When do you plan to switch to forward-facing?

hollster8 · June 2012

DD currently meets both age and weigh requirements laid out in the manual for our car seat (Britax Boulevard) to switch to forward-facing, but I'm really hesitant to make the switch. DH really wants to change it, he thinks DD will have a better time if she can see us, and it will make it easier for us to keep her happy, which is probably true. Also, DD's legs are so scrunched up when she sits in her car seat that we feel bad. It seems so uncomfortable. I just don't feel like it's quite time to flip her around, though. I've been trying to find some guidance on the matter online this morning but I'm just confused now. So, when are you all going to make the switch?

amberpro · June 2012

Not until 2 years like the APA recommends. Maybe someone will link that video on YouTube so you can convince your husband it's not safe right now to forward face...

vigurl · June 2012

amberpro:
Not until 2 years like the APA recommends.

This. Also confirmed by our pedi.

ETA: Our Britax says the same thing but those are the old stickers before the APA recomendation came out. Call Britax they will tell you.

CarlaAndJames · June 2012

Your child is FIVE times safer rear facing. Their legs will be fine. I'm hoping to rear face until she outgrows the weight or height limits on her carseat. At her size, she'll probably be 4 years old. If I can keep her rear facing that long I will be a happy mama.

Any time I even consider it for a half second, the words "internal decapitation" come to mind and I immediately dismiss the thought of turning her.

egpitt22 · June 2012

we'll wait until he's at least 2. We switched my older son when he was 25 months old.

vigurl · June 2012

CarlaAndJames:

I'm hoping to rear face until she outgrows the weight or height limits on her carseat.

Yes

dannie2011 · June 2012

We are waiting till at least 2yrs, she is not 20lbs yet according to our Wii, so we hope 40lbs will be after she is 2.

jcsumm0 · June 2012

vigurl:

CarlaAndJames:

I'm hoping to rear face until she outgrows the weight or height limits on her carseat.

Same. She is a peanut, so she might be 4, which would be fine by me.

TCUFrogMom11 · June 2012

We are waiting as long as we can... hopefully until 2. She is 26lbs right now, so 4 isn't an option for us.

kas80 · June 2012

We are also waiting until she exceeds height/weight requirements for RF with our carseat. She's always crossed her legs so it won't be a big deal to do it when she gets older. Even if she didn't I much prefer a lack of leg room problem over an internal decapitation problem.

cvl105 · June 2012

I will be keeping her rear facing until she hits the maximum limits. There is no reason to turn them around otherwise. They don't know any different so there's no harm in keeping them that way. They don't know what it's like to sit facing forward in the car seat (at least they shouldn't).

I have a friend who's 3 year old is still rear facing. She's on the smaller side, but is still within the requirements. She just folds her legs crossed or puts them up on the seat.

JuneBugsMommy · June 2012

We will be waiting until DS is at least 2. Whenever someone asks when we'll be switching him I tell them about internal decapitation... Definitely not something I'm willing to risk! I tried to talk my SIL out if switching my nephew to forward facing but she switched his seat and I worry about it all the time!

soontobe05 · June 2012

We didn't FF DD until she was 26 months old. Only reason I even did it was that she was starting to get car sick a lot and cleaning vomit off a car seat twice a week is NOT fun. She did have her legs squished up a little but it didn't seem to bother her. Yes, she has a lot more fun now FF and she loves it, but her having fun or making it easier on me wasn't a priority to me. Have your DH watch the YouTube videos or show him the new recommendations to leave until at least two years old. I had to fight comments from my MIL and my DH for quite awhile, but it was worth it to know my DD was in the safest position she could be in. I plan to do the exact same with DS.

kimbo1216 · June 2012

My goal is 2+. I am in ZERO hurry to turn her.

kimbo1216 · June 2012

If this doesn't change your mind, Idk what will.

youtube video

Frankly, I'd rather my child be a little uncomfortable with bent legs and break those than be comfortable FF and break her spine/neck.

march2008 · June 2012

I'm following the recommended guidelines and will keep her rear-facing until she meets the max recommendations.

I saw that video in the past and it was definitely eye-opening.

ETA: I'm a little confused b/c when looking at the Britax website, the Boulevard car seat we have has the same max height for both rear-facing and forward-facing. So I guess that means that the limiting factor is only weight, correct?

https://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/boulevard-70

cassoppea · June 2012

At least two and as long as possible. If she doesn't know any different then I'm assuming she won't care!

LaRue86 · June 2012

Our goal is at least 2 years of age. He is 24lbs at the moment so it will depend on how much he gains and how quickly he gains it. I am guessing we will be able to keep him rear facing until he is 3, but time will only tell...

M&M227 · June 2012

I was in the camp of change her sometime after she meets the current requirements (1 and 20 pounds) after watching the video a month or so ago I decided to wait as long as possible.

CarlaAndJames · June 2012

march2008:

I'm following the recommended guidelines and will keep her rear-facing until she meets the max recommendations.

I saw that video in the past and it was definitely eye-opening.

ETA: I'm a little confused b/c when looking at the Britax website, the Boulevard car seat we have has the same max height for both rear-facing and forward-facing. So I guess that means that the limiting factor is only weight, correct?

https://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/boulevard-70

Yeah, I think that's true.

wootownlady · June 2012

If I could have my child rear facing in the car until she's 16, I would.

Hallil · June 2012

We will not be switching any time soon. Even though I do agree with your husband that your LO would probably have a better time and be easier to keep happy, and her legs would be able to stretch out more I don't feel those are near good enough reasons to switch. The benefits of rear facing far outweigh the little discomforts you seem to be dealing with.

hollster8 · June 2012

Thanks for all of the input. DH wasn't fighting me on the issue, we were just discussing and those were the arguments he made. I had zero plans of making the switch, I just had no idea when I was going to do it. We both know it is safest to keep her rear facing, we just saw what the age/weight requirements were and started discussing. DH asked me when I would feel comfortable/what the AAP said and I just didn't know. That's why I asked all of you smart ladies!

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