. We plan to wait until at DS reaches the RF weight limit of his seat, as long as he will tolerate it.

lkstor · August 2011

We turned DS at 2 years.

Useonfire · August 2011

We turned him around in DS's Pathfinder a few weeks ago since he was too tall to RF (based on the seat - also the pedi told us to - he's in the 100% for height). I don't take DS in my car too often so he still RF there, but we're probably going to turn him around this month. He's 22 months.

RJHarmon · August 2011

We are still RF and intend to stay that way until she reaches the limits of the seat.

Kelanne · August 2011

With my first 3 kids we turned them at 1.

With Mason - we still have him rearfacing.

We asked his Pedi at his 1 yr check up and she said we can turn him now, but it's recommended that we turn him when he's 2. She also said they are trying to make it a law for them to turn at 2 years old instead of 1.

ENev · August 2011

We just turned him around this weekend (almost 22 months) because we were going on a long trip. I'm glad we made it this far - but I will say, it's pretty nice having him turned around! He loves it, and I love seeing his cute face back there instead of the back of his head.

But yes, the guidelines are now two years old. They're a lot safer rear-facing. I can't believe how many people I know IRL who turn their kids around at one still ... or in some cases, even before that!

tiffanylaw06 · August 2011

We switched a few months ago (DS is almost 21 months old). He was extremely uncomfortable RFing. I figure it was good we made it to 1.5 yo.

sept9107bride · August 2011

Scout05:

It has been widley publicized that the new safety regulations (from the AAP, as well as others) STRONGLY advise waiting until two years of age to turn carseats forward. There are many, many posts all over TB that talk about this.

Please Google this subject. There is a ton of literature that has been published.

We will be waiting until two, no question.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/health/policy/22carseat.html

https://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm

Thank you!!!!

WearingRed · August 2011

I understand the argument for waiting but for is we turned around at 10 and a half months, she was big and would scream most of the time she was in the car if she didnt see me so I had the idea it was safer for me not to be distracted the while I was driving after almost being in three accidents because I could handle her screaming. But she was and still is super strong most of the studies I read were talking about how baby don't have the neck strength to be forward facing. My baby was holding her head up on her own looking around at 2 days and not dropping but laying her head back down. I had no neck strength issues. ultimately its your decision to do what you think is right for you and your family.

grr_aargh · August 2011

There's not really "too big" for RFing. . . so long as they fit within the limits of your seat. Even the firemen like the jump seat on the fire truck - it's rear facing AND the safest seat.

WE turned our 1st two at 1 because I wasn't aware, really, of the benefits of long-term rear-facing. We will turn Elsa at 2 at the earliest.

Leah11599 · August 2011

We haven't yet and will wait until he is 2 or reaches the height or weight limit on the carseat for RF, whichever comes first.

kimmie321 · August 2011

We just did at 23 and a half months.

Gummybear · August 2011

RJHarmon:
We are still RF and intend to stay that way until she reaches the limits of the seat.

This. DD was RF well past 2 even though she is very tall. When we reached the limit we flipped her.

Scout05 · August 2011

ChoicesMom:

In Canada they have to be rear facing until age 1 and so far there hasn't been any word on switching it to age two. My parents foster babies and so they are constantly being told any new rules or regulations and they are still going by the age 1 cut off.

I switched DD at 1 (on her birthday) and I will be doing the same with this baby unless I am told beforehand that the rules have changed.

It's not a rule, it's a advisory based on clinical research and tests. And they are working to make it law here in the US. Just because that hasn't happened in Canada doesn't mean the risks aren't the same, obviously.

I honestly don't understand, given even just the two articles I linked above, why you (general "you," not PP specifically) wouldn't want to at least do more research instead of a blanket "I'm not doing it unless they make me" statement. The words "internal decapitation" pretty much sealed the deal for me.

I don't mean to be an ass, but I quite frankly struggle to understand why someone wouldn't take every precaution possible when you are talking about car safety and your child.

ShellShockedMama · August 2011

actually, the recommendation is "rear facing as long as possible" not just until two, that's just something they stated as a MINIMUM, not maximum. It depends on when your child reaches the weight limit of the seat. The AAP would like to see all kids RF until they reach the weight limit.

There are many states trying to make it a law to extend the rear facing limits. I'm keeping DS RF for as long as possible. And regarding "well, zomg, my kid is too long, his feet touch the seat" (While I don't think anyone here said it, many friends have stated that to me IRL) a broken leg is a lot better than a dead child. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

RF is the safest way to go, so that's what we're doing. DH was disappointed that he couldn't be FF, but once I told him it was safest, he was all for it.

