Carseat- when do you plan to turn around?

sarbear2 · March 2012

So my LO is approaching the 1 year mark, and weighs 21.5 lbs. We are debating turning his carseat at one year but can't quite decide. What are you guys thinking about doing and why? Just looking for more thoughts:)

gymnst1013 · March 2012

2 years as that is what is now recommended (unless he outgrows the RF height/weight limits before that.

carissa_danielle · March 2012

In ND, it is state law that they cannot forward face until 1 yr of age and weigh at least 20 lbs. The AAP recommends rear facing until age 2. DH and I decided to meet half way in between and do 18 months.

frlcb · March 2012

2 years. I don't know why you would switch it at 1 (or before), the recommendation, and safest way to do it, is to wait.

memali26 · March 2012

My 2 year old is still RFing. She is 27lbs and 35 inches, and fits quite comfortably. We will turn her at 3 years or when she outgrows the seat, whichever comes first (probably 3 years, since the weight limit is 40lbs and she still has a few inches height wise). However, her little sister will still be RFing then, so if she wants to stay RFing, too, I won't argue

It is 5 times safer to RF than to FF. A child's head is the heaviest part of their body, and when FF in a car accident their body will be restrained but their head will continue moving forward, which could cause internal decapitation. While RFing the car seat supports the head and neck to prevent that. If that's not a reason to RF longer, I don't know what is.

goillini823 · March 2012

DS is 24lbs and almost 11 months. My goal is to keep him RF til he's 18 months minimum, but I'll be pushing for 2.

SittingOnAMtnTop · March 2012

Hoping we can keep him RF until 2 but will wait until 18 months minimum. His legs are so long and I hate that he might be uncomfortable but I would rather have him uncomfortable and safe than put his life in danger.

Jeremy'sMom · March 2012

His pedi said 2, so we're keeping him RF until then, maybe even longer.

jandy09 · March 2012

Our seat RF's until 40lbs or when the head reaches 1 inch from the top of the shell. She will remain RFing until this time. However, I have considered ordering one from Sweden that will RF until 55lbs and will have a taller shell. It is costly but definitely worth it.

molisar · March 2012

We will probably go with the pedi's reccomendation on this one.

toadstool · March 2012

No earlier than 2.

sarbear2 · March 2012

Thanks for the info ladies! Definitely will be doing some reading

vflipo · March 2012

When she out grows the seat's RFing height and/or weight limits. I'm sure she will surpass height before weight, but if she's 3 when that happens, so be it.

Rachie_B · March 2012

We are definitely waiting til She's at least 2 years old... longer if she is still within the Car Seats Rear Facing height/weight!

mere2005 · March 2012

What do y'all do with LO's legs and feet? Do the just stay in the bent position or do you do something so that their legs can hang over the edge, if RFing? I'm afraid LO won't have any leg room. If we can get past that, I don't see why we wouldn't keep DS RF.

LadyXaverian · March 2012

mere2005:
What do y'all do with LO's legs and feet? Do the just stay in the bent position or do you do something so that their legs can hang over the edge, if RFing? I'm afraid LO won't have any leg room. If we can get past that, I don't see why we wouldn't keep DS RF.

Do you remember how flexible you were as a kid? Wink

Joking aside, from what I understand, they just cross their legs/bend their knees, and it's not a big deal.

ams8099 · March 2012

2 years. As recommended by the AAP.

vanfox · March 2012

Not until at least 2. We'll see what his weight/height is then and reevaluate. I will say that my almost 1 year old weighs the same as yours and I don't think he's anywhere near ready to front face.

Anne Mommy · March 2012

I am keeping DS rear facing until at least 18 months. I hope for 2 yrs. His seat goes until 40 lbs.

I have an extra farward facing car seat at my parents house. They occassionally watch him. It's just in case something would happen and they would need to take him to the ER or something. In the off chance that we would need it, I want them to have one.

p1nklemonade · March 2012

not until two or later.

BeetleLinz1125 · March 2012

Ideally, until 2...but that being said, she has consistently been off the growth charts for height, so I don't know . As long as she is within the height requirements for rear facing, I will keep her rear facing.

snowybride08 · March 2012

We'll rear face as long as we can. So probably two or so, if not longer.

Lisa102304 · March 2012

My now-6-year-old RF until she was 18 months. I plan to RF DD2 until around 2, longer of she is okay with it. But no less than 18 months for sure.

kabarbanel · March 2012

We turned DS at 2 years, 9 months. We will keep DD RF at least that long.

SeasideBride06 · March 2012

We kept DD1 RF until she was 15 months old. I wanted to go longer with DD2, especially with the new 2-year recommendations, but I am not sure we will. She has never really liked being in the carseat...even the infant seat, but things have gotten worse in the last 3-4 months with her screaming/crying constantly in the car. I am almost to the point of turning her to see if she will stop crying. It is a distraction to me while driving.

beaugeek · March 2012

Until he outgrows the required weight and length for rear facing in his car seat.

lovemyminions · March 2012

I know the new recommendation is 2 yrs but we are going to turn our LO at 1 year. The one thing I have learned about the so called 'experts' on baby safety is that they seem to change their opinon on what is safe far too frequently. A year ago changing to forward facing at 1 was the safe recommendation, so I find it hard to believe that I am endangering my child now, a year later, if I don't leave her rear facing until she is two.

Right now rear facing the carseat touches that back of the passenger seat which isn't recommended, but to have it not touch would put the passenger tight to the dash. At our carseat clinic we were told that it shouldn't touch but in an accident the adult in the front would be seriously hurt by the air bag. When I go back to work we are going to buy a bigger vehicle but in the mean time we will be turning LO at one.

SuperCuteBenz · March 2012

Mrs. D S:
I know the new recommendation is 2 yrs but we are going to turn our LO at 1 year. The one thing I have learned about the so called 'experts' on baby safety is that they seem to change their opinon on what is safe far too frequently. A year ago changing to forward facing at 1 was the safe recommendation, so I find it hard to believe that I am endangering my child now, a year later, if I don't leave her rear facing until she is two.

Right now rear facing the carseat touches that back of the passenger seat which isn't recommended, but to have it not touch would put the passenger tight to the dash. At our carseat clinic we were told that it shouldn't touch but in an accident the adult in the front would be seriously hurt by the air bag. When I go back to work we are going to buy a bigger vehicle but in the mean time we will be turning LO at one.

Actually, that was the MINIMUM recommendation for forward facing. Most car seat manuals will state that a child should remain rear facing until the seat is out grown, but that they must meet a minimum requirement of 1 AND 20 to forward face.

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