What I dont understand is, why spend TONS of cash on a safety seat for your kid and then install it in a less safe way.

grr_aargh · August 2011

ChoicesMom:

In Canada they have to be rear facing until age 1 and so far there hasn't been any word on switching it to age two. My parents foster babies and so they are constantly being told any new rules or regulations and they are still going by the age 1 cut off.

I switched DD at 1 (on her birthday) and I will be doing the same with this baby unless I am told beforehand that the rules have changed.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/safety-and-recalls/recalls-auto/delay-switching-to-front-facing-car-seat-us-pediatricians-urge/article1950395/

Truth isn't relative. Last I heard, physics worked the same in Canada as it did in the United States.

RJHarmon · August 2011

grr_aargh:
ChoicesMom:

In Canada they have to be rear facing until age 1 and so far there hasn't been any word on switching it to age two. My parents foster babies and so they are constantly being told any new rules or regulations and they are still going by the age 1 cut off.

I switched DD at 1 (on her birthday) and I will be doing the same with this baby unless I am told beforehand that the rules have changed.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/safety-and-recalls/recalls-auto/delay-switching-to-front-facing-car-seat-us-pediatricians-urge/article1950395/

Truth isn't relative. Last I heard, physics worked the same in Canada as it did in the United States.

Yes

sept9107bride · August 2011

Scout05:

I don't mean to be an ass, but I quite frankly struggle to understand why someone wouldn't take every precaution possible when you are talking about car safety and your child.

you crack me up I agree. as soon as I saw it said "75% of accidents are preventable with RFing" I was sold on RF as long as possible. not sure if it's the same article, but I read one that said one common frustration with docs is that people thinking "age 1" is the magic number, when it actually is (used to be) the minimum. I appreciate the feedback because it was instant confirmation that we will be keeping DS in RF until the maximums are met NOT the minimums. no complaints here, but my question stemmed from the snarky comments we got from family/ILs..."isn't it time to turn him around, he's not a baby anymore." seriously, whoever thought people would try to peer pressure someone into forward facing ugh!

jen-dale · August 2011

We plan on waiting until 2I as long as DD is at a good height/weight. It could likely turn to 23the months due to LO#2 coming. I'm not sure if DD can RF behind the driver seat and I know the infant seat won't fit there when DH d rives.

nicobean1 · August 2011

We turned DS around a few weeks. He was roasting in the backseat rear-facing.

grr_aargh · August 2011

WearingRed:
I understand the argument for waiting but for is we turned around at 10 and a half months, she was big and would scream most of the time she was in the car if she didnt see me so I had the idea it was safer for me not to be distracted the while I was driving after almost being in three accidents because I could handle her screaming. But she was and still is super strong most of the studies I read were talking about how baby don't have the neck strength to be forward facing. My baby was holding her head up on her own looking around at 2 days and not dropping but laying her head back down. I had no neck strength issues. ultimately its your decision to do what you think is right for you and your family.

Oh sweet baby Jesus, I cannot believe I missed this the first time around.

Physics, baby. Physics. It's not about being able to hold your head up. That's some mis-interpretation of research if I ever heard it. Sometimes a little knowledge is a bad thing, I guess.

TEN AND A HALF MONTHS?!?!?!?! Incidentally, that's also illegal in many - nay, most, states.

Babs022 · August 2011

still RF and planning on it until at least 2

Scout05 · August 2011

grr_aargh:

WearingRed:
I understand the argument for waiting but for is we turned around at 10 and a half months, she was big and would scream most of the time she was in the car if she didnt see me so I had the idea it was safer for me not to be distracted the while I was driving after almost being in three accidents because I could handle her screaming. But she was and still is super strong most of the studies I read were talking about how baby don't have the neck strength to be forward facing. My baby was holding her head up on her own looking around at 2 days and not dropping but laying her head back down. I had no neck strength issues. ultimately its your decision to do what you think is right for you and your family.
Oh sweet baby Jesus, I cannot believe I missed this the first time around.
Physics, baby. Physics. It's not about being able to hold your head up. That's some mis-interpretation of research if I ever heard it. Sometimes a little knowledge is a bad thing, I guess.

TEN AND A HALF MONTHS?!?!?!?! Incidentally, that's also illegal in many - nay, most, states.

This, it's not actually "your decision to do what you think." It's the law.

